PNG Birding and Tribal Photo Tour 2025 - Papua New Guinea

After touching down in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea's vibrant capital, we’ll transfer to a domestic flight heading to Mount Hagen, located in the stunning Western Highlands. Upon arrival, we'll check into our accommodation, allowing plenty of time to rest and recover from the journey. Surrounded by lush landscapes and highland beauty, this peaceful evening sets the tone for the extraordinary experiences ahead.

Settle into your accommodation and take time to relax after your journey. If time permits, explore the town, perhaps visiting the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre or enjoying the tranquil landscapes of a nearby coffee plantation. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at your hotel, savoring local Tanzanian cuisine and resting up for the exciting days ahead.

Our days in Mount Hagen will follow an immersive, rhythmic pattern of nature exploration and cultural encounters. We’ll start each day early, embarking on an invigorating hike to a secluded birding hide deep in the forest. Here, we’ll have the chance to spot one of the rare Birds of Paradise, renowned for their vibrant colors and unique displays. Watching these birds perform their courtship dance in the early morning light is a magical experience, and we’ll have ample time to photograph their intricate plumage and graceful movements.

Once we've captured these remarkable scenes, we’ll gradually make our way back down the trail, keeping our eyes peeled for other exotic birds along the way. Papua New Guinea is home to nearly 800 bird species, so there’s always a new bird or two to catch sight of on each descent, from the vibrant parrots and kingfishers to shy forest-dwellers that reward a patient eye.

In the afternoons, we’ll alternate between two activities:

Tribal Village Visits: We’ll visit nearby villages for authentic encounters with the highland tribes, famous for their vividly painted faces, ornate headdresses, and unique customs. These interactions offer incredible photography opportunities and a chance to learn about the tribes' traditions, stories, and lifestyle. Local guides will be on hand to translate and facilitate these respectful exchanges, allowing us to capture genuine moments.

Additional Birdwatching: For those interested, we can enjoy another round of birdwatching in the surrounding forested areas. With varied elevations and forest habitats, each location offers a unique mix of avian species, ensuring no two afternoons are the same.

Each day will end with a return to our comfortable lodge, where we can relax and exchange stories of the day’s sightings, photographs, and experiences with other travelers.

We’ll rise early to catch our morning flight back to Port Moresby, where we’ll spend our last night in Papua New Guinea. After checking into our hotel, if time allows, we’ll visit Port Moresby Nature Park, a well-kept sanctuary that brings us close to the region’s iconic wildlife, from cassowaries to tree kangaroos and tropical birds. For bird enthusiasts, this park provides a final opportunity to photograph native species in more accessible environments before our departure.

After breakfast, we’ll head to the airport for our departure back to Singapore, taking with us memories of breathtaking landscapes, stunning wildlife, and unforgettable cultural encounters in Papua New Guinea.