SAL SALIS BRINGS WILD BUSH LUXURY TO NINGALOO REEF

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef will bring the concept of ‘wild bush luxury’ to the Western Australian coast when it opens on July 1, 2008. Taking its inspiration from luxury African safari camps and its sister property, Bamurru Plains in the Northern Territory, Sal Salis is the first property of its style and standard in the Ningaloo region, which is renowned for its 280-kilometre-long fringing reef and as the best place in the world to swim with whale sharks and manta rays.

Sal Salis’s five individual, luxury wilderness tents are uniquely situated in the heart of the Cape Range National Park, sheltered among the sand dunes on a deserted stretch of beach where the magnificent corals of the Ningaloo Reef (considered to be comparable or superior in colour, quantity and condition to those of the Great Barrier Reef) are just metres from shore.

Privacy is assured by the property’s location, but isolation doesn’t preclude creature comforts: each tent is appointed with fine furnishings and linen and the dining room serves the best and freshest Australian produce, beautifully prepared by the resident chef and accompanied by fine wines. The in-camp experience embodies laid-back luxury, and is designed to underpin the extraordinary nature-based activities that can be undertaken in the area.

The Ningaloo Reef is world-famous for its pristine condition and for the massive – but harmless – whale sharks that visit between April and June each year. Excursions to swim with the whale sharks or manta rays, to SCUBA dive and fish can be arranged. From Sal Salis, it’s possible to wade in from the beach to snorkel with prolific marine life on one of the world’s best coral reefs, in shallow water just metres from shore. Land-based adventures include guided walks into the spectacular gorges of the Cape Range National Park; strolling the deserted beaches or 4WD tours along the coast.

Unusually for a commercial venture, Sal Salis is set in the heart of the Cape Range National Park, which means regular camp ‘visitors’ include red kangaroos, wallaroos, goannas and emus.

The camp was previously known as Ningaloo Reef Retreat. Charles Carlow, of Bamurru Plains, and Stewart Cranswick (previously of Landela Safaris in Zambia and Zimbabwe) have joined with the previous owner, Paul Wittwer and have undertaken extensive renovation and upgrading to bring the property into the realm of iconic Australian wilderness properties.

“Ningaloo Reef is a pristine wilderness destination that has been crying out for high quality experiential accommodation to support the area’s natural attractions. Sal Salis enables us to bring the ‘wild bush luxury’ concept that we introduced at Bamurru Plains in the Top End to Western Australia’s spectacular coast,” explains Charles Carlow, founder of Bamurru Plains.

“We are privileged to be operating in one of the world’s most extraordinary environments,” says Carlow. “We are ensuring that Sal Salis is – and will continue to be – one of Australia’s most ecologically-sound properties. We have developed the accommodation and its operations to make zero impact on the surrounding environment and conservation principles guide everything we do.”

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef has been developed in line with strict guidelines set down by the Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation. All structures are built on platforms above the ground, which minimises impact on the environment; all power is solar generated and water usage is minimal. Experienced naturalist guides and camp staff communicate the environmental message during guest activities. Plans are underway to turn the camp into a carbon neutral operation in the near future.

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef will officially open on July 1. It is located in the north-west cape of Western Australia, an hour’s drive south of Exmouth, and has the best access of any property to the World Heritage-nominated Ningaloo Reef. With just five safari tents accommodating 10 guests, the camp combines exclusivity, an authentic wilderness experience and down to earth, laid-back style.