We went to Ambua Lodge as part of a Trans Niugini Tours package, and we stayed there 3 nights. I will say at the outset that I really liked Ambua Lodge overall, BUT there were some problems.

The Bad:

On our second day here, we had a bit of a scare with raskols, which is not at all what we expected here. Port Moresby, maybe, but not here. The raskols didn't rob us, or hurt us, because we were with a guide from Ambua Lodge, but 6 or so of these guys (looking not at all friendly and carrying machetes, and one of them had a rifle... they had painted their faces and so were disguised). They definitely had very bad intentions. We saw them smash up the window of a bus that was approaching us, which was quite frightening. They talked to our guide, but did not come into the bus. This was out at the Tari Gap, some 5-10km from the Lodge, right after some birdwatching. We thought the trip was going to be exciting, but this sort of excitement was not what we expected. This episode definitely freaked us out, although we never once considered leaving PNG because of this.

Rats in our room got into my luggage and ate my emergency snacks. Also, I saw a rat running around the dining hall. Keep your luggage zipped up tight in the rooms.

We were 2 females traveling together, and when we were in the villages we felt a bit frightened; got some malevolent stares from many, many men. However, when we were on the Trans Niugini Tours more intimate (and pre-booked) look at village life, Huli Wigmen, etc., it was perfect. But when we just went to look at a random village, unbooked, we felt very, very uneasy, to put it mildly.

The Good:

OK, so you don't come to Papua New Guinea and expect it to be like Hawaii, so who cares about a few rats or bugs? Overall, the TNT tour, guide, accommodations and everything were very good. The bus picked us up at the airstrip right on time (and took us to our flight out on time as well), and our guide & driver took us to everything we asked for (except to return to see the birds of paradise -- we did not want to risk seeing those raskols again). The staff here was very helpful in general. The food at the lodge was so-so, kind of boring, but not terrible. The visit to the women's area of the village was excellent, as were the Huli Wigmen, the men with the yellow painted faces, the mourning ceremony re-enactment and the wedding ceremony re-enactment. The setting of Ambua Lodge is lovely, and there are some very pretty waterfalls nearby. We did see several species of birds of paradise here, but they were far away and hard to see. Definitely bring binoculars and the longest camera lens (300, 400mm) you are willing to bring.

We went during the off-season (that is, during the summer, but not during the sing-sing time). In some ways, this has a lot of advantages, such as practically private photo shoots, and a nearly private lodge stay. The main drawback is that there are few (if any) other visitors during this time, and if you seek the company of other travelers, it may get lonesome.

The temperature here at Ambua is pleasant, not hot and humid. Nighttime can be cool, do bring a fleece jacket. The heated blankets in the rooms were very nice.

Special note for women: PNG is a very unusual place. I am a pretty intrepid traveler (as is my female friend who traveled with me) but I do not recommend coming to Tari or Ambua Lodge alone as a female -- you may be a little freaked out. For PNG in general, (esp if you are traveling outside of the Trans Niugini Tour program) make sure you have arranged for transfers from all your flights, and that you go anywhere outside of your hotel room with a local guide/guard. It is not advisable for a non-PNG woman to wander around anywhere in PNG alone, especially not in the cities: Port Moresby (particularly) but also Wewak, Lae, Mt. Hagen, Goroka, etc. The only exception to these rules is the Karawari Lodge which is very safe (but far from any towns.) If you must go out in the evening in a town, make sure you are with a secure group, and minimize your time out in the evenings (outside your hotel or lodge, that is) if at all possible.

This is just to expand upon and update some of the previous exceptional reviews by others. Our price for a 5-night stay was about $360 per night per person. The reason I rated Ambua as 4 stars was that some might expect luxuries generally associated with 5-star resorts which are not present there but considering the location, etc. it is truly a haven to be enjoyed immensely. Air travel to Tari is always a question due to weather and reliability of local air carriers. We took a charter arranged by Trans Niugini Tours (operators of Ambua Lodge) from Mt. Hagen to Tari. This is probably one's surest bet but beware of luggage weight restrictions. The Ambua private airstrip was not in use when we were there due to a dispute with a local land owner. The on-site lodge management and staff were very helpful and went out of their way to help us in every respect. As they are on a contract of a limited time I would not expect that the outstanding managers present during our stay (Paddy and Suzanah) would be there in the distant future. As opposed to a previous comment I have reason to believe that little money is filtered down to the local villages and know that the local staff is not richly rewarded for their work. So, I would recommend donating if possible to a tip pool so all can reap the rewards of their labors. The buses are not only still without any semblance of suspension they're probably even worse with no operating headlights and parts falling off ont to roads.

It is still as others have said an unforgettable experience.

Ambua Lodge is as photogenic as the brochure photos. It is very picturesque, well maintained with the full comforts of home:plenty of hot water, good sized bathroom, good kitchen, very comfortable beds but minus telephone, t.v., radio, internet/mobile service or hairdryer.

The Lodge is comprised of about 40 individual round huts, with 180 degrees picture window, French doors opening outward to the park-like garden, thatched roofing, walls made of woven bamboo (or rattan) strips. A walkway separates the complex from the thick forest growth and the stream that provides hydroelectric power to the Lodge.

The one luxury worth mentioning is the electric bed warmer with its own thermostat. At 7,000 ft (2100 m), nights (and days) can get very cool and very damp. The little gadget kept my bed dry and toasty, as well as my clothes. (I would slip them under the bed cover whenever I left the hut.) Ambua Lodge is by far the quietest place I’ve stayed, with only the murmur of the stream, the occasional rustle in the forest and the soft pitter-patter of the night rain for “noise.”

The Lodge staff is very accommodating and provides a “homey” vacation experience in Tari. A good thing to remember is that the Lodge provides monetary support to the different hamlets that we visited to ensure continuity of their traditions. One is advised not to tip or give donation to any villager. The all inclusive package (including local tours) at Ambua Lodge booked through Trans Niugini Tour (it’s parent company) was very well worth the price.

This is a beautiful place, the rooms are clean, beautiful panoramic views, the lodge/dining room is comfortable and the food was good. The staff was helpful and friendly. it was an amazing place to stay.