Going Solo up the Sepik?

Right - you're going to like this.

A while back someone here linked a blog, which included a trip they made with Joe Kone on the Sepik.

At the end of the blog they gave out Joe's email - which I tried, & although it's taken a couple of months - today I got a reply.

Sadly in the interim, my plans in PNG have changed & I will have to leave the Sepik for my next trip there.

BUT - I have prices for a trip from Wewak to Swagup (Insect Tribe) & back - 5 days. For boat, petrol & driver for a single backpacker it's K2500

You'd stil have to cover food, accommodation & - interestingly - photographs - so I suspect there's fees to pay along the way

FYI, K2500 works out at today's rates as £640 / US$932 / AUD$1,389

Ouch.
Did you get the sense that the price was in any way negotiable?

I got the impression that was NOT the case

I suggest the way round this is to double up with someone to split the cost

It's cheaper than any other organised trip I've seen

It might well be cheaper if you go down river to the Middle Sepik - Swagup is up river - less visited - against the flow - uses more juice for the boat engine

I went UP the river last year for 2 weeks. Up April River all the way to Kagiru, then down visiting several villages, including mayo, Wagu, Swaggup, Kanganam, and several other. It was just me and my hubby. We paid total $2000 US, which included the canoe, fuel, provision, guide and driver and everything and anything you could ask for, inclduing PMV transport to and from Wewak. Never any talk about money for photograhy tho - noone ever asked to be paid to ahve their picture taken - on the contrary - the villagers were lining up to be photographed! We set this up with a Mr. Valentine who can be contacted at the Ambunti Lodge. His son George was the driver (and owner of canoe). Ben, frind of Valentine, lives in Wewak, and he met up at the airport and invited us to his home to plan the trip and go over all the details. They took very good care of us and and it was an unforgettable experience, especially the time spent in Kagiru. Swaggup was also fun, but as they have had much experience with tourists and the world outside, quite a different kind of experience than further up the river.

TheDeep

You have an e-mail of that person, or can only be contacted in the Ambunti lodge?
The price is really well. You paid to him directly in dollars?

You can call Ambunti Lodge and ask for Valentine. Don't mention why you are calling tho, because it can set off a confusing discussion about why you don;t just book with Ambunti (much more expensive). I paid in Kina, not sure if he will take USD, but there is a bank downtown Wewak where you can change you USD ot Kina.