Papua New Guinea Anthropology & Tribes
The 'Tumbuna' Show (Tok Pisin for ancestors) is held annually in the beautiful Paiyagona Valley, a 45 minute drive from Mount Hagen.
The show is attended by over 300 tribesmen and women from more than 15 different tribes in the highlands and coastal areas of the mainland. The show is “small” in comparison to the more famous provincial shows, but its relaxed intimacy and friendliness, combined with its stunning village location make it one of the most memorable shows in PNG. Guests will be able to watch the groups dress up and prepare their bilas (traditional dress) before the dancing starts, and are then free to mingle with the performers and even take part in the festivities.
In true “Tumbuna” style for a celebration of this nature, a big “mumu” (underground oven) is fired up for lunch, and guests are free to explore the village and socialise with the local residents. The Tumbuna Show is a grand celebration of culture and tradition - celebrating 'pasin bilong tumbuna,' - the way of the ancestors.
Our “Tumbuna Show Tour” is an unescorted 12 day / 11 night program beginning in Port Moresby. From there you will fly with Air Niugini to Tari for 3 nights at our award winning eco-lodge - Ambua - home of the flamboyant Huli Wigmen. During your stay at Ambua, you will learn all about this fascinating culture and have the opportunity to see rare Birds of Paradise during morning birding tours.
From the Southern Highlands we fly you across the majestic Central Ranges into the lowlands of the Sepik Basin for a night at Karawari Lodge before boarding the “floating lodge”, the MV Sepik Spirit. Your 3-night Sepik cruise explores the many waterways, villages and cultures of the Sepik River and its tributaries.
The highlight and grand finale of the tour is, of course, the “Tumbuna Show”, so after an unforgettable Sepik cruise we fly you to Rondon Ridge, Mount Hagen where you spend a full day in the Paiyagona Valley immersed in the “Tumbuna” festivities.
Departure Schedule | |||||
| Departs | Days | Itinerary | Price | Note | |
| 12 | Tumbuna Singsing Tour | £3971 | Enquire | ||
Ambua Lodge, located in the Tari Gap, Papua New Guinea's Southern Highlands Province, borders on pristine mid montane rainforest at the beginning of the valley grasslands. This location promises the visitor eternal spring weather and magnificent views of the Tari Valley. The forest canopy, a dense mass of interlocking tree tops of all shades of green and the occasional bright splash of color, provides a natural setting and an exhilarating climate for venturing along the nature trails - cross traditional vine bridges, discover a secluded waterfall, and spot high altitude orchids and rhododendrons.
For nature lovers, the Tari Gap offers a chance to observe up to 13 species of the birds of paradise and an amazing array of orchids. The flamboyant Huli Wigmen of the Tari Valley have formed a strong bond between themselves and these beautiful birds; men revere the birds by imitating them in both daily and ceremonial life, decorating their human hair wigs with the plumage of only the most beautiful birds.
Tari is one of the few places left where men and women can be seen wearing traditional dress as part of daily living and men's wealth is still counted by the number of pigs and wives they possess.
Karawari Lodge stands majestically on a lone ridge amidst a vast expanse of dense tropical lowland Sepik Basin rainforest which extends beyond the horizon for, what seems like, a thousand miles in every direction.
his tropical lowland rainforest is one of earth's most complex of habitats, housing an immense variety of flora and fauna along with a unique culture.
Your cottage, nestled in the spacious gardens, is constructed from locally gathered bush materials and fashioned after the traditional houses, yet having all the luxuries including a modern bathroom, comfortable mosquito-netted beds, ceiling fans, and a breezy verandah. All a welcome sanctuary after a day's exploration.
From Karawari, the awe inspiring beauty of the view at dusk has to be experienced to be believed. While contemplating the vast expanse of jungle as the setting sun colors the clouds and snaking river below, one could almost believe that the world was born yesterday.
An Optional village stay in a traditional village for 2 days/1 night in a traditional village is also possible from Karawari.
Rondon Ridge is situated at 7100 feet above sea level and sports magnificent views of the incredible Wahgi Valley. Rondon Ridge is the pinnacle of luxury in a rural setting. Only 30 minutes drive from the major centre of Mount Hagen. Rondon Ridge has twelve tastefully furnished rooms with modern bathrooms, warmed beds and quilts for those chilly highlands nights. Power is supplied by its own hydro system, providing uninterrupted clean electricity.
Mount Hagen City is the business heart of the Papua New Guinea highlands, supplying a number of important industries, such as tea, coffee and mining. It is a city where stone meets steel, where tradition and history is juxtaposed against modern ways.
A comprehensive touring program takes you on a journey through the traditions and customs of the Melpa People. First contact with the Melpa was made in the mid-1930s when the Leahy brothers were prospecting for gold. The Melpa are said by anthropologists, to be “predisposed to capitalism,” because of their complex traditional society in which “big men” earn status by accruing wealth and then giving it all away in ceremonial exchanges.
With daily flights from Port Moresby to Mount Hagen, Rondon Ridge is also the perfect ''Jumping off'' point for access to AMBUA LODGE, KARAWARI LODGE and the MV SEPIK SPIRIT
Luxury in the deepest Sepik...
The MV Sepik Spirit is a shallow draft vessel purpose-built for navigating shallow inland waterways. The entire vessel is air-conditioned and up to 18 guests are accommodated in 9 spacious berths, each with en-suite bathroom, large windows and river views. Onboard facilities include a comfortable lounge, well stocked bar, dining area and a covered, insect-proofed upper observatory deck.
Cruises usually operate over 4 days between Karawari Lodge and the village of Timbunke on the main Sepik River, traveling on the Karawari, Krosomeri and Sepik Rivers. Daily explorations into the smaller tributaries and their remote and isolated villages are 
done using 18-seat jet-boats with guests returning to the MV Sepik Spirit before sundown. Depending on the particular cruise, guests may visit the Blackwater Lakes, Chambri Lakes and villages in the Middle and Upper Sepik. Private touring and transfers are not available on the MV Sepik Spirit.
with local people and experience traditions, cultures and lifestyles that are witnessed by very few outsiders each year. The river banks are dotted with villages, each with their own 'Haus Tambaran' or 'Spirit House' decorated with ancestral figures, carvings, massive garamut drums and secretive ritual flutes. The Sepik Region is a gallery of tribal art. Each village boasts 
its own unique style and every villager is an artisan.
A cruise commencing on a Monday from Timbunke necessitates an overnight at Karawari Lodge on the Thursday night to connect to the air transfer on Friday to either Mount Hagen or Ambua Lodge. The cost of the night at Karawari Lodge is additional.
