Papua New Guinea Revealed

Papua New Guinea Revealed

Style: TravellerCultural discovery away from the crowds
Duration: 9 days
Type: PrivateExclusive departures for you, your friends and family

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Dossier

New Guinea, the last great land mass to remain unexplored, still remains a place of great wonder and mystery. Exotic animals, extraordinary art and flamboyant warriors await the curious traveller. The tour begins in the Tari valley, home of the colourful Huli, a race whose right of passage for young men is to grow their own human hair wigs. In the forest surrounding the valley awaits a plethora of thirteen species of birds of paradise and a whole host of unique orchid species. From there, our journey continues to the Sepik Region and Karawari Lodge - an area that was still restricted as recently as the 1960's. Discover river life on the Karawari River and spectacular indigenous art as well as an incredible array of parrots and orchids. From the Sepik Region and back to the highlands to explore the world of the Melpa people. Exploration continues in this area where no white foot had ever trodden until the mid 1930's. Forget the clichés – this is a real opportunity to go where few western travellers have gone before.

Day 1 – Port Moresby
Arrive in Port Moresby, the lively capital of Papua New Guinea. Overnight Airways Hotel or similar.

Port Moresby
The capital of Papua New Guinea is built around the island’s largest natural harbour and is home to highest population density in the country. It owes its existence to British colonists, who established the city in the late 19th century, although the region itself had been previously populated by the Motu and Koitabu people. The name comes from the first British sailor to sight the harbour, Captain John Moresby, who sailed past in 1873, but it was not until some years later that a settlement began to spring up. Port Moresby as with the rest of Papua New Guinea was underdeveloped by both British and Australian administrations but after PNG gained its independence it was proclaimed as the capital of the nation.

Day 2 – Tari
Our adventure begins with a flight from Port Moresby to Tari - home of the Huli, a colourful and proud people still largely living the same way that their ancestors did. On arrival transfer to Ambua Lodge, high on the slopes of the Tari Valley, with magnificent views of the valley below and surrounding peaks. The afternoon is spent exploring the area surrounding Ambua. High mountain forests with roaring waterfalls beckon the intrepid traveller. Overnight Ambua Lodge (LD)

The Huli people
The Huli are perhaps one of the most colourful tribes to be found anywhere in the world and have graced the pictures of many an article on Papua New Guinea. Living a strictly segregated life, boys are taken from their mothers at an early age to live with the men and learn how to become warriors. During times of celebration and war, Huli men paint their faces with yellow clay known as ambua and don elaborate headgear made from human hair, often decorated with leaves and the feathers of local birds including the birds of paradise. The growing of hair for these ‘wigs’ is an elaborate and complex process; Huli men retreat into the forest and isolate themselves from other villagers, instructed by a mentor who also infuses magic spells into their hair before it is finally cut off and turned into a wig. Like most tribes in Papua New Guinea the Huli have a strong belief in the supernatural world and believe that spirits inhabit many inanimate objects, having a variety of dances and ceremonies to communicate with them. The Huli are also a fierce people and disputes with neighbouring clans can often result in deaths, although this is nothing to worry about for the visitor. The Huli rely on staple vegetables such as sweet potato and the ubiquitous pigs, found running wild throughout the villages and very valuable. Wildlife is also hunted for its meat and its pelts.

Ambua Lodge
Ambua Lodge is a delightful mixture of local architecture, sweeping views and modest luxury, all the more surprising when you consider how remote this region is. Accommodation is in thatched bungalows which look out over the valley, while the restaurant and bar building enjoys the same panoramic views and has a great collection of books, articles and films about Papua New Guinea to while away the evening hours. Every accommodation unit is reached by a series of paths and steps, downhill on the way home to bed and uphill to the main lodge for breakfast. Ambua is at an altitude of 7000 feet or 2100 metres, and that along with the gently sloping paths may cause you to breathe heavier than normal. Take your time, enjoy the magnificent mountain air and scenery and the beautiful flower gardens surrounding each accommodation unit and along the paths.

