The Natural History Highlights of Papua New Guinea

Fly overnight to Singapore.

Arrive in Singapore and connect with onward flight to Port Moresby.

Arrival in Port Moresby. Assistance provided to connect with flight to Mount Hagen. Met on arrival and transfer to Rondon Ridge. In the afternoon there will be a guided excursion in the lush highland rainforest to look for birds and other wildlife. There are over 180 bird species in the area including 10 species of birds of paradise.

Full day of guided activities in the Waghi Valley visiting some of the local villages. The Mount Hagen area is home to the Melpa people, a community with strong traditions and beliefs who, in the face of modernity, still largely live traditional subsistence lifestyles.

Transfer to the airport and take charter flight to Timbunke. Met on arrival and transfer to your floating lodge on the Sepik River. After lunch there will be a leisurely exploration of the local Kaminimbit I, Kaminimbit II and Kororua village. Discover the fascinating way of life of the people that still live in the same way as their forefathers have for centuries. The villages are particularly famous for their distinctive traditional art and wooden sculptures.

A full day of excursions along the mighty Sepik River and its tributaries to visit and experience the life and customs of the communities living along its banks. There will be plenty of opportunities to buy local crafts and art such as masks, ancestral figures, hand drums, baskets, bilums (colourful woven bags) and gourds. Each village produces its own distinctive style of art and craftwork and you will be spoilt for choice.

Another full day of exploring the Sepik area and its village communities on boat outings from your floating base.

Transfer by riverboat to the airstrip and catch charter flight to Ambua airstrip. Met on arrival and transfer to the lodge. After lunch, there will be a guided excursion in the nearby rainforest including a visit to the Tari Gap for some birding. Thirteen species of bird of paradise inhabit this part of the forest and in the late afternoon many will be displaying. With luck the King of Saxony, Stephanie’s astraphia, ribbontail astraphia and the sicklebill bird of paradise will be seen performing their fabulous displays.

Full day of guided activities in the magnificent Tari Basin and surrounding slopes. This is the home of the Huli clans, one of the largest and most culturally intact ethnic groups in the Southern Highlands and all of PNG. The Huli were only discovered in 1935 and were one of the last groups to come under government control. During a tour of their village there will be the opportunity to meet these proud people and learn about their traditions and way of life, which is still governed by their belief in ancestral spirits and sorcery.

Transfer to the airstrip and take flight to Port Moresby. Connect with flight to Hoskins, the airport for Kimbe, the main town of West New Britain Province. Met on arrival and transfer to your resort by the sea.

Day at leisure. Optional activities/excursions available such as diving, snorkelling, volcano visit, guided birding walks.

A day at leisure to relax or to arrange further activities from the lodge.

Transfer to the airport and catch flight to Port Moresby. Met on arrival in Port Moresby and enjoy a half day tour to the Adventure Park. Later, transfer back to the airport for flight to Singapore. Arrive in Singapore and connect onward to the London.