Top End Safari Camp Review: Your new bucket list item

It's time to add a new item to your bucket list: Darwin's Top End Safari Camp. 

The ultimate overnight experience, Top End Safari Camp offers all the quintessential Top End activities – everything from crocs to choppers, sunsets to glamping, airboat rides to river cruises and so much more. It's the perfect way to experience all the best parts of the Top End in the Northern Territory within a short amount of time.

Created by Matt Wright, of Outback Wrangler fame and 9Now's Wild Territory, here's everything you need to know before booking your next outback adventure. 

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LOCATION

Top End Safari Camp is approximately a 1.5 hour drive from Darwin, located north west of Litchfield National Park. You do have the option to drive yourself there, but each tour package also includes return coach transfers from Darwin CBD.

More information about how to get there can be found here. 

WEATHER

Let's get one thing out of the way. It's going to be hot. You're going to be sticky. 

But with the recent rain in Sydney and cold weather, it simply can't be beat. 

Even as I was sweating up a storm in the 35 degree days with 70 per cent humidity, a local tells me that this is their cool season…Right. Okay. 

It's hot. You'll love it. Pack your linen.

ACTIVITIES

You can't go to Darwin and not see a crocodile.

But what I experienced was completely unexpected (in all the best ways).

Many of the crocodiles at Top End Safari Camp have been rescued by Matt Wright and his team and given a new sanctuary in which to live out their days. We meet Bonecruncher, who is not only missing the bottom half of his jaw, he's also missing a fair few of his teeth and part of his tail. There's also the infamous Tripod, one of the monster rescue crocodiles, (sadly we didn't get to meet!) who as the name suggests, only has three legs after a vicious fight. 

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Suffice to say, there's plenty of other opportunities to see crocodiles.

While we're doing our serene river cruise along Sweets Lagoon (so aptly named for Darwin's famed 5.1 metre saltwater crocodile Sweetheart who loved to attack dinghies and now rests at Darwin's Museum and Art Gallery), we're told the lagoon is home to one of the largest areas of crocodiles per square capita… so keep your arms and legs firmly on the boat, please and thank you. 

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After the river cruise is complete and we're left full and satisfied with our delicious lunch of barramundi burgers, we're piled onto an airboat.

Now, this is the stuff of movies - as we're whizzing around the lagoon with the wind in our hair, I can't keep the smile off my face as I think about how uniquely Darwin this activity is. It really is one of the best activities the Top End has to offer. You'll get the chance to spot many crocodiles, birds and other various wildlife species in their natural habitat.

And if you haven't finished getting your crocodile fix after the airboat, then comes the monster rescue crocodile encounter and feeding.

Not only will you get up close and personal to these prehistoric animals as they're feeding (a leg of buffalo, if you're wondering), but there's also the chance to get some photos taken near them. Just don't make any fast and sudden movements and you'll be right. 

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If you've gotten to this point and wondering how on earth this day could get any better, it's time for the chopper. My goodness, this is a life highlight for me.

We're flown over the camp (spot the Australiana themed landscaping) during golden hour (peak Instagram content) and it is such a great way to soak in everything we saw that day, from a different perspective. You'll be able to spot all the monster crocs resting in their sanctuaries, the lagoon, wild buffalo running around and just impossibly perfect Top End scenery.

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After the chopper, it's time to wind down with the glorious infinity pool, the perfect accompaniment to a big sweat-fest day. 

This is followed by a lovely home-cooked dinner by the staff, adjacent to one of the many spectacular Darwin sunsets you'll ever see. 

And if you think you couldn't possibly eat anymore, the Top End Safari team treat us to a roaring fire pit with s'mores as we sit and gaze under the stars.

There's nothing quite like sitting under the open star deck immensely relaxed and spotting the Milky Way, shooting stars and various other constellations in the stunning star-filled night, free of any light pollution. A perfect end to a perfect day.

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GLAMPING

No Top End Safari Camp experience is complete without an overnight stay in one of the deluxe lotus belle tents. When you think of glamping, this is IT. A picture perfect tent, with an incredibly scenic location… and just wait until you see it during sunset. 

There's only ten tents on site, with each tent widely spread out across the property, thereby ensuring the utmost in privacy and comfort.

Tents are fitted with modern furnishings, each with a comfortable double bed, lush towels, private deck and a glorious outdoor shower. When in Rome, hey…

The tents are also close enough to the sky deck, fire pit, pool and bathroom facilities, but not close enough to ruin your good night sleep. You'll sleep to the serene sounds of silence, without a car sound in distance. 

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FAIR WARNING

Two things to note: 

1. There's no Wi-Fi. Whether you love or hate the idea, it's worth pointing out. Make all your important calls before you get there - and enjoy the serenity of not being contactable 24/7.

2. Yes, it's hot and yes, there are bugs - bring the sunscreen and the insect repellent and always reapply (particularly important when it's dusk and there's mosquitoes afoot!).

PRICES

There's two tour options available at Top End Safari Camp: Day Tours and Overnight.

Day tours start from $395 and go for four hours. 

Overnight tours start from $645 and go for twenty hours. The main difference between the two is the overnight tour includes the luxe glamping experience, as well as a gourmet BBQ dinner and breakfast, and star gazing around the fire pit with toasted s'mores.

Both day and overnight tours include the airboat ride, river cruise, helicopter ride, live crocodile feeding experience, delicious lunch and scenic dip in the pool.

VERDICT

Add this to your bucket list immediately.

Without a doubt, it is one of the most incredible - and peak Australian - experiences you will ever do. Crocs, choppers and the most incredible content that will stave off your Euro-trip lust, what more could you ask for? 

The writer was a guest of Tourism NT.