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New Guinea / Ambua Lodge Tari
4
nights / 5 days Ambua Lodge Tour
Day
1 : Met on arrival at Tari airport and transfer to
Ambua Lodge. An afternoon nature walk to will be arranged
for you on your day of arrival as part of your included
tours.
Day
2: Full day vehicle tour to explore part of the Tari
Valley. Includes picnic lunch.
Day 3: Full day vehicle tour exploring the Tari
Valley. Includes picnic lunch.
Day 4: Day free.
Day 5: Transfer from Ambua Lodge to Tari airport.
Assistance with baggage and check in.
Due
to seasonal and cultural obligations there are no set tour
itineraries. The areas that will be visited by day tours
are changing constantly. This way the contact between you
as a visitor and the local population remains genuine and
does not deteriorate into a commercial relationship like
in many other third world countries.
Prices from: please
email us for prices
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Twin |
Single |
4 nights / 5 days Ambua Lodge Tour
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| INCLUDES:
4 nights accommodation inclusive of tours, transfers
and all meals at Ambua Lodge |
The
following description should give you some idea about the
area and the cultures you will visit.
About
Tari and its people
 At
some 6800 feet (2100 meters) above sea level sits Ambua
Lodge. Overlooking the great Tari Basin. Mountain slopes
covered in moss forest that continue up to the Tari Gap.
A combination of the cool climate patches of open grassland
and the moss forest create an environment that is rich in
flora and fauna; beautiful orchids, a large variety of butterflies
and moths, cicadas, beetles and other insects live within
the forests. The Tari Basin and surrounding mountain slopes
are also home to the Tari Wigman and his Huli clan groups,
one of the largest ethnic groups in the Southern Highland
Province and also one of the most culturally intact.
The
Huli were only discovered in 1935 and were one of the last
groups to come under Government control. The human hair
wigs of the men are decorated with everlasting daisies,
bird of paradise plumes and mountain flowers, their faces
are painted for sing-sing performances in bright yellow,
red and blue and on first seeing them you cannot avoid the
apparent mimicry by them of a bird of paradise. Despite
their gaudy appearance the men were and to some degree still
are ferocious tribal fighters. Their village and family
group compounds are fortified by solid mud walls toped with
sharpened stakes and the interconnecting trenches you see
nor only delineate clan boundaries and control pigs, they
were also used as secret passages during clan wars.
 Ambua
Lodge blends into the valley with its local external construction,
inside you will find every modern western convenience; individual
bungalows with downy doonas on the beds and even an electric
blanket, hot showers and comfortable bathroom facilities.
Dining and entertainment is in a central building that also
has the bar and an open log fire. Ambua is an ideal base
from which to explore this exciting area of Papua New Guinea.
The Tari Valley is home to what must be the most colourful
display of male decoration to be found anywhere.
The Tari male or Huli spends up to 18 months in a bachelor's
village cloistered away from women to grow his human hair
wig. The growth of the wig is guaranteed by using magic
water and the assistance of an experienced male who runs
the special village. The wigs when they have grown are decorated
with flowers, birds of paradise plumes and lichens from
the forest. They then paint their faces in predominantly
bright red, yellow and white pigment to perform at sing
sings. The wig is often worn all day and night. A special
sleeping block of wood is used to support the head and avoid
damaging the wig at night.
Because
of its altitude and remoteness the valley contains a large
number of birds of paradise that can be seen from the village
trails. The villages of the Huli are like fortified hamlets
with mud and timber used to reinforce the walls and sharpened
stakes to ward off intruders. The Hulis have a well-established
reputation for entering into tribal fights over anything
from a land dispute to a death caused through suspected
sorcery. Their ancestors are revered and the skulls can
still be seen in special caves. The trek takes you to some
of these special places as well as the bachelor's village.
Overnight accommodation is in village guesthouses or tents,
which are provided. You should be aware that bathroom and
washing facilities are basic ie. pit or bush type bathrooms
and washing in rivers and streams.
Accommodation
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Independent
