The country’s ancient cultures still thrive and age-old traditions are still practised – visitors can attend fire-dancing ceremonies and interact with the masked mud-men of Goroka – while remnants of more recent historic events still litter some of the towns and jungles; Japanese war relics are still present in New Britain province from the second world war.
Visitors can find themselves heading to the Highlands to discover the country’s incredible birdlife, before experiencing first hand the culture and traditional lives of the indigenous Huli Wigmen, with vibrantly-painted faces and extravagant headdresses. The explosive Mt Tavurvur – an impressive stratovolcano on the coast of New Britain – is a ‘must see’ when exploring the country’s eastern islands and active travellers seeking a challenge can opt to tackle part of the gruelling Kokoda Trail through rugged landscapes to retrace the steps of wartime POWs.
The video above, courtesy of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, offers a glimpse into the annual Sepik River Crocodile & Arts fetival, a cultural celebration held by the traditional communities of the Sepik River area, in which the freshwater crocodile is revered. Speak to Stef about joining our brand new group tour which attends this event in 2019, and learn about the beliefs and legends that surround this animal.
