ambunti and timbunke airports

Hi!

I'll be headed to PNG in late October for at least 3 weeks and am just starting to plan this (what's going to be) a very cool trip! I have been reading older posts on here for some time now. The 'must do ' list includes a trip on the Sepik...am hoping to see some of the Blackwater river including villages that still practice skin cutting rituals. So, my first question is...as (another) solo traveller...can I fly into Ambunti or Timbunke? My thought is to get a guide from there for my Sepik trip. Are there any other airlines besides Air Niugini and PNG Airways, and do some travellers still get on MAF flights? If so, how would I arrange a flight with them? (Failing that I am in touch with a poster who started a trip at Pagwi...)

Some of you also recommend getting an older edition LP guide as the new one omits budget places to stay...which edition is recommended? (I would be one of those budget travellers!)

I'm also hoping to get out to Kavieng and the islands (one being Tsoi Lik) only because it looked so nice! (thanks Mike)...did I read that I can get a banana boat to the island?

Thanks,
Karen

Edited by: nerak1

I'd carry both the old (1998) PNG guide for more detail and the latest one for more updated info.

If you are on a budget, you could just fly to Wewak, then go to Pagwi by PMV, and then visit villages along the main Sepik River itself.
Skin-cutting is common in that area, and you will see lots of local men with those crocodile marks. Of course it is highly unlikely that you'd get to catch the ceremony itself.

ambunti has an "airstrip"(short grass one)not an airport....flights go from wewak on maf,yes they take paying passengers.timbunke no airstrip.....for more detail on the middle sepik area check my story......www.donstravelstories.blogspot.com

Thanks for the replies...

Sounds like Pagwi might be the way to go and should not be too far from the Blackwater river...I'm not expecting to see the ceremony...in fact, I don't think I'll be catching any of the main festivals at the time of year that I'll be there...

Thanks for posting your story, Don...Wagu Lagoon sounds really nice, can I bother you to ask what it's near on 'google maps'?

Thanks again,
Karen

Just make sure you get to Pagwi on Maprik's market days, and you should be able to find shared boats at least as far upriver as Ambunti, though I think on the main river itself, more interesting villages are downstream.
In Wewak, do buy the local map of the Sepik region - it will show you the location of pretty much all villages, lakes, etc.

...and if the more interesting villages are downstream, then I don't think I'd have a reason to go to Ambunti...my original thought was to maybe fly there to start the trip, but as Pagwi is closer to the Blackwater area, then I may just start from there...

I'll buy a map in Wewak, and I'll buy the LP book in the very near future...

Thanks again!

just be aware that there is no blackwater river....the blackwater lakes is part of the karawari river,which runs into the korosameri river.......in turn it is part of blackwater lakes.the most effective way to reach there catch a pmv from wewak to timbunke,road conditions can get ugly due to sepik plains rain.as for wagu lake ,they are reached from ambunti,about 2hours by motor canoe,if you go to google earth,you will find some photos of the entrance to this area.there is a guest house at wagu village.petrol prices for motor canoes are very high along the sepik.

Thanks...will keep that in mind, it looks then, that I can either start a trip in Pagwi or Timbunke...and yes, I'm starting to save for the 'fuel fund'!

Karen

Hi

the best way to fly in to the Sepik is to fly to Ambunti with MAF at Tuesday or Thursday .I have got the information that now is a reduced price ,but I do not know ,how long. You can call MAF in Wewak 00675 456 2569 ,that is the number of the pilot Martin Koehler ,he is very helpful

It is very expensive to drive with the boat up and down the Sepik .We have been there in November last year , the landscape upstream
the Sepik from Ambunti is more interesting than downsteam ,that is a flat plain. A wonderful place is the wagu lake ,so we can recommend to stay there longer in Wagu guest house . There you can hike and see theparadise bird in the morning and you can paddle
on the lake and in the wetlands with many lakes ,nearly the same countryside as the black waters If you want more informations look at the webpage www.sepiktours-individualrates.de

digoebel