In the waterways near Kandrian, freshwater fisherman can take on the famous Papuan Black and Spot Tail Bass found only in Papua New Guinea. If barramundi is your game, stay at the remote Bensbach Lodge near the border of Irian Jaya. There’s saratogo and ox eye herring to play with too.

For your fishing trip contact the following operators and fishing clubs:

MADANG PROVINCE

REEL FISH CHARTERS Contact: Brett Middleton MV “Talio” PO Box 521 Madang 511, Madang Province Papua New Guinea Telephone: (675) 853 7496 Fax: (675) 853 7468

MV “Talio” maintains state of the art equipment, from 8kg to 60kg tackle and electronics including radar, GPS and top of the range sounder. It has maximum speed of 29 knots. With so much fishing within range, on any given day anglers can enjoy a variety of world class sport.

“Talio” owner/skipper Brett Middleton, who cut his teeth in legendary Cairns big game fishing, further enhances your strike chances with his expert local knowledge.

Coastal currents can run at 5 knots, carrying sailfish, yellowfin, mahi mahi, mackerel and many more species to within 100 yards of the shore. Sailfish in particular hunt in packs here, in number and sizes seldom before seen in the South Pacific.

On remote reefs you can fish for dogtooth tuna, spanish makerel, giant trevally, coral trout, and more sailfish. There’s a wealth of options all year round. The area is a paradise for the fly, light, medium and heavy tackle angler.

For the ultimate Papua New Guinea fishing experience, combine a “Talio” Madang adventure with a trip to Arrjim Island Bass Fishing Camp on the remote south coast of West New Britain. Internationally renowned for its black and spottail bass. These mighty opponents are the strongest freshwater species in the world and they offer the supreme challenge for the plug caster.

WESTERN PROVINCE

BENSBACH WILDLIFE LODGE PO Box 6940, Boroko 111, NCD via Daru, Western Province Contact: John Ramshaw Telephone: 323 4467 Facsimile: 323 4467

Wildlife/ Birdwatching Packages Fishing Packages The packages allow for 4 persons per boat. Royalty on fish kept is 60 toea per kg (whole fish). Guides will clean, fillet and pack fish. As Bensbach carries a limited amount of gear it is recommended that fishermen bring their own equipment.

Bensbach encourages tag and release. The season runs from June/July to October/November. Barramundi is the principal catch, with Saragota and Salmon a distant second and third.

Hunting 8 hunters, maximum at any one time. Royalty on deer is K2.00/head, bag limit is five per hunter. Guns and ammunition are NOT provided by Bensbach.

For overseas clients the lodge will arrange a licence and Customs approval to import ammunition and a firearm. The form for a licence has to be filled out by the hunter and signed at a local police station and, along with 2 photographs, sent to the lodge. The licence and customs approval is sent to the hunter/group leader. Allow up to a month for licence and customs approval. Hand guns are not allowed.

Prices are per person and include accommodation, meals, laundry and boat/guides. Drinks are extra. Land transport is an extra and availability depends on the weather.

For charters, the pilot’s daily rate is half, provided the pilot does not partake in the groups activities. Children under 12 are half price.

Royalties are paid to the village people within the Tonda Wildlife Reserve.

Payment can be made in cash or travellers cheque only as, due to the remoteness of the Lodge, processing of credit cards will takes up to four months.

The weather is tropical - days 30 to 34 degrees Celcius, night 20 to 24 degrees Celcius. Wet season is December to March.

Casual, light clothing offering good covering is the most comfortable. Don’t forget hats, sun-glasses and suntan lotions/creams.

M.B.A. fly to Daru from Port Moresby and Kiunga Monday to Saturday. Air Niugini fly Port Moresby to Daru Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Bensbach strip is closed at present but Sunwest Aviation will fly charters to Weam, a strip two hours upstream from the lodge, from Daru. Other charters can be organised from a number of operators in most major centres in Papua New Guinea and Cairns, Australia.

For further information, contact the Tourism Promotion Authority.

FISHING CHARTERS

MOROBE PROVINCE

HUON GULF CHARTERS PO Box 1104, Lae 411, Morobe Province Contact: Jan Hardie Telephone: (675) 472 2745 Facsimile: (675) 472 6175

MOROBE SEA CHARTERS PO Box 245, Lae 411, Morobe Province Contact: Fred Cook Telephone: (675) 472 3647 Facsimile: (675) 472 5788

NATIONAL CAPITAL DISTRICT

PORT MORESBY GAME FISHING CLUB GANTRY PO Box 5028, Boroko 111, NCD Contact: Ken Weber Telephone: 321 1391

BOROKO SPORTS FISHING CLUB PO Box 5280, Boroko 111, NCD Contact: Rebecca Geoghegan Telephone: (675) 323 5513 Facsimile: (675) 323 5535

PAPUA NEW GUINEA CULTURE

In a country of four million people with 800 different languages, Papua New Guinea cannot be compared with any other country for its rich cultural diversity. There is no such thing as a typical Papua New Guinean. More than 200 cultures, each with different traditions, have been identified.

The impact of modernisation brings daily change to Papua New Guinea, but the majority of people, whether they be from the Highlands to the Coastal regions, remain dependent on subsistence farming and live in small villages. Much of the inherited social structure, from matters affecting gardening to marriage and death, remains unchanged.

The responsibility for the day to day work of gardening and caring for children and animals still lies with the women. Social units are based on family, clan and tribe. Ownership of material wealth is vested in the household and controlled by a male elder. Wealth was not traditionally accumulated for its own sake, but so it could be given away, with elaborate ceremony, creating prestige for the giver and placing obligations on the receiver. Fundamental to the society were notions of reciprocity and family obligations. This still holds true in today’s society.

Ancient rituals are still performed for important social events. These elaborate ceremonies are normally presided over by the elders of the clan, with warriors painted and decorated in bright colours, feathers and shells. Today each of the twenty provinces has its own cultural festivals and regional shows where groups are invited to perform and visitors have the opportunity to glimpse the many visual and performing arts of Papua New Guinea. The most popular shows include the Hiri Moale, held in Port Moresby every September, the Mount Hagen show, held annually in August and the Goroka Show, every September, which attracts tourist from all over the world.

Papua New Guinea’s art forms are as diverse as they are distinctive. In a country where language varies from village to village, it can be expected that artistic expression will differ in style just as dramatically. Pottery, weapons, carvings, basketwork, musical instruments are produced by different people in different places, according to their traditional skills and beliefs.

The Waigani area of the National Capital District is home to the impressive Parliament House building and the National Museum and Art Gallery, which exhibits one of the finest collections of primitive art in the world. Sepik River carvings, Malagan masks and Trobriand Island fishing vessels are just some of the unique examples of Papua New Guinean culture on display.

Parliament House building is constructed in the style of a traditional Sepik River Haus Tambaran, or Spirit House. Artists and craftsmen from the villages throughout PNG were brought together to work on the impressive carvings, mosaics and murals. The result is a magnificent testimony to this culturally diverse and fascinating nation.

Papua New Guinea artefacts and handicrafts can be purchased from individual artists and retail outlets in towns and villages. The faculty of Creative Arts at the University of PNG at Waigani is also an excellent source of paintings, pottery and etchings. Contact the Provincial Tourist Office, located in each of the provincial headquarters for details of the best places to view and purchase local; handicrafts and artefacts.