General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Papua New Guinea. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document that will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING AND EXITING PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Travelers must possess a valid passport, onward/return airline ticket, and proof of sufficient funds for the intended visit. Travelers may obtain business or tourist visas (valid for stays of up to 60 days, with extensions available for an additional 30 days) upon arrival at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby. WINGS will send you a visa application form and a letter to accompany the form when we issue the invoice. All persons boarding international flights originating from Papua New Guinea pay a departure fee, which should be included in airline fares.
MAPS AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: Maps of Papua New Guinea in the collections of the University of Texas can be viewed on line. The US Department of State’s Background Note is here.
CLIMATE: The weather in the mountain areas, such as around Mt Hagen and Ambua Lodge, varies from cold at night to warm and sunny at mid-day. However, cooler, cloudy days do occur, and rain is likely. In the lowlands it is likely to be warm to hot (68-86°F) with high humidity, making it feel hotter than it really is. On the coast, sea breezes help, but be prepared for hot and humid conditions, especially during the middle of the day.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: This tour is moderately strenuous, requiring the ability to walk for three to four hours at a time on forest trails. If it has rained, the trails can be wet and muddy. Those who don’t bring rubber boots should be prepared to risk getting wet and muddy up to their ankles.
Due to the early morning bird activity typical of tropical regions (and especially evident in Papua New Guinea), we’ll want to be out in the field at dawn each day. This will mean early breakfasts, usually around 5:00-5:30. We’ll spend the mornings in the field, taking a packed lunch with us or returning to our accommodation to eat. In lowland areas, including the islands and Kiunga, we’ll avoid the midday heat and humidity with a break after lunch, then venture out again in mid- to late afternoon. We’ll compile our daily bird checklist before or just after dinner, then retire early (especially when we’re making an early start the next day). There will be some optional after-dinner excursions to look for nocturnal birds such as owls, nightjars, and frogmouths.
We try to make as many of our birding excursions as possible optional, so that if you find the pace too tiring it is possible for you to take the occasional morning or afternoon off. At Ambua Lodge there are also opportunities at additional cost (paid individually directly to the lodge staff) to take cultural excursions organized by the lodge, probably in the company of other lodge guests, led by a member of the lodge staff.
HEALTH: Please consult with your physician or a physician specializing in travel medicine well in advance of tour departure. Although yellow fever is not a disease risk in Papua New Guinea, the government requires travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. Be sure that your routine vaccinations are up to date, such as those for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT). Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and Japanese encephalitis vaccines are also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control; rabies vaccination is recommended only for travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, including wildlife professionals, researchers, veterinarians, or adventure travelers visiting areas where bats are commonly found.
There is a risk of malaria in all areas in Papua New Guinea at elevations below 5,900 feet. The CDC lists the following antimalarial drugs for Papua New Guinea: atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine (primaquine in special circumstances and only after G6PD testing). Note that chloroquine is NOT an effective antimalarial drug in Papua New Guinea and should not be taken to prevent malaria in this region. You should purchase your antimalarial drugs before travel. Drugs purchased overseas may not be manufactured according to United States standards and may not be effective. They may also be dangerous, contain counterfeit medications or contaminants, or be combinations of drugs that are not safe to use. Halofantrine (marketed as Halfan) is widely used overseas to treat malaria. The CDC recommends that you NOT use halofantrine because of serious heart-related side effects, including deaths.
The drinking water served at meals in our hotels and lodges has been boiled or otherwise treated and should be safe to drink, though bottled water is available for purchase by those who prefer it. Any travel can cause minor intestinal upsets, and we advise bringing appropriate medicine. As it may be difficult to obtain personal medication during the tour, be sure to bring adequate supplies with you.
For further information on health, please consult your personal physician and read the relevant web pages of the Centers for Disease Control.
INSECTS: Bring a strong repellent against mosquitoes, sand flies, chiggers, and leeches, which we may encounter at times. Insects can be particularly numerous in the lowland rainforest. Repellents containing at least 35%-40% of the active ingredient diethyltoluamide (DEET) are the most effective.
ACCOMMODATION: Our hotel close to the airport in Port Moresby has good rooms with private bathroom facilities, air conditioning, ceiling fans, and a television. The Kiunga Guest House is a pleasant but small establishment on the edge of town; all rooms have air conditioning, ceiling fans, and private bathroom facilities. Kumul Lodge is an attractively located lodge in the mountains of the Western Highlands; each very comfortable room has its own private facilities and electricity at night (mountain storms may result in occasional power outages). Ambua Lodge is a beautifully situated up-market lodge overlooking the Tari valley; each of the thatch-roofed cabanas has electricity and its own private bathroom facilities. Please note that rooms can be some distance from the dining room/lounge, and although we request rooms as close as possible, you may still have to walk uphill from your room to reach the dining room.
During the extension we stay at a resort in West New Britain, where rooms are self-contained and very comfortable, with private bathroom facilities In Manus the Harbourside Hotel in Lorengau has self-contained rooms with private bathroom facilities.
DRINKS: Bottled water and a soft drink or beer are provided at lunch and dinner, as is coffee or tea. All other drinks or drinking water for use in your room and during the day are the responsibility of the individual.
DRESS: Neat, informal dress is accepted in most places. Shorts are commonly worn throughout Papua New Guinea.
TRANSPORT: Ground transportation will be by small coach and minibus; because bus sizes vary from location to location, at times every seat on the bus may be occupied. A rotational system is used to allow everyone the opportunity to sit in the most (and least) comfortable seats. Papua New Guinea’s internal road network is still very limited, so we’ll also travel by air, using scheduled flights.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS OF WINGS AND SUNBIRD TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information and Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of tours, and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
FINAL INFORMATION: Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be sent to you about three weeks before departure. If you have any questions about any aspect of the tour, please contact us.
11/08