The untouched beauty of Simbari eco-tourism

by JAMES KILA

SIMBARI, in the south-eastern corner of Eastern Highlands province is definitely a true bush experience.

It is an ideal remotest location in the country where tourists can experience the unique primitive culture of PNG,

Our visit began as we landed on the steepest airstrip completely surrounded by lush tropical rainforest. We were greeted on arrival by the field coordinator of the Simbari Community association, Rex Wendaji, who after a few greeting went straight to show us to the Norambi guest house a few meters walk from the airstrip.

There are two bush guest houses within Simbari, situated at Norambi village and located in the heart of the virgin Kamiye rainforest which noticeably is in abundance of untouched wildlife and a rich flora and fauna. In fact, the place is an ideal location for anyone or tourist alike, wanting to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city

The village of Norambi is home to about 400 men, women and children who live in hamlets built on top of several mountain ridges. The area is mountainous and offers magnificent opportunities for bush walking as well as awesome panoramic view of the surrounding ranges, which shares the borders of Eastern Highland and Gulf province.

The Simbari people are known to producing top quality organic coffee, and as Mr Wendaji later explained plans were underway for farmers to sell their coffee to get premium price.

Villagers walking on ropes in Norambi

Although, eco-tourism in Norambi is still in its infancy what greeted us was most fascinating.

Norambi is truly a must for tourists. Visitors will certainly be thrilled by the range of unique and natural historical activities such as scenic tours, trekking to various spectacular water falls, foot-bridges constructed entirely on bush vines and rafters and look-outs to mention a few.

Another intriguing highlight of our visit to Simbari was seeing the local people paddling in dugout canoes and fishing along the Pulvi river. In fact, I was startled with their skills in paddling the canoe and started to avoid the rocks as they follow the rapids down stream.

The people were fishing using bows and arrows to catch trouts which are in abundance in the waters of the Pulvi river, a major tributary of the mighty Purari River which comes out from the Gulf province.

Access to the Norambi guest house is approximately 35-minutes by light aircraft from Goroka traveling over beautiful rain-forest and steep rugged mountains.

The eco-tourism project at Norambi is being promoted by the Simbari Community Association, a small NGO organization established in 2002 to promote sustainable development at the community level in the Simbari tribe.

The travel package to Norambi village upon request include: staging of historical cultural show, visit to traditional spirit house for sorcery, traditional gardening methods, traditional food preparation (mumu), visit to initiation house and haus-tumbuna where traditional artifacts are stored and hand-feeding of cassowary and native birds.

A day tour which starts at 6:am and ends at 1:00 pm costs only K20. A visitors’ coordinator Miseck Mepudenim is readily available to assist when necessary

The artisans of Simbari are extremely talented at producing beautiful traditional bow and arrows, shields, bilums various range of traditional jewellery. Natural products are used to color and construct each item and as a result Simbari artifacts are, a unique, quality rainforest product. These items are also an important source of cash income for the people of the Simbari area.

Visitors can spend time communicating to the villagers on their reasons for visiting, be it work or pleasure. Fewer men and women speak pidgin and English in addition to their local dialect. A community health care worker, a grade ten leaver normally act as interpreter.

“Giving gifts to individuals can cause resentment and unrealistic expectations and place an unwanted pressure on future visitors,” says Mr Wendaji.

“The best gift to give is your smile and friendship through showing them pictures and sharing your stories,” he adds.

Ends……./