Papua New Guinea

Overview

Intact rainforest with a size only beaten by the Amazon, white beaches and challenging mountains demonstrate how easy it would be to while a trip to New Guinea. Orchids have a sizable representation with two thirds of the world's species living here. These and other exciting flora can be seen in an organised fashion near the University of Papua New Guinea and the Rainforest habitat next to the University of Technology at Lae. Divers will not be disappointed as there is the full range of coral, drop off and varied wreck including aeroplanes. Surf at Vanimo, trek around the Kokoda Trail and Mount Wilhelm and marvel at the Tavurvur Volcano. These are just a few of the activities available. The two national parks, Variarata National Park on the Sogeri Plateau which is near Port Moresby and McAdam National Park near Bulolo offer yet more opportunities to experience the flora and fauna of the country. Ensure permission is gained from local each time a new location is entered and remember that the political problems have not entirely dissipated. Papua New Guinea offers the traveler a true paradox. With little to no tourist infrastructure, getting around can be tough. Illness and crime are also obviously a problem in a place without a well-developed healthcare system or a strong police force. But Papua New Guineans themselves are wonderfully welcome people who will go to great lengths to accommodate strangers. Don't be under any illusion - apart...more

History

Archeological evidence indicates that humans arrived on New Guinea at least 60 000 years ago probably by sea from Southeast Asia during an ice age period when the sea was lower and distances between islands shorter. Although the first arrivals were hunters and gatherers early evidence shows that people managed the forest environment to provide food. There also are indications of gardening having been practiced at the same time that agriculture was developing in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Early garden crops -- many of which are indigenous -- included sugarcane Pacific bananas yams and taros while sago and pandanus were two commonly exploited native forest crops. Today's staples -- sweet potatoes and pigs -- are later arrivals but shellfish and fish have long been mainstays of coastal dwellers' diets.

When Europeans first arrived inhabitants of New Guinea and nearby islands -- while still relying on bone wood and stone tools -- had a productive agricultural system. They traded along the coast where products mainly were pottery shell ornaments and foodstuffs and in the interior where forest products were exchanged for shells and other sea products.

The first Europeans to sight New Guinea were probably the Portuguese and Spanish navigators sailing in the South Pacific in the early part of the 16th century. In 1526-27 Don Jorge de Meneses accidentally came upon the principal island and is credited with naming it "Papua a Malay word for the frizzled quality of Melanesian hair. The term New Guinea" was applied to the island in 1545 by...more