Bio-diverse, green, beautiful and colourful are words commonly used to describe Papua New Guinea's delicate ecosystem. This island filled with diverse cultures offers a one-of-a-kind adventure for eco-travelers.
By Pamela Grant
Off the coast of north Australia sits the world's second largest island, and the eastern half is the country of Papua New Guinea. With a population of 8 million people per the World Bank, the country boasts a remarkable linguistic diversity of 800 different languages.
Diversity defines most of this island. There is diverse flora and fauna, diverse geography, and diverse cultures. Some of the people still live in remote mountains and seldom interact with anyone outside their villages or tribes.
This is a spot for trekkers, bird watchers, divers, surfers, canoers, fishing lovers, and travelers looking for spots on the earth where they can be culturally immersed without the sound of traffic and hordes of visitors who make it impossible to enjoy the sights and sounds in so many popular destinations today. Lying entirely in the tropics, there are fertile lowlands and high mountains and everything in between.
Exploring this island is an experience unlike any other because of the colours found anywhere you look – at the plants, at the lush rainforest, at the painted faces of the indigenous people, at the blue water ocean, and at the animal life which includes the rare great bird-of-paradise.
Eco-Treasures Found Around Every Curve
Papua New Guinea is not to be confused with the countries of Equatorial Guinea, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, which are in the West African region. Papua New Guinea is in the southwest Pacific and was settled more than 30,000 years ago. The first Europeans to visit were Portuguese explorers in 1512, followed by the Dutch. In 1920, the country was given to Australia and gained independence in September 1975. Today, it is a member of the British Commonwealth.
This small half of an island is culturally, biologically and environmentally diverse. The 800 languages account for approximately a third of the world's indigenous languages. Visitors can usually get by linguistically speaking because most Papua New Guineans speak Tok Pisin (Pidgin).
Though remote, the island country has its development. The capital city of Port Moresby has highways, tall office buildings and luxury hotels, but it is mostly business travelers making use of the big city fixtures. Ecotravelers are more interested in what Papua New Guinea has to offer outside the city.
Lying just south of the equator, there are four regions – the Highlands, Momase, Southern and New Guinea Islands. Luckily for ecotravelers, the country remains gloriously undeveloped in most regions. These regions hold volcanic mountains, tropical rainforest, the winding Karawari River, spectacular coral atolls and thunderous waterfalls.
Take a Long Trek or Take a Canoe Trip
Following is a sample of the splendors Papua New Guinea holds to tempt Eco travelers.
The Southern Region is where Port Moresby is located and holds Port Moresby Nature Park, a combined botanical and zoological park and garden dedicated to preserving local flora and fauna. There is also a wildlife sanctuary 14 miles outside the city, which is dedicated to breeding birds-of-paradise. Milne Bay is the place for an opportunity to spot any of the 269 birds of the 700 species living in Papua New Guinea.
In the Highlands Region, there are coffee plantations, rugged mountains, steep valleys and diverse cultures. Found in this region is the Ramu River, Aure and Wahgi River systems. Birds-of-paradise in the wild are plentiful around Lake Kutubu, and true virgin rainforest filled with wildlife is found in the Wasi Winters Wildlife Management Area. Hardy hikers can take long walking treks, like from Pimaga to Gesege Village, and then go by canoe to a lodge at Tage Point. Lodges in the area can arrange guided tours, which is advisable. For a wilderness thrill, climb to the peak of Mt. Wilhelm or hike to Mt. Hagen.
In Momase, there are more mountains and lush rainforest that is filled with colourful orchards and even more colourful tropical birds. This region holds the Huon Gulf where divers can visit the coral reefs, ecologically threatened in so many other places around the world. When ready to reach for the sky again, trek to Mt. Tambu; go bushwalking around Lake Wanam; view leatherback turtles; or take a day trip to Kranket, Siar, and Samun Islands to enjoy snorkeling and swimming.
Found in the New Guinea Islands Region is the largest offshore islands in Papua New Guinea and part of the Bismarck Archipelago. Pomio offers caving. It is also filled with WWII historical sites, like the Japanese Barge Tunnels and the Bitapaka War Cemetery. The New Britain Province is filled with volcanoes, some of them active.
Living an Ancient Life
In all of the regions, thriving traditional cultures are nurtured in villages scattered around the rugged terrain.
Asoro Mudmen will show visitors how villagers once used scary masks made of baked clay that fit like helmets to frighten their enemies, while in Tari, local Wigmen isolate themselves for long periods of time to grow hair which is ceremonially harvested and then used to make elabourate wigs worth a lot of money to Huli men.
In some areas, an ancient way of life has never changed. For example, tribal fighting is still ongoing in Enga Province, located in the Highlands Region. This is a good reminder that joining a guided tour is the safest way to explore remote areas.
The many festivals held throughout the year give visitors opportunities to enjoy tribal dances and to witness the elabourate traditional face and body painting. It is a rainbow of colours in paint, feathers, handmade jewelry, grass skirts and masks. It is common to come across elabourate rituals that mourn death, celebrate marriage, initiate tribe members or celebrate an occasion with special feasts. Always remember the tribal chiefs and elders hold traditional authority and should always be respected.
Stay in a remote lodge and immerse yourself in a land that time has forgotten. If you are a lucky visitor, you will get a big dose of flora and fauna colour and opportunities to watch people weave fishing baskets just like they have for thousands of years.
How long can the island country maintain its traditional way of life? That is a very good question with no answer.