Days 3-4 – Tari
Spend two full days exploring the cultural and ecological wonders of the region. Visit Huli villages and witness their complex vibrant traditional culture, watching the dances of the Huli wig men, visiting a local soothsayer and learning how the people interact with and use their environment. The Tari area is home to an incredible 13 species of birds of paradise, as well as numerous orchid species, which we seek out. Overnight Ambua Lodge. (BLD)

Days 5-6 - Karawari
Fly by charter aircraft to Karawari airstrip over some of the most rugged and impressive landscapes in the world. The country between Ambua and the Sepik region is an amazing array of jagged limestone that seem to rise and drop at impossible angles. From the airstrip, transfer by river boat to Karawari Lodge. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, Karawari Lodge boasts a spectacular view over hundreds of kilometres of dense tropical jungle. With this as our base we explore the Sepik region, visiting picturesque villages dotted around the river banks and looking for wildlife such as parrots and birds of paradise. We meet people who have had very little contact with the outside world and are privileged to gain insights into their lifestyle. Overnight Karawari Lodge. (BLD)

The Sepik region
The Sepik region is an area of steamy jungles, languid rivers and colourful people, dominated by the mighty Sepik River, Papua New Guinea’s longest waterway. Most of the region is inaccessible apart from by long boat journeys or small aircraft – there are no major towns here and life continues much as it has for millennia. Villages made entirely from local materials are built alongside the banks of the various rivers, their inhabitants living on a diet that consists largely of sago from the sago palm – a useful if rather monotonous staple. This is one of the least explored regions of Papua New Guinea – indeed it is possible that there are still groups here which have had no contact with the western world. The Sepik played a large part in the research of the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead, who spent two years in the region studying the local people back in the 1930s. Traditionally life in the region was centred around the haus tambaran – a spirit house adorned with carvings of the gods to which the men of the village went to communicate with spirits. Sadly most of these were destroyed during the Second World War by bombing raids, but the Sepik is still renowned for the quality of its wood carvings – collectors of ethnic art will be astounded at the quality and variety of wooden masks and statues.

Karawari Lodge
Karawari Lodge is situated on a ridge overlooking the Karawari River, a tributary of the mighty Sepik. Here you are entirely disconnected from the outside world – there are no roads at all to the region, apart from the short track that leads from the jetty up to the lodge. Accommodation is in rustic cabins built with local materials with a view of either the forest or the river, and the main building has a superb balcony in which you can sit while enjoying a drink and watching the sun set over a sea of green. The bar and restaurant is richly decorated with carvings from the region, many of which are enormous and showcase the fabulous craftsmanship of the local people.

Days 7-8 – Mount Hagen
Fly from Karawari to Mount Hagen. During the flight mountains rise up to startling heights out of the flat lands of the Sepik Basin. The town of Mount Hagen is in the upper Wahgi Valley - a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world. We spend our time exploring the Hagen Area and Wahgi Valley. The Mount Hagen area is the home of the Melpa people, a people with a strong culture, who in the face of modernity still live largely traditional subsistence lifestyles. In the mountains surrounding the Wahgi Valley lives a stunning array of bird, orchid and plant life. Return to Port Moresby on Day 8. Overnight Rondon Ridge and Airways Hotel. (BL)

The Wahgi Valley
The Wahgi Valley was completely unexplored up until the 1930s, when the Leahy brothers flew over in light aircraft to conduct an aerial reconnaissance study of the highlands. They found a heavily populated valley, previously unknown to the Australian government, at that time in control of Papua New Guinea. Returning later on foot they became the first westerners to make contact with the people of the valley. Today the Wahgi Valley is populated largely by the Melpa, an ethnic group totalling around 60,000. The Melpa largely follow a traditional way of life with belief in the spirits of dead ancestors forming a strong part of their cultural identity.

Day 9 – Port Moresby
Transfer to the aiport to connect with your onward flight. Tour ends. (B)

Tour style: Traveller

Inclusions:
Arrival and departure transfers
All accommodation on twin share basis
Internal flights
Services of English speaking guides
Meals as listed (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)
Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Excluded:
International flights
Any airport taxes
Travel Insurance
Visas
Drinks

Please note that you should also read the Country Notes in association with this itinerary for practical information about your trip and the destination you will be visiting.

The itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled with care and provided in good faith. However it may be subject to change, and does not form part of a contract between the client and Undiscovered Destinations.