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DETAILED ITINERARY FOR:
WOITAPE VALLEY TREK - 3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS (TOUR CODE
EM09)
Departs Wednesdays and
Fridays
The mountainous Goilala District in Central Province can only be reached by air and is dotted with scary ridgetop airstrips. The terrain alternates between thick forest and open grasslands and the villages are linked by mule trails established by early missionaries. This trek features a mostly-downhill hike from Ononge airstrip to Woitape station and the next day an undulating hike from Woitape to Kosipe Mission. These hikes pass through villages, gardens and freshwater streams, with magnificent mountain scenery and chance encounters with local mountain people.
Day 1
5.45am check in at Airlines PNG freight terminal for your Twin Otter freight
and fares flight departing 6.20am. Ecotourism Melanesia staff will be at the
airport to assist you with check-in and to deliver your picnic lunch for the
day. The flight to Ononge takes only twenty minutes. Two guides from Woitape
Lodge will be waiting for you at Ononge. Any extra bags can be forwarded on to
Woitape and will be delivered to Woitape Lodge.
From Ononge’s ridgetop airstrip you will commence your full day hike down
the Woitape Valley to Woitape station, arriving late afternoon. On the way
you will meet local people on the footpath, stop at small villages, cross
bubbling streams and pass through village gardens and pristine mountain forest.
Set an easy pace and enjoy the hike. You will arrive at Woitape Lodge tired
and hungry as the temperature begins to plummet to the chilly overnight low.
You will be greeted by a warm log fire, a shower with hot water, and a hot
dinner prepared by a trained cook. After dinner the bar will be open with
a limited selection of drinks. Accommodation is in twin-share rooms with common
bathrooms. All linen supplied.
Day 2
After a cooked
breakfast, choose between a day hike with guide along missionary pathways from
Woitape to Kosipe Mission and return (6 hours total, packed lunch supplied), OR
gentle river rafting on inner tubes down the Udava River which runs behind
Woitape Lodge, OR an easy walking tour of Woitape station followed by lunch in
the Lodge’s beautiful orchid garden.
Day 3
Your return flight to
Port Moresby departs first thing in the morning.
TOUR NOTES:
1. This
trek offers a close encounter with some of Papua New Guinea's mountainous
natural beauty and traditional villages. Various plant and animal species will
be visible, including possible sightings of bird of paradise at dusk and dawn.
The hiking follows established walking trails and there is no strenuous
climbing or hacking through jungle involved. You will only need to bring your
own personal gear. Any excess luggage you have with you in the country can be
stored at Ecotourism Melanesia’s office in Port Moresby. Your willing guides
will assist with carrying your personal gear, but keep it light nevertheless.
You should pack your personal gear into a medium size lightweight pack
(preferably waterproof with an internal frame). You may find it helpful to pack
your personal items in garbage bags or ziplock plastic bags to protect them
from the wet, especially your camera and Mars bars.
2. What to bring. Personal gear includes two or three changes of clothes (warm days, cool nights, possibly lots of rain – be prepared), light hiking boots (don’t go overboard – it isn’t Mt Everest) with 3 pairs of cotton/wool blend hiking socks, a pair of light tracksuit pants or similar to sleep in, hat with wide brim to keep sun and rain off your face, waterproof torch with spare batteries, rain poncho, quickdry towel, your favourite soap in a leakproof container, a roll of your favourite toilet paper, a one-litre water bottle to carry with you, and your personal first aid kit. Your personal first aid kit will contain Bandaids, blister dressings, topical cream for bites and grazes, antibiotic cream for cuts and scratches, antimalarial tablets, paracetamol, Deep Heat or other muscle linament and the all-important insect repellent. Some trekkers say “Rid” is more effective. Although there are no mosquitos and therefore no malaria in these mountains, trekkers may wish to travel with their own mosquito nets just in case, and to keep other insects at bay.
3. Food and water issues. All food is supplied for this tour but you may wish to bring a stash of munchies in your day pack for eating along the trail (sweets, peanuts etc) – be prepared to share these with your guides. For the first day you should fill your water container in Port Moresby (or carry bottled water) and thereafter your guides will show you clean water sources to fill your container from, otherwise you can bring extra bottled water with you to last till you arrive at Woitape Lodge which has a rainwater tank. If you are worried about water you may wish to bring your own water purification tablets, which you can purchase from most chemists, camping or army disposals stores.
4. Security. In personal security terms you will be well looked after by your guides. In this remote area the level of crime experienced in the city does not exist. The people are all subsistence farmers who work hard on the land to grow vegetables and who hunt and gather food from the forest. You will be accompanied at all times by local guides who know the area intimately.
5. Safety. Woitape Valley is a remote area. If you are interested in trekking through this area you must accept that you will do so at your own risk. There are no proper medical facilities at Woitape. The two full day hikes featured in this tour are not particularly strenuous, however there is every possibility that you may suffer an injury or other medical problem during your trek. Your guides will support and assist you with traversing difficult parts of the walk, but no matter how experienced a hiker you are there is always a chance you will slip and break a limb. You may get a scratch that quickly gets infected and makes your arm or leg swell up. You may suffer a severe gastric reaction to something you eat or drink. If you fall ill or have an accident while on the trek you will be carried by your guides to the nearest airstrip for evacuation. It is our company policy that all trekkers must have comprehensive travel insurance that includes medivac service (check with the agent that sells you the policy if medical evacuation is included). We recommend that you have a medical checkup with your doctor before leaving home to confirm that you are in fit condition to undertake this strenuous walk. If you suffer an accident or fall so ill that you need to be evacuated, a medical doctor will first have to talk to you over the radio to confirm that you need to be evacuated and then your insurer will organise a chartered aircraft to fly in to pick you up.