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| Introduction to Papua Papua is the western half of the island New Guinea, the most eastern province of Indonesia. New Guinea is the largest and highest tropical island of the world. The northern part of the island is separated from the southern part by a massive chain of mountains known as Pengunungan Maoke. Punjak Jaya is the highest peak at 5000 meters and is Indonesia's tallest snow-capped mountain with glaciers. Papua has a large variety of eco-systems including the richest coral reefs in the world. The coastal systems of Papua contain some of the most pristine and largest tracs of mangroves in the world. From the lowland swamps to the highland mountains one will encounter massive areas of undisturbed tropical rainforest. |
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| Papua is thinly populated. There are 2,5 million people living in
Papua. One million Indonesian immigrants from other Indonesian islands
inhabit mostly the coastal regions. Another 1,5 million indigenous
papuans inhabit mostly the inland of Papua, from the high peaks,
through the forest, into the lowland swaps and mangroves. There are over 250 tribes in Papua. Some of them are very similar but they all possess their own unique culture and language which makes Papua's cultural diversity unique on earth. Papua is the largest still intact natural museum of our planet earth. In many remote places people still live in untouched stone age culture. To experience these people and the unique flora and fauna of the highland and the tropical lowland jungles |
| of Papua can be difficult, expensive, and very
uncomfortable, but will be extremely rewarding. The wildlife is
truly remarkable with many endemic species of plants, birds, and
mammals, making Papua unlike any other place on earth. |
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