Sepik river - Pagwi, Ambunti, Wagu - latest updates?

Hi,

Does anyone have recent information about Wagu village and the guide Mathew Kaka?

I really loved the stay there and the visits to the surrounding area of the lake but I have not heard from Mathew since a few years ago. To get to this area is expensive but well worth for the uniqueness and the kindness of the villagers.

The area is very safe, the main note is to avoid being out in the cities at night. The carvings in the Sepik are mostly on other villages by the river bench, but Wagu excels on nature.

I have written a post with photos and a lot of notes on my own trip to the area from Wewak to Wagu.
https://landscape-routes.com/wild-green-papua-new-guinea-sepik-wagu/

Appreciated if someone can confirm if such notes are still valid or if some areas changed too much.

Hi dvpfig,

your trip to Waga village sound interesting. Did you manage to get new information about Mathew Kaka?
I planned also to visit this village, but I dont know how to get there.
Do I need to bring my own food and do I have to pre-book his guest-house there?

if you are on the Sepik then Wagu is a nice place to visit - the people there look to the mountains rather than the river but their culture of carving/painting is not as strong as the middle sepik -the scenery is spectacular especially compared to the flat land of the lower middle sepik - great for hiking and you can also usually see the lesser bird of paradise (which you will not see anywhere else on the river) - this does require an overnight as you need to get to the spot before dawn to see the birds dance

Mathew is an OK guide and his guesthouse is similar to others on the river - worth contacting him either direct or
through your own guide to confirm he will be there - guesthouses are very rarely full but owner absence is more of a risk although usually a relation will at least let you sleep but you may not get full services

if the river is very low then sometimes the lake dries up and it can be hard to get to Wagu from the river so as ever
with PNG you need to be flexible with your plans

If you go with a guide to the Sepik, he'll help out to buy all the necessary supplies in Wewak or Pagwi before you leave. things like toilet paper, food cans, water, and so on.

Hello, any information about Mathew Kaka? Or Joseph Kone? We book a tour using there services but having second doubts... Thanks

i know of no reason not to go with mathew from wagu but do not book with joseph kone

the real joseph kone had a good reputation as a guide but was jailed a few years ago for swindling a large sum from a foreign visitor - bizzarely an imposter was also using his name and contact details to swindle sums from tourists by asking for payment upfront for tours - this info is freely available and verified

my advice is that for any guide you use do not send anything other than a deposit ahead of any tour - an honest guide will understand this