Apinun! Welcome to the land of a thousand cultures—Papua New Guinea (PNG), which occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands in the southwestern Pacific. There are around 10 million people living here, and the capital is Port Moresby, located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua. While English, Tok Pisin, and Hiri Motu are the official languages, the country is the most linguistically diverse place on Earth, with over 800 indigenous languages spoken!
Papua New Guinea covers about 462,840 square kilometers (178,700 square miles). The country is roughly the same size as the state of California in the U.S., or about the same size as Sweden. Much of the interior remains rugged and wild, consisting of high mountain ranges, dense tropical rainforests, and vast wetlands.
The most popular sport is Rugby League, and PNG is the only country in the world where it is officially the national sport—the passion for the game here is unmatched. Their national animal is the Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise, famous for its spectacular colorful plumage and unique mating dances.
The flag is divided diagonally into a black triangle and a red triangle, with the red section featuring a yellow bird-of-paradise and the black section containing five white stars representing the Southern Cross, where the red and black were traditional colors used in tribal art and the bird symbolizes the emergence of the nation.
The food is deeply connected to the earth and the sea. You must try Mumu, a traditional feast prepared in an earth oven using hot stones to slow-cook pork, sweet potatoes (kaukau), and greens wrapped in banana leaves. Another staple is Sago, a starch extracted from tropical palm stems, often served as a pancake or porridge. Because it is a tropical paradise, you’ll find an incredible variety of fresh Coconut, Bananas, and Pineapples at every local market.
Papua New Guinea is home to Mount Wilhelm, the highest peak in the country, which actually sees occasional snowfall despite being so close to the equator. The country features the Sepik River, one of the world’s greatest river systems, known for its unique “Spirit Houses” and intricate wood carvings. You can visit the Kokoda Track, a famous and grueling 96-kilometer trail through the Owen Stanley Range that holds deep historical significance from World War II. For divers, the waters around Kimbe Bay offer some of the most biodiverse coral reefs on the planet. Interestingly, some of the world’s only poisonous birds, like the Hooded Pitohui, are found in the rainforests here!
From the vibrant feathers of a Huli Wigman at the Mount Hagen Cultural Show to the smoking volcanoes of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea is a land of untamed beauty and ancient traditions. Tenkyu tumas! That means “Thank you!”