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
Both Lev Frid and Andre Bernon were excellent guides. Lev was particularly emphatic about the vagaries of travel in PNG and the propensity for things to go wrong. Despite his warnings, the trip went extremely smoothly; the accommodation was all great be it the highly rustic (Kwatu) or high end (Walindi); the Papuan guides and ground team were very good; it was nice to see that Rockjumper was clearly supporting the local organisations; and overall both the Rockjumper guides and the Papuan bird guides were very knowledgeable. Overall, a really excellent experience on the ground.
We thought the birding went very well. Both Dusan and Stephan were great guides - very knowledgeable, very dedicated, quite determined to get everyone onto pretty much everything, and they combined very well. And, they both tried very hard to help all the participants who needed it, whether it was locating a bird, getting up a steep section or getting in or out of the boats. They did an admirable job.
I thought Lev Frid did a great job in managing the tour.
The birds were magnificent, and when you combine this with the awesome guide combo of Adam Walleyn and the 'Big G' (Gareth Robbins), it made for a once in a lifetime trip. Thanks again Rockjumper for delivering a first-class birding experience.
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!