The New Guinea Endemic Families tour is designed to target at least one member of all 7 endemic bird families of New Guinea. These include Crested Berrypecker, Tit Berrypecker, Blue-capped Ifrit, Mottled Berryhunter, Wattled Ploughbill, Lesser Melampitta, Crested Satinbird, Loria’s Satinbird and Fan-tailed Berrypecker. This is a short tour of only 6 days. Visiting just two areas, both close to Mt Hagen this tour give you a good chance of cleaning up on the current New Guinea bird families in one surgical strike.
Wahgi Valley where Mt Hagen, the third largest city in PNG is situated, is a wide fertile valley. It has been settled and cultivated for over 30,000 years. The valley and the forested mountains above are a prime areas for birding. It is easily accessible by plane though low cloud and mountain weather can cause problems at times. This area also has a number of options for exploring the fascinating cultural side of Papua New Guinea. The Mt Hagen Show, which is usually held every August, is a spectacle of costume and dance. People come from all over the Highlands to perform.
This is not a general birding tour and is set up for specific results. A number of other birds, including several birds of paradise will undoubtedly be seen. However, the priorities are members of each of the endemic families. Because of this it is not recommended for the more general birder. However, the same destinations will give a very good short introduction to New Guinea birds. In this case the itinerary is approached differently as this is a very bird rich area.
Additional days added to at the beginning or end of the tour if required. Do you want your best chance of seeing a member of all New Guinea’s endemic families? Then why not join us on our New Guinea Endemic Families Tour?
About the Physical Requirements & Pace:
Distances are not great but there is some rough walking up steep and often muddy tracks involved. Flights in and out of Mt Hagen can be affected by weather conditions especially during the wetter months of the year though rain can occur at any time. During the winter it can get very cold. Kumul Lodge is at 2600m!
About the Accommodation:
Kumul Lodge is a more upmarket than usual landowner lodge made of local materials. The rooms have private bathrooms but it is still a landowner lodge. Rondon Ridge is a well appointed, comfortable, modern western style lodge.
About your Guide:
Jun Matsui / Senior Guide
With a lifetime interest in wildlife in general Jun started bird guiding in 1993 when he worked as a volunteer ranger at the Hikarigaoka nature park in Tokyo, Japan. After working for the Japanese Environment Agency where he collected and managed data and at several reserves where he was involved in setting up environmental education projects and guiding as well as general management, he first arrived in Australia in 1999.
Spending a year traveling around and volunteering at various bird hotspots including Broome Bird Observatory he eventually took a job as a specialist bird tour guide for inbound Japanese groups, based in the tropical Far North Queensland town of Cairns. He has been involved in several bird publications and is the author of the very popular Japanese language field guide to the birds and wildlife of the Cairns/Atherton Tablelands area. Jun is an avid photographer and has won several awards for his pictures. In 2019 he provided the majority of the photographs for the New Holland publication A Field Guide to the Birds of Far North Queensland which was a joint collaboration with fellow Sicklebill guide Phil Gregory.
Jun is a very good all round naturalist and is interested in mammals, frogs, butterflies and other insects as well as birds. He leads tours around Australia and overseas to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and other Pacific destinations, to Japan, Indonesia as well as a number of other Asian countries. He joined the Sicklebill Safaris team in 2007.
Day 1 - Arrive Port Moresby & fly to Mt Hagen
Fly into Port Moresby. Meet with your guide before transferring to the domestic terminal for your flight to Mt Hagen. On arrive in Mt Hagen you will be met by hotel staff from Kumul Lodge who will take you to the lodge.
Day 2 - Kumul area birding (1)
Birding the Kumul area. Members of all 7 endemic families can be seen in the Kumul area. They are not all easy but can be seen. The morning will be spent away from the lodge while the afternoon will concentrate on species closer to the lodge itself. Lesser Melampitta, Blue-capped Ifrit, Tit and Crested Berry-pecker, Fan-tailed Berrypecker, Crested and Loria’s Satinbird are all possible here.
Day 3 - Kumul area birding (2)
Second full day in the Kumul area. Further exploration of the Murmur area if necessary while the afternoon can be spent in the lodge vicinity.
Day 4 - Transfer to Rondon Ridge
After breakfast transfer to Rondon Ridge. Balance of the day will be spent walking the trails around the lodge. This is one of the best places to see Mottled Berryhunter and Wattled Ploughbill is usually easier here than at Kumul.
Day 5 - Rondon Ridge birding
Full day exploring the area around Rondon Ridge on foot.
Day 6 - Fly to Port Moresby & take onward flights
After breakfast transfer back to Mt Hagen area and take the morning flight back to Port Moresby. Here you will transfer to the international terminal and begin your journey home.
Click the links below to download past trip reports
2019 Trip Report
PRICING
-
Twin Share Cost (Group size 6):
From AUD$4,595.00 per person (2023 cost)Included:
accommodation and all meals, transport, expert guiding, entry fees, taxes.Not included:
drinks, personal expenses, tips, pre- and post-tour accommodation/meals.Price based on double or twin-share occupancy. Single occupancy attracts a surcharge.
-
Single Supplement:
AUD$775.00 (2023 cost)Cost for single room throughout the tour.
-
Flights from Cairns, Australia:
Approximately AUD$1,000.00Price costs are an estimate and depend on seat class and availability at time of booking.
KEY SPECIES
- Crested Berrypecker
- Tit Berrypecker
- Blue-capped Ifrit
- Mottled Berryhunter
- Wattled Ploughbill
- Lesser Melampitta
- Crested Satinbird
- Loria’s Satinbird
- Fan-tailed Berrypecker
- Ribbon-tailed Astrapia
- Brown Sicklebill
- Lesser Bird of Paradise
- Blue Bird of Paradise
- White-winged Robin
- Stella's Lorikeet
- Mountain Firetail
- Regent Whistler
- Belford's Melidectes
- Brehm's Tiger Parrot
- Smoky Honeyeater
2024 DEPARTURES
July
2025 DEPARTURES
July
Send a booking request