Land of unexplored jungles and a diversity of indigenous tribes, Papua New Guinea is an adventurous destination where not everyone dares to go, but where those who dare will surely obtain unforgettable experiences. Try for example exploring the traditional lifestyle of the country's 1,000 different ethnic groups, trekking in the extensive jungles of Papua New Guinea, or diving or surfing in the coastal resort of Madang.
Nature and sports. Papua New Guinea hosts plenty of natural attractions awaiting in the jungles and on the slopes of its fairly inaccessible inland mountains. You can try trekking in Papua New Guinea along the Kokoda Trail through the jungles and rainforests of the country, or visit the Asaro mud men in the hills of the inland Central Province of Papua New Guinea. Surfing in Papua New Guinea is available throughout the year, and the tropical rainforests of PNG offer excellent chances for birdwatching with some unique bird- and wildlife.
Port Moresby. The main traffic hub and the capital of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby, a coastal city that is considered a quite dangerous place for foreigners to be in. However, the city offers some interesting sights such as highly popular botanical gardens, showing astonishing examples of tropical flora and fauna. Also of interest, the city's close surroundings include a traditional Motu village, which introduces you to some of the many traditional cultures of Papua New Guinea.
Madang. An interesting destination in Papua New Guinea, Madang is a small coastal town by the Pacific Ocean, drawing adventurous outdoor people to enjoy the astonishing surroundings offered to diving in Papua New Guinea. Madang is also a good place for exploring the local way of life in the nearby villages, which offer quite safe surroundings for meeting local people. Shopping in Papua New Guinea is also available in bustling local outdoor markets.
Safety. Suffering from internal restlessness, crime and tribal conflicts, which are common between the 1,000 or so tribes of the country, Papua New Guinea is a quite dangerous travel destination. Although the popular tourist areas of the country, such as for example Madang, are much safer than the hot spots of the country (the island of Bougainville, the highland areas of Central PNG and some parts of Port Moresby), you should follow safety procedures also in the safer areas.
Papua New Guinea, land of jungles and indigenous tribes
Papua New Guinea, also known as PNG, is a country with more than 1,000 indigenous tribes speaking more than 800 separate languages and sharing only a few common things except for their home country. However, these people have rich and colorful cultures, which are one of the major attractions of Papua New Guinea, a country of many colorful festivals.Nature and sports. Papua New Guinea hosts plenty of natural attractions awaiting in the jungles and on the slopes of its fairly inaccessible inland mountains. You can try trekking in Papua New Guinea along the Kokoda Trail through the jungles and rainforests of the country, or visit the Asaro mud men in the hills of the inland Central Province of Papua New Guinea. Surfing in Papua New Guinea is available throughout the year, and the tropical rainforests of PNG offer excellent chances for birdwatching with some unique bird- and wildlife.
Port Moresby. The main traffic hub and the capital of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby, a coastal city that is considered a quite dangerous place for foreigners to be in. However, the city offers some interesting sights such as highly popular botanical gardens, showing astonishing examples of tropical flora and fauna. Also of interest, the city's close surroundings include a traditional Motu village, which introduces you to some of the many traditional cultures of Papua New Guinea.
Madang. An interesting destination in Papua New Guinea, Madang is a small coastal town by the Pacific Ocean, drawing adventurous outdoor people to enjoy the astonishing surroundings offered to diving in Papua New Guinea. Madang is also a good place for exploring the local way of life in the nearby villages, which offer quite safe surroundings for meeting local people. Shopping in Papua New Guinea is also available in bustling local outdoor markets.
Papua New Guinea, a hot spot suitable to adventurers
Papua New Guinea enjoys a tropical climate with average monthly high temperatures reaching 28-32°C throughout the year. During the rainy season between November and April, Papua New Guinea meets heavy rainfall, which makes traveling around in the country uncomfortable. Otherwise, Papua New Guinea is a suitable travel destination all through the year.Safety. Suffering from internal restlessness, crime and tribal conflicts, which are common between the 1,000 or so tribes of the country, Papua New Guinea is a quite dangerous travel destination. Although the popular tourist areas of the country, such as for example Madang, are much safer than the hot spots of the country (the island of Bougainville, the highland areas of Central PNG and some parts of Port Moresby), you should follow safety procedures also in the safer areas.
Photo: tarotastic, used under Creative Commons License (by 2.0)
Adding the challenge, earthquakes and tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are common in Papua New Guinea. Therefore, consider twice before visiting PNG, and if you decide to meet the challenge, get more information on current conditions in different parts of the country.
Getting there. Mountainous country consisting of the eastern half of New Guinea Island and a variety of smaller islands, Papua New Guinea is best reached by air. The main airport of PNG is located in Port Moresby and offers flights to Papua New Guinea mainly from Asian locations. As ferry traffic to the country is restricted to few expensive routes and some charters, traveling to Papua New Guinea is mainly done by air.
Getting around. Road network in Papua New Guinea is limited and local roads are mainly in bad condition, in addition to which driving around is disturbed also with violent attacks and robberies. Therefore, renting a car in Papua New Guinea is not a good idea. There are some minibuses available for public transport in PNG, but their timetables are very unreliable. The best way to get around in the country is by air – if only you are going anywhere with an airport close enough. The limited amount of accommodation in Papua New Guinea offers you interesting experiences, which goes also for food and restaurants in Papua New Guinea.
Short history of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has been inhabited for ages and has a great variety of indigenous cultures. Closer to our days, in 1885, the island of New Guinea was divided into three parts, with the northern part belonging to Germany, the western to Holland and the southern to UK. The area ruled by Britain was transferred to Australia in 1902, which also gained the rule of the northern part of the island during World War I, and continued to rule the whole area of PNG until the independence of Papua New Guinea in 1975. The western part of New Guinea now belongs to Indonesia.During the independent years, Papua New Guinea has gone through some quite restless times including violent tribal conflicts and a civil war on the island of Bougainville. Today, Papua New Guinea remains largely a tribal society with problems to adapt to the fast pace of modernization. Mining and logging bring money to the government, but also create local conflicts.
