Twenty vehicles, plus committee and crew, set off on Sunday October 4 and are expected to return to town on Friday, October 16.

The safari, in its 19th year, involves 2960 kilometers of

travel during 13 days, and is the biggest fundraiser in Lightning Ridge.

This year travellers will be heading towards the Queensland Fraser coast, and will include sites such as Queensland’s number 1 outback pub in Nindigully, Carnarvon Gorge, the famous ‘Red Claw’ at Fairburn Dam, Mount Morgan, Rainbow Beach and the Bunya National Park.

Organised by members of the police, ambulance and SES, as well as Lightning Ridge community members, the Bush Safari has in previous years made its way to Cape York, the Kimberleys and the Top End.

Former Lightning Ridge-based police sergeant Stan Single started the Bush Safari back in 1990 as a fundraiser for the Lightning Ridge SES and the local school.

Since then, the annual event has raised more than $250 000 for community groups that operate within the township.

Local police officers Senior Constable Shane Pitt and Detective Trent Swinton are representing the Lightning Ridge Station on the safari.