Crocodile festival in Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea

They say crocodile attacks are a hundred times deadlier than shark attacks – and far more frequent. So the crocodile isn’t an animal with which most of us want to become acquainted. Not so for the people of Papua New Guinea’s Sepik River, for whom the reptile is an important symbol of strength, power and manhood. Each year, the Ambunti Crocodile Festival rolls out the red carpet for these prehistoric monoliths.

This cultural and environmental WWF-supported celebration of all things scaly takes place over three days in August, but this seven-day tour is much more than a croc fest. Travellers will have the unique opportunity to witness a cultural experience in a region of PNG where time stands still. It might also be your one and only chance to smile at a crocodile and live to tell the tale.

Festivities include live crocodile encounters, traditional dancing, dugout canoe races, performances by sing-sing groups, and visits to the sacred spirit houses. These are the homes of the spirits of ancestors, progenitors, crocodiles and other animals and it’s to these places men travel to undergo intensive initiation rituals.

Travellers will also visit Palimbe, Yenchan and Kanganamun in the Middle Sepik. These villages, with their haus tamarans and customs that include initiation ceremonies and scarification, have stood firm against the invasion of Christianity. They’re also home to well-known artists who make carvings.

Crocodile myth number 43: If confronted by a croc, run as fast as you can in a crazy zig-zag motion. Crocs can move as fast as 16 kilometres an hour, so the best advice is to slowly retreat, remove your thongs and run like Forrest Gump in a straight line!

price guide

AU$5138 per person.

This price is based on the tour starting 3 August 2019. Pricing is subject to change at any time until full payment has been received. A minimum of eight adults is required to guarantee this departure. This tour is not available for private groups as it is based on festival dates.

difficulty

Make no bones about it, you are heading into the wilds on one hell of an adventure. Safety is paramount, and although you’ll be well looked after there will be some hardships along the way.

Just the way get lost escapes likes it!

contact

getlostescapes.com

need to know

The tour to Ambunti Crocodile Festival includes accommodation as well as an expert guide, meals and transport.

For all inclusions and exclusions: getlostescapes.com/papua-new-guinea