12 Days/11Nights into Korowai & Dani tribe
Traveling Date : Recommended only on April-Oct every year
Trip Level : Challenge (Age between 17 to 70 y.o with good physical condition)
Participant : Min 1 and Max 5 People in one Group
Accommodation : Tree house & or Dani traditional houses/huts
Group Leader : English Speaking Guide, jungle chef & porters.
Outline Itinerary
Day (0)
Jakarta/Bali-Jayapura-Hotel
Today is half day organizing permit, day tour along Lake Sentani & Packing.
Day 01
Jayapura– Flight To Yahokimo/Dekai
Morning arrival to Jayapura – the capital of Papua province and the largest city on the Indonesian side of the island. Breakfast in the airport and check in for another flight to Dekai. Approximately hour-long flight over Jayawijaya Mountains giving a fascinating experience itself – from the windows of the aircraft extends an unforgettable view of the wild interior of the island – dense stretches of rainforest, serpentines of mighty rivers, hills and jagged mountain peaks, with few traces of human presence in the vast ocean of the jungle. Meet us and catching regular flight to Dekai/Yahokimo IL221 at ETD at 11:30 AM. (Baggage allowed for these flight is 10kg only per passenger, as you can leave your unnecessary baggage in Jayapura with us before leaving
Landing in Dekai – once a small town set by missionaries, is now the center of a new district dawned by the government. The town has been under permanent construction for years and its rapid expansion makes it the last bastion of civilization in the region. We will have our dinner in local style and spend a night in the government – owned hotel. By the way, you might be surprised by what “the best hotel available” means in Papua. Note: All inner flights in Papua depend on the weather condition! There are no fixed time tables for any flights at all!. Lunch and dinner will be provided by our cook. This flight very often delayed or canceled due to bad weather. If flight canceled you shall be transfer to hotel and overnight stay.
Day 2
Dekai – Mabul
You will not be sleeping on bed for next 6 days. Transfer by Jeep to Lokpon and today travel by motorized canoe through Brazza River for approx 8-10hours. From Brazza river up to Kolf River on destination to Mabul or baygon. Depends with rivers high condition, sometime the water river down to 1 meter (low tide), the boat has to be slower. There is a lot of wildlife to be seen on the way – sometimes the world’s biggest crocodiles lurking in the water, sometimes water turtles, sometimes just birds and parrots. Late in the afternoon you shall reach the village of Mabul – a starting base for all expeditions to Korowai Proceeding with all necessary preparations for further expedition to the jungle – negotiation with a chief of the village, getting more supplies, selecting the porters and scouts – these moments are always memorable for the expedition’s participants. From now on forget about privacy – the Papuan kids will be following your every single step and watching you closely. Westerners are probably bigger attraction for Papuans than Papuans for Westerners. Dinner prepared by a cook and night spent in the local house.
Note: These are a small chance that we’ll reach Mabul during two days trip – all depends on weather conditions. In such case we’ll spend one night in one of the Citak tribe’s villages on the way.
Day 3-5
Trekking Through Korowai Territories
We will spend these 05 days adventure is some of the most pristine lowland rain forest in the world. Depending on weather conditions and the pace of the march (this is always adapted to the slowest person in the group), we will visit several “tree house/rumah tinggi” and its inhabitants. We will choose the most accommodating spot to spend more time there thus we’ll be able to take a closer look at the daily life of Korowai and learn their – sometimes shocking – customs. Everyday we’ll be marching approximately 3 to 5 hours a day taking into account many stops and “photo breaks”, it will probably be a full day trekking. Be ready for getting wet and dirty! Our way will go through huge swamps and rainforest and will cross many bigger and smaller rivers. Sometimes to cross the river we’ll chop down a tree and build a provisional bridge. The group will be at all times accompanied by porters and a local guide / hunter hired in the first village.
During the 3 Nights/4 days in the jungle, we will not only visit several settlements cut off from civilization, but also have a unique chance to experience the beauty and menacing power of one of the wildest stretches of rain forest in the world. The participants of the expedition will get an opportunity to admire the untouched flora and fauna, learn a few basic rules of survival in the jungle, possibly with a chance of going hunting. We’ll also see how to make sago, build a trap for a wild pig.
But above all – you will meet remarkable people from a completely different world. The tribes of Koroway is one of the most isolated and least known ethnic groups of Melanesia, still steering clear of the missionaries who have been more and more successful at converting other tribes in the past three decades. The Korowai is so rarely visited by groups of white people that it is hard to tell who will be a greater attraction – our expedition for them, or the other way around.
Day 6
Return To Mabul (Civilized village-living Korowai people
Day 7
Mabul-Dekai (B/L/D)
Early in the morning return to the Mabul village. Farewell to the porters and local guides and repacking our equipment. All-day-long boat trip on the Brazza and Siret River back to Dekai. Pick up from the harbor and drive back to town. Accommodation in a local hostel (very basic conditions). Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 08
DEKAI –WAMENA or “JAYAPURA-ENDS OR CONTINUE (B/L/-)
By IL222 at 14:20 flight to Wamena/Jayapura (baggage allowance for this flight is 10kg per person only). This flight will depend on the weather conditions.
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Cultural Tour in Baliem valley trekking
Day 09
Wamena-Kilise Village (L/D-)
Wamena-Kilise village (cultural tour, see people, passing traditional bridges, passing nice village, scenary (6 hours, B.L.D
Day 10
Kilise-Ugem-Obia Village (B/L/D-)
Ugem-Obia village (cultural tour, heading to North West Dani. Lunch in Pilamo Restaurant-Heading to West-Obia village-cultural tour, stay overnight in Obia village.
Day 11
Obia-Salt spring, 250 years old Mummy, Big chief with 22 wives, and Return Hotel-afternoon
Day 12
Wamena-Jayapura – Departure (B/-/-)
After breakfast at your hotel, by car transfer you to the airport in 45 minutes Flight to Jayapura
Ps:
Above program and itinerary is flexible or depend on local conditions, flights, weather, etc.
Inclusive:
# English Speaking Guide
# Cooks during Trek with basic equipment
# Meals/Foods during Trek
# All Land Transports / Airport Transfers
# Motorized canoe Chartered for 2 Ways
# All Accommodations at jungle, with standard Sleeping bags & Sleeping Mats.
# Traditional Performance with Koroway Tribe (Sago Processing, Sago worms finding, traps, hunting, salt making,, Join the Baliem Cultural tour- in Dani)
# All Necessary Travel Permit of Papua
Note: The adventure cost will be provided based on the request