Mt Lamington trekking, Popondetta, Oro Province

I have just returned from a trip to Oro province (means welcome) in PNG and would have to say this was the most enjoyable, meaningful trip I have undertaken. I travelled with a long time friend, both of us female in our fifties. We were treated like royalty, the PMV flower bedecked vehicle that picked us up, traditional village welcome, gifts of necklaces, biliums, tapa cloth, all in our honour, and at no time felt unsafe.
We flew from Port Moresby to Popondetta where we stayed at Oro Guest house; clean and safe with breakfast and dinner provided but not lunch.To attend markets or shop or visit Mt Lamington volcanic memorial where expat and local victims from 1951 disaster are interred or war memorial, just ask and an escort from guest house will happily accompany you.
Then rode 100 ks in PMV (public motor vehicle) a trucking service local villagers use, to Kendetta Village where we stayed in guest lodge - bedding provided, which is primitive (no electricity, plumbed water) but clean and comfortable with washing in clean river, sanitation in out house, food cooked over open fire, wake up to rooster call, and immersed ourselves in village life. My friend climbed Mt Lamington, a twelve hour hike there and back and is now the first white woman to do so, while I enjoyed the company of woman and children for a day. There diet is extremely healthy consisting of produce from their gardens - greens with garlic and coconut milk, cucumber, rice, chicken, taro - whatever is in season and it is fresh, delicious and plentiful.
I am a coffee drinker so a thermos of boiling water from the breakfast fire was provided for me so I could have my fix without relighting the fire each time throughout the day.
I would recommend taking some loo paper, small milk containers if you have white tea/coffee, childrens books (we took a few which the children devoured) small gifts to give in return for the gifts you will be given i.e variety of reading glasses for elders in community, camera and phone chargers as they have a generator for recharging batteries, torch, and an open mind.
We booked our stay through Mt Lamington Trek, Popondetta, Oro Province ph. mob. 73141475.
Oro Guest House, Popondetta ph. 297127.
Thoroughly recommend PNG and its people

G'day,
I'm glad you had such a wonderful time in Oro, it's a great place, and I lived there for some 15 years in the 60s and 70s, including a spell as head teacher at the Sasembata school, some few kilometres below Kendata, where you stayed.
I'm sorry, but your friend was not the first woman to climb Mt Lamington, not by a long shot; women whom I remember climbing it in the 60s included Nancy Vesperman(missionary nurse) Rhonwyn Searle (planter's daughter)
Sylvia( British VSO working at Martyrs School) , Kaye Pitman (Head Teacher, Agenehambo school), and there were others. So your friend has joined a long line of women who successfully made the trek.
kind regards,
Mike Lean

Thanks for your post. We thought she may have not been the first and hoped someone would come forward. Recommend the Mt Lamington trek to anyone who wants a challenge for a day as its not as long as Kokoda but just as breathtaking. If not into climbing an overnight stay in the village where one is treated like royalty and can immerse onesself in village life is just as rewarding, particularly the happinness of the community and watching the children at play in a natural way with whatever they have on hand to amuse themselves that is not derived of plastic or store brought.