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Papua New Guinea - Birds-of-paradise & Central Highlands (Relaxed)

© Blue Bird-of-paradise by Dusan Brinkhuizen
Papua New Guinea - Birds-of-paradise & Central Highlands (Relaxed) 2028

04 Jun 2028 - 17 Jun 2028 (14 days)

PGK38,500 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Joshua Olszewski

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Tour Leader: Nigel Redman

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Tour Price (Per person): PGK38,500 (USD8,857 * GBP6,697 * EUR7,780 * AUD12,565)

Flight costs: PGK1,500 (USD345 * GBP261 * EUR303 * AUD490)

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*

Papua New Guinea - Birds-of-paradise & Central Highlands (Relaxed) 2029

15 Jun 2029 - 28 Jun 2029 (14 days)

PGK41,500 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth

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Tour Leader: Gregory de Klerk

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Tour Price (Per person): PGK41,500 (USD9,547 * GBP7,219 * EUR8,387 * AUD13,544)

Flight costs: PGK1,500 (USD345 * GBP261 * EUR303 * AUD490)

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*

Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s great birding destinations, a land of extraordinary forests, dramatic mountains and some of the most spectacular birds on Earth. Foremost among these are the legendary birds-of-paradise, whose dazzling colours, elaborate plumes and remarkable displays have fascinated naturalists for centuries. On this specially designed Relaxed tour, we place these iconic birds firmly at centre stage, combining excellent highland birding with carefully chosen lowland sites and plenty of time to enjoy the experience rather than simply race after an ever-growing species list.

Beginning around Port Moresby, we explore the forests, wetlands and savannas of Brown River, Hisiu and Varirata National Park, where an impressive variety of parrots, fruit doves, kingfishers, honeyeaters and other New Guinea specialities provides a superb introduction to the island’s birdlife. We then travel into the Central Highlands, spending extended periods at renowned birding locations including Kumul, Magic Mountain and Rondon Ridge. Here the focus shifts strongly towards birds-of-paradise, with opportunities to watch and photograph several species from established feeding areas, hides and blinds, alongside a fascinating supporting cast of highland endemics.

Rather than attempting to cover enormous distances or pursue every difficult forest skulker, this itinerary concentrates on rewarding sites, memorable birds and prolonged viewing opportunities. The result is a gentler and more immersive introduction to Papua New Guinea: spectacular birds-of-paradise, beautiful mountain scenery, rich forest birding and some of the finest wildlife experiences this remarkable country has to offer.

Top Birds

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise; Blue Bird-of-paradise; King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise; Ribbon-tailed & Princess Stephanie's Astrapias; Lawes's Parotia; Greater Lophorina; Magnificent & Lesser Birds-of-paradise; Brown Sicklebill; Short-tailed Paradigalla; Growling Riflebird; Mottled Berryhunter; Blue-capped Ifrit; Wattled Ploughbill; Crested & Loria's Satinbirds; Eastern Crested & Tit Berrypeckers; Yellow-breasted & Black-breasted Boatbills; MacGregor's Bowerbird; Emperor Fairywren; Brehm's Tiger Parrot; Stella's & Goldie's Lorikeets; Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher; Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher; Barred Owlet-nightjar; Papuan Frogmouth.

Top Mammals

Spectacled Dasyure

Habitats Covered

lowland and montane rainforest, secondary forest, Eucalyptus savanna, mangroves, grasslands, wetlands

Expected Climate

hot and humid with tropical showers on the coast, cooler in the highlands

Max Group Size

7 with 1 Rockjumper Leader / 8 - 10 with 2 Rockjumper leaders

Tour Pace & Walking

MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.

Easy to Moderate. A relaxed-paced tour with limited strenuous activity, but some uneven forest trails, altitude & occasionally rough road conditions.

Accommodation

Comfortable. Particularly good at Rondon Ridge, with simpler but well-located highland lodges elsewhere.

Ease of Birding

Easy to Moderate. Much of the birding is around lodge gardens, feeders, hides, forest edge & open habitats. Some forest birding can be slower, but we largely avoid difficult skulking species.

Photographic Opportunities

Good, especially around lodge gardens, feeders & dedicated photographic hides, with opportunities for several birds-of-paradise at close range.

What our clients say about us

Dušan Brinkhuizen
GH, Papua New Guinea 2018

Special thanks to Dušan Brinkhuizen for his care in helping me to locate birds on my camcorder.

Glen Valentine
AH, Papua New Guinea 2018

Glen Valentine was excellent, seeing and hearing most of the target birds, despite a very chatty, enthusiastic group that must have been very challenging at times.

Stephan Lorenz
JC - PNG 2022

The tour was excellent overall. The main guide, Stephan Lorentz, was really top class. His knowledge of the birds and calls and the fine id details was exceptional and his field skills were awesome, outdoing the local guides at times. And he is extremely personable and friendly. The local guides were also excellent and provided an exceptionally high level of field skill and support, and great enthusiasm in getting pax onto the more challenging birds. And physical support also, including even helping some of the pax on slippery slopes and cutting stairs on river landings at times!! The landed arrangements were generally slick and the accommodation of good quality. Overall it was an exceptional and really memorable tour with superb birds and birding, much or most of which would not have been possible without the Rockjumper team, slick tour planning and arrangements, Stephan and the local guides.

Stephan Lorenz
PM - Papua New Guinea 2019

Stephan is an incredibly great guide and New Guinea is a wonderful birding destination.

Stephan Lorenz
JG & GG - PNG Tailor-made 2022

Birding in PNG was a little more challenging that expected, ..... the birds are as shy as anything I've experienced and the bird densities were extremely low. Of course that is not the fault of Rockjumper or the guides. The tour was excellent overall. The main guide, Stephan Lorentz, was really top class. His knowledge of the birds and calls and the fine id details was exceptional and his field skills were awesome, outdoing the local guides at times. And he is extremely personable and friendly. The local guides were also excellent and provided an exceptionally high level of field skill and support, and great enthusiasm in getting pax onto the more challenging birds. And physical support also, including even helping some of the pax on slippery slopes and cutting stairs on river landings at times!! The landed arrangements were generally slick and the accommodation of good quality. Some delays in getting collected at Kiunga airport were I think down to some communication issues with the local agent (Samuel) regarding the rerouting of our flights from Mt Hagen. And the offloading of three of our bags from the plane at Kiunga and delay in getting them back to us in Port Moresby was an Air Niugini issue. Overall it was an exceptional and really memorable tour with superb birds and birding, much or most of which would not have been possible without the Rockjumper team, slick tour planning and arrangements, Stephan and the local guides.

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Tour Route Map