The Sepik River stretches from Telefomin in Sandaun Province to its outlet into the Bismarck Sea at Kopar village. There are many villages and hamlets in this culturally and environmentally rich area. The largest local animal is the wild pig - which is tamed and kept in the villages for use at cultural gatherings and compensation ceremonies. There are many other natural animal inhabitants, such as snakes, lizards, bandicoots, rats and above all birds. Many of the village songs and dances centre on indigenous animals and birds - the largest of which is the angry-looking flightless cassowary, a relative of the emu and the second heaviest bird on the planet.
The Middle Sepik is the last remaining area where the crocodile skin cutting initiation is still practiced. The villages in this region are more accessible and not so far apart in terms of travel time than on the more remote Upper Sepik. These villages have stood firm against the invasion of Christianity. They still retain their Haus Tambarans and practice their traditional customs including the initiation and scarification of young “crocodile men”. Also, the villages are home to famous artists and their sought-after birds’ head carvings.
The Upper Sepik villages are widely spread out with many taking a full day by motor canoe to reach. Therefore, a lot more fuel is required and consideration must be given for canoe time for the comfort of visitors (long days in canoes under the fierce sun can cause acute sunburn etc.).
In the Lower Sepik region the river is wide, with only wild sugar cane growing along the banks, and not so pretty or interesting. The highest cost components are the 4WD vehicle transfers to and from the river and the very high cost of fuel, sadly, both are beyond our control.
All the villages included in our expeditions are carefully chosen to offer a wide variety of distinctive cultural styles; including their extensive carved artifacts, both displayed and for sale, providing our visitors with interesting cultural contrasts and experiences. Witnessing daily activities, like the carving of artifacts, making a Morata house roof out of sago palms, the long, daily, task of sago production (sago is a staple Sepik starchy food which requires lengthy processing), fishing and so on, is encouraged.
All expeditions start and end with a night at the In Wewak Boutique Hotel. It is only a few years old, very well managed and maintained, with good security – it has high standards throughout. The views are great, the pool is cooling, the rooms are all clean, airy and comfortable and the food and ambience is pleasant.
Whilst on the expeditions, guests are accommodated in village guesthouses where facilities are very basic: the expedition company provides all a mattress, clean bedding, and mosquito nets. Toilet facilities are simple – most often a “long drop” - a hole in the ground - serves as the toilet inside a bamboo cubicle – but these toilets are reserved for guests and not used by the whole village. Washing/showers is either in the Sepik River (villager style), or two buckets of water and scoop in a bamboo private cubicle under the skies. Visitors will experience life like a villager - BUT with “washing machine cleaned sheets” and all bedding items, crockery and utensils brought in, plus their own toilet and washing areas
Credit: SepikSpirit
Credit: SepikSpirit
Credit: SepikSpirit
Credit: SepikSpirit
Credit: SepikSpirit
Credit: SepikSpirit
Crocdileman
Crocdilemen
Artefacts in a spirit house
Artefacts in a spirit house
Blackwater lakes, Tuingimbit
Mindimbit village
For the first and last nights of Sepik River expeditions, for logistcal and flight scheduling reasons, accommodation is at In Wewak Boutique Hotel.
Village guest house accommodation is spartan, in a traditionally made house with bamboo flooring and woven walls and a thatched roof. Your bed is a foam mattress, with a pillow, pillow case, sheet, towel and mosquito net provided. Washing is either a bucket wash, a shower bag, or a dip in the lake.
Sepik River Expeditions
The Sepik River stretches from Telefomin in Sandaun Province to its outlet into the Bismarck Sea at Kopar village. There are many villages and hamlets in this culturally and environmentally rich area. The largest local animal is the wild pig - which is tamed and kept in the villages for use at cultural gatherings and compensation ceremonies. There are many other natural animal inhabitants, such as snakes, lizards, bandicoots, rats and above all birds. Many of the village songs and dances centre on indigenous animals and birds - the largest of which is the angry-looking flightless cassowary, a relative of the emu and the second heaviest bird on the planet.
The Middle Sepik is the last remaining area where the crocodile skin cutting initiation is still practiced. The villages in this region are more accessible and not so far apart in terms of travel time than on the more remote Upper Sepik. These villages have stood firm against the invasion of Christianity. They still retain their Haus Tambarans and practice their traditional customs including the initiation and scarification of young “crocodile men”. Also, the villages are home to famous artists and their sought-after birds’ head carvings.
The Upper Sepik villages are widely spread out with many taking a full day by motor canoe to reach. Therefore, a lot more fuel is required and consideration must be given for canoe time for the comfort of visitors (long days in canoes under the fierce sun can cause acute sunburn etc.).
In the Lower Sepik region the river is wide, with only wild sugar cane growing along the banks, and not so pretty or interesting. The highest cost components are the 4WD vehicle transfers to and from the river and the very high cost of fuel, sadly, both are beyond our control.
All the villages included in our expeditions are carefully chosen to offer a wide variety of distinctive cultural styles; including their extensive carved artifacts, both displayed and for sale, providing our visitors with interesting cultural contrasts and experiences. Witnessing daily activities, like the carving of artifacts, making a Morata house roof out of sago palms, the long, daily, task of sago production (sago is a staple Sepik starchy food which requires lengthy processing), fishing and so on, is encouraged.
All expeditions start and end with a night at the In Wewak Boutique Hotel. It is only a few years old, very well managed and maintained, with good security – it has high standards throughout. The views are great, the pool is cooling, the rooms are all clean, airy and comfortable and the food and ambience is pleasant.
Whilst on the expeditions, guests are accommodated in village guesthouses where facilities are very basic: the expedition company provides all a mattress, clean bedding, and mosquito nets. Toilet facilities are simple – most often a “long drop” - a hole in the ground - serves as the toilet inside a bamboo cubicle – but these toilets are reserved for guests and not used by the whole village. Washing/showers is either in the Sepik River (villager style), or two buckets of water and scoop in a bamboo private cubicle under the skies. Visitors will experience life like a villager - BUT with “washing machine cleaned sheets” and all bedding items, crockery and utensils brought in, plus their own toilet and washing areas
