Since Trans Niugini Tours – the operator of Ambua Lodge – offers „all inclusive“ Packages at the lodges I am going to do a review not only for the accommodation but for the whole package:

Some notes before
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I try to write in an objective way so you know what you can expect at the lodge.

However from a subjective point I would say that the trip to PNG (with Ambua – beside Karawari – as the main attraction) was one of our best trips ever. It is absolutely great and exciting!

The tour organization by Trans Niugini Tours is perfect.

Location
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Ambua Lodge is situated in an elevated location above the Tari Valley surrounded by highland rainforest. A very impressive place for a lodge. When you arrive by chartered plane you will arrive at the small lodge airstrip just below the lodge (alternatively you might arrive by scheduled flight at Tari airport about 90 minutes by car from the lodge).

The climate is nice with cool nights, so you will have a very good sleep. Its not really cold at night – you would be ok with a t-shirt but a sweater is more comfortable in the evening.

Accomodation
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The lodge consist of the main building, an office building, some service buildings and the guest room cottages. The main building which is basically one large room with a open fireplace in the center and contains a lounge area with a bar and the dining area. In front of this main building you can sit outside on some garden furniture and enjoy the great views of the lodge and the valley below. The garden around the lodge has many flowers ad a well kept lawn. Just behind the lodge you can walk in original rain forest.

The rooms are in individual round cottages. Each cottage has panoramic windows and from most cottages you have a perfect view. The furniture of the cottages is functional, like the bathrooms. Its safe to rate the accommodation standard with 3 stars. But at the same time you should not forget that the lodge is located in a remote area where nearly all of the people who live there (except some missionaries and very few local business people) still live in a “stone age” lifestyle. Therefore the lodge is real luxury compared to the lifestyle of the people around – but of course not by international standards.

Rooms and the entire lodge is very well kept, clean and actually a beautiful property.

Meals
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The food is international standard food (spaghetti, roast beef, chicken curry usually with some vegetables and potatoes).

Breakfast is pretty basic with some fruits, cereals, milk, tea, coffee, toast and eggs with bacon. Lunch is either a lunch pack (sandwich, fruits, cake) or a small meal at the lodge. Dinner is a three course meal with soup, main course and desert.

I would highly recommend to specifically ask to try the local vegetables (sweet potatoes and other potato like root vegetables…).

In the afternoon they usually serve some tea with cookies.

Tours
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The tours are actually the reason why you go there. Tours can vary according to the booked program (e.g. birdwatchers will have a different schedule as people who mainly want to see the culture of the Huli people).

The first tour in the morning (starting at 6 am) is a bird watching tour which will return at 8 am. You will have a very good chance to see several kinds of birds of paradise and many other birds.

The main tour will lead you down to the Tari valley and usually include several stops at Huli villages. There you will see “Sing Sing” group performances, learn about the lifestyle of the Hulis and get some hands on experience (e.g. trying to hit a banana tree with a traditional style bow and arrow). The whole experience is amazing and you will end up with (at home) unbelievable photographs.

Obviously Trans Niugini Tours arranges the performances and also pays the people for their performance. So it is guaranteed that you will see performances by Sing Sing groups and Hulis with the famous yellow painted faces.

The vehicles used on the tours are pretty old small busses with non-functional shock absorbers. I think some improvement is needed here.

People at the lodge
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The lodge is managed by a Canadian couple – Ian and Pauline. They do a very good job and take really care of the guest. Beside that they give you some insights and have many stories about the Huli people and what its like living and working in such a remote area of PNG. All other employees of the lodge are local Huli people.

Usually there are not many guests at the lodge. In the high season (some days in August) there can be up to 50 guests but the standard would be between 5 and 20 guests. I found the other guests experienced travelers and good company. The atmosphere at the lodge is very open and you will get to know most of the other people staying at the lodge.

Price/Value
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This is the big question – is it worth the high cost? Usually you will book the Ambua Lodge as part of a package tour so its hard to say how much one day at the Lodge will cost. There high-season rack rate mentioned by some operators is about 250 Euro per person – which means you pay 500 Euro per room per couple (all inclusive). This is a lot of money and expensive by international standards for the accommodation standard offered.

However there was no single moment when I felt paying too much because:
-the experience is great and unbelievable
-everything is organized very well
-the place is very remote and most supplies are flown in by air from Mount Hagen (or even from Australia)
-the occupancy rate is usually low (so many employees per guest)