Caravan critters (6)
I believe the answer is:
camels
'caravan critters' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for camels that I've seen before include "Old planes" , "Animals known as ships of the desert" , "Dromedaries" , "Arabs call them ships of the desert" , "Mammals of desert areas" .)