Our Papua New Guinea Highlights tour has been specifically crafted to take in the region’s very best sites, from Mount Hagen and Rondon Ridge to the lowlands of Varirata and Kiunga, and is designed for those with less time to spare in the field, yet still wishing for a comprehensive overview of this exceptional land. We bird in areas rich with avian diversity giving ample opportunity for finding many of the area’s most sought-after species. Fabulous birds-of-paradise will feature highly, while we will also enjoy some incredible fruit doves, kingfishers, parrots, honeyeaters, bowerbirds and a couple of endemic families such as berrypeckers and longbills. This tour can also be linked with our New Britain Endemics Extension for a wonderful two week exploration.
*2024 Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Top Birds Papuan Eagle, 15+ Bird-of-paradise species!, Zoe’s Imperial & Pheasant Pigeon, Wattled Ploughbill, Crested Satinbird, Painted Quail-thrush, Brehm’s Tiger Parrot, Papuan Lorikeet, Lesser Melampitta, Emperor Fairywren, Crested Berrypecker & Mountain Firetail
Top Mammals Spectacled Dasyure, Black-tailed Giant Rat, Agile Wallaby
Habitats Covered lowland and montane rainforest, secondary forest, Eucalyptus savanna, mangroves, grasslands, wetlands
Expected Climate hot and humid with tropical showers, cooler in the highlands
Max Group Size 8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
Tour Pace & Walking moderate pace with some longer hikes
Accommodation comfortable to luxurious hotels and lodges
Ease of Birding moderate, can be challenging at times
Other Attractions traditional carvings, spectacular forest vistas and mountain scenery
Photographic Opportunities good
The credit for the trip’s success goes to our guides, Glen Valentine and David Erterius. Both have seemingly limitless knowledge of the birds, extrasensory capacities to find them, apparently endless patience and generosity with their clients, and (critically) wonderful senses of humor. They consistently squeezed more out of the birds, the environment, and the experience than I thought possible.
Andre and Lev were excellent guides, and ensured we had a great time, even when birding, the weather, or the inevitable logistical challenges of travel within PNG seemed to do their best to thwart us. They did an excellent job of managing expectations, but also ensuring that as many people in the group got to see the birds, while also understanding that not everyone would see ingle bird. Difficulties, whether with accommodations, weather, or even participants, were dealt with quickly, and I have no doubt far more issues were cleared before the group was even aware they existed! I look forward to returning to New Guinea (including West Papua) with Rockjumper soon, and also exploring more birding destinations with Lev and Andre or the other excellent guides you have!
I thought Lev Frid did a great job in managing the tour.
Dušan Brinkhuizen was very personable, great birder, keen on helping us all see the species.
This has been an incredible tour with Stephan Lorenz and Dušan Brinkhuizen as amazing guides. Experts in their knowledge of the New Guinea birds and wonderful companions who looked after the needs of all the participants. We all worked as a team under their guidance and saw many challenging as well as beautiful birds.