Part 2 of 8 - My Epic Simpson Desert (Munga Thirri) Crossing

Total days – 13

Total Distance – 3180km (1975mi)

If you missed the first part of this eight-part series, please use the link below to read the start of this amazing trip through Outback Australia.
https://steemit.com/travel/@overlandjournals/my-epic-simpson-desert-munga-thirri-crossing-part-1-of-8-an-underground-city-dynamite-from-the-local-supermarket-sifi-movie-sets

KANKU (BREAKWAYS) CONSERVATION PARK AND THE LONGEST DOG FENCE IN THE WORLD

"Kanku the name given by the Antakirinja Mantuntjara Yankunytjatjara aboriginal people, meaning shelter, as it is a place that provided shelter to all living beings for thousands of years."

Before I set off on this trip, a friend (a seasoned outback traveler) said there was nothing quite like a cold beer whilst watching the sunset at the Breakways. So not wanting to miss out on this experience we headed out on the 35km drive from Coober Pedy.

This conservation park covers approximately 15,000 hectares. This ancient seabed offers fascinating rock formations, hills and cliff edges randomly scattered on a barren desert landscape. The name “Breakways” was given by the European settlers, as the formations seem to break away from each other. The traditional owners of the land are the Antakirinja Mantuntjara Yankunytjatjara aboriginal people. The name Kanku is the name given by the latter, meaning “shelter” as it is a place that provided shelter to all living beings for thousands of years.

Further enhancing this vast landscape is the coarse deep red patches of sand almost mimicking that of Mars (I am yet to tour Mars, so this is what I was told). No wonder it a popular si-fi movie location.

Another sight to take in is the Dingo Fence better known as the Dog Fence, built by farmers during the 1880s to keep Dingos (type of wild dog) away from their livestock. By the time it was completed, it spanned a distance of 5,614km (3,488mi) making this fence one of the longest man-made structures in the world. The fence is still maintained to this day.

We eventually made our way to a cliff edge where we pulled out our chairs, some cold beers and watched the sun set behind the Breakways. No better way to end the second day of our trip.

Seated on a cliff edge, watching the distant Breakaways' landscape change its shades of colour as the sun sets, nothing quite matches the feeling of serenity.

Photograph taken 3 hours before sunset.

Photograph taken 1 hour before sunset.

SIDE EXCURSIONS
As mentioned at the start, this was quite an epic trip. Whilst the series is more focused on the main route I took, there are also many side excursions that was made. Here are a few sights I quite enjoyed:

My first time to taste Camel Milk. Australia has the largest and only wild camel heards in the world.