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Home  /  Papua New Guinea  /  Tabubil
Foothill forest · PNG

Tabubil

The wet foothill forests of the Ok Tedi region — flame bowerbirds and foothill birds-of-paradise.
Getting there
Fly into Tabubil (TBG), in the Star Mountains foothills
Best for
Foothill and montane birds-of-paradise, flame bowerbird, Ok Tedi forest birding
The land
Wet foothill rainforest in the Star Mountains of Western Province
Good to know
One of the wettest places in PNG; the foothill forests hold a distinct set of birds
What it is
Tabubil is the foothill complement to Kiunga — wet Star Mountains forest with its own set of birds-of-paradise and bowerbirds.
In the foothills of the Star Mountains, Tabubil's exceptionally wet forests hold mid-elevation specialities: the flame bowerbird, Carola's parotia, foothill birds-of-paradise and a different bird community from the lowlands below. The roads of the Ok Tedi region give access to forest at a range of elevations.
PhotoTabubil — foothill forest.
The reason to come

Foothill specialities

Tabubil bridges Kiunga's lowlands and the highlands, with a distinct foothill avifauna.

Flame bowerbird

One of New Guinea's most dazzling birds, in the foothill forest.

Foothill BoP

Carola's parotia and mid-elevation birds-of-paradise.

Elevational range

Forest birding from the lowlands up into the mountains.

Worth knowing

The foothill link

Tabubil's mid-elevation forests fill the gap between lowland Kiunga and the high valleys, adding species found at neither.
PhotoWet foothill rainforest in the Star Mountains near Tabubil.
When to come — honestly

A wet foothill base.

May – October
Best
The drier window — best for the very wet foothill forests.
Year-round
Good
Birds are present throughout, but Tabubil is genuinely wet most months.
Tabubil is among the wettest places in PNG — rain is near-constant, and birding works around it.
Context

Between lowland and highland

Tabubil's foothill elevation gives it a bird community distinct from both the lowlands and the highlands.

It pairs with Kiunga and the highland valleys for the full PNG elevational sweep.

We pair Tabubil's foothills with Kiunga's lowlands for the western PNG birding.

Beyond the obvious

More to Tabubil.

PhotoFlame bowerbird

Flame bowerbird

In the foothill forest.

PhotoFoothill BoP

Foothill BoP

Carola's parotia and others.

PhotoOk Tedi roads

Ok Tedi roads

Forest birding across elevations.

Why Wild Voyager

We make New Guinea's wild logistics work.

PNG means light aircraft, simple lodges and remote forest. We handle the charters, the local trackers and the timing so you reach the birds-of-paradise safely.

Handpicked lodges

We choose the lodge and guiding that fit your dates and targets, not whatever is left.

We time it right

We build your visit around the season and the displays that deliver.

Journeys

Trips through Tabubil

6 Days · 5 Nights

Tabubil Endemics
10 Days · 9 Nights

Kiunga & Tabubil Expedition
14 Days · 13 Nights

Ultimate Birds-of-Paradise
15 Days · 14 Nights

Bird Photography Expedition
18 Days · 17 Nights

Ultimate PNG Wildlife
Where to stay

Where you’ll stay in Tabubil

Classic Collection
PhotoCloudlands Hotel
Classic

Cloudlands Hotel

A basic hotel at Tabubil, the base for the wet foothill forest birding.
Wildlife you may see
Birds

Plan your Tabubil journey.

Bird the foothill forest for flame bowerbird and parotias. Tell us your dates and we will build the route around it.

Plan a Tabubil trip

Field notes, now and then.

Where to go · When to go · Wildlife in season

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