EAST
SEPIK PROVINCE
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GETTING
THERE
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Twice daily Air Niugini flights from Port Moresby, some direct and some
via Madang.
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Smaller airlines connect Wewak with Madang, Vanimo, and Mt Hagen.
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MAF flies out to the smaller airstrips within the province itself.
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Rough road into Wewak from Aitape. (No other road connections from other
provinces).
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Fortnightly shipping services out of Lae and Madang do carry passengers
through to Wewak.
Wewak
- a quiet little town
with sandy bays for swimming and surf beaches
Sepik
River – interesting
geography, villages, cultures and artifacts
Maprik
- yam culture
Angoram
township – easiest
access to Lower Sepik River villages
Pagwi
township – easiest
access to Middle Sepik River villages
Karawari
Lodge – river tours
on the MV Sepik Spirit
Kairuru
Island – waterfalls,
hot springs
Muschu Island - coral
sand beaches, snorkelling and fishing
Kanganaman
Village Guest House -
very basic accom in remote village, fly MAF to Timbunke, see haus tambaran,
explore Middle Sepik villages and waterways
Boleu Guest House, Kairiru Island -
bungalows with basic facilities, see hot springs, waterfalls, freshwater swimming,
war relics, blowhole cave
Sup Village Guest House, Muschu Island -
bungalows with basic facilities, white sandy beaches, snorkelling, fishing,
boat hire
Karawari Lodge, Amboin -
large tourist lodge with good facilities, fly in by light aircraft, river
tours, village tours, artifact sales
Pandi Guest House, Tambanum Village
Although
East Sepik has a long coastline, Wewak is the only town on the coast. Most
of the province’s population is in villages and towns inland along the
Sepik River.
Most
tourists entering the East Sepik province do so on board Sepik River cruises
out of Madang. Wewak town only experiences a small number of bona fide tourist
arrivals. From Wewak, visitors can travel by PMV to Maprik, Yangoru, and the
river towns of Angoram, Timbunke, and Pagwi. Light aircraft fly out to April
River, Ambunti and numerous other small grass airfields.
Previous independent
travellers visiting the Sepik recommend that you don’t try to “see
it all”. The Sepik area is hot, humid, and from December to June is
often thick with mosquitoes (June to November are the best months to visit).
Moving around - especially on foot - can be tiring and uncomfortable. It
is said to be better to stay put in one or two destinations for a few days
at a time, experiencing the people, culture and art of the district, than
to try to accumulate a kaleidoscope of experiences on a punishing schedule
of visits to multiple villages.
Wewak itself is a quietly pleasant little town. There is a busy main market
where handicrafts are sold, but mainly baskets and shells, not many carvings.
Surprisingly, it is actually quite difficult to find carvings and artifacts
to buy in Wewak town. There is a roadside stall on the main road selling
Chambri Lakes handcrafts and the Alois Shop opposite the Airlink terminal
has a range of artifacts although not cheap. The shopping centre has a couple
of small supermarkets and several Chinese general stores. The Christian
Bookshop near the market has local maps and guidebooks.
There is a good airport
with a sealed runway about 10 minutes drive from the town centre. There
is one motel on the beach opposite the airport (Airport Lodge), and the
largest hotel, the Windjammer Beach Resort, is right on the beach halfway
into town. The other places are right in the town centre area. There is
an excellent walking beach between the Windjammer and the town shops, a
distance of about 3 kilometres. Wewak is a safe town where you can take
a stroll along the street or beach without looking over your shoulder.
Sepik
best buys: carvings, bags and baskets, shell jewellery, other artifacts
Our favourite spot: Tambanum Village
