Arada South East – Liwa Desert Camping Track

For a short drive, don't let the distance fool you. You're still in a remote desert environment.

• 💧 Plenty of drinking water

• ⛽ Enough fuel

• 🥪 Food and snacks

• 🧢 Hat and sunglasses

• 🧴 Sunscreen

• 📱 Offline GPS / GPX

• 🔋 Power bank

• 🩹 First-aid kit

• 🔦 Headlamp

• 🗑️ Rubbish bags

🚙 4x4 Recovery Gear

• Tyre deflator

• Air compressor

• Recovery rope

• Shovel

• Recovery boards

• Tyre repair kit

• Full-size spare tyre

October to April is the best period for enjoying the Arada desert comfortably.

The cooler months make it much easier to combine the drive with camping and exploring the dunes.

🌅 Best Time of Day

🌄 Early morning is excellent for photography and cooler driving.

🌅 Late afternoon is my preferred time if you're camping. Reach your campsite before sunset, set everything up and then watch the dunes change colour.

🌌 Stay overnight and you'll get the full experience.

🌦️ Weather

Liwa can become extremely hot during summer.

Winter conditions are much more comfortable, but desert winds can still reshape the sand and change the appearance of tracks.

Check the weather before leaving the main roads, especially if strong winds or poor visibility are expected.

4x4 is recommended.

The track enters desert terrain where sand conditions can vary. A Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, Prado, Wrangler or similar capable 4WD is appropriate.

Before entering the sand:

Reduce tyre pressure → check recovery equipment → confirm your GPX → then enter the dunes.

This is where I think the track becomes particularly useful for Gypsy Overlanding.

The short route gives you access to the surrounding desert where you can look for a suitable camping location.

However, don't assume that every point along the track is suitable for camping.

Choose a flat, safe location away from:

• Main vehicle tracks

• Steep dune faces

• Infrastructure

• Restricted areas

• Private property

And never leave rubbish behind.

• Don't attempt remote desert driving alone.

• Carry recovery equipment.

• Air down before entering soft sand.

• Carry enough water and fuel.

• Download the KML/GPX before leaving.

• Don't rely completely on mobile coverage.

• Avoid climbing steep slipfaces unless you are experienced.

• Don't camp directly in vehicle tracks.

• Respect the desert environment.

• Take everything you bring back with you.

GPX contains several other tracks that can be combined into a larger Liwa adventure:

• Arada North West

• Moreeb Road

• MZ South

• Pylon Gatch

• Solar Power Oasis Gatch

• Khis Gatch 002

• Hamra Track to Mast

• White Sands

This makes Arada South East better positioned as a short camping/exploration segment within a larger Liwa overlanding trip, rather than a standalone full-day route.

You don't always need a 100-kilometre desert crossing to feel like you're properly off-grid.

This track is only around 3.85 km, but once you leave the road and the dunes surround you, the distance doesn't really matter.

Find a good campsite, park the 4x4, make some coffee and wait for the Liwa sunset.

Sometimes a short track leads to a very long evening.