Journey into the Stone Age culture of Kombai tribe with a Spectacular “Sago Worm Feast”
Traveling Date : June 16th – 30th’ 2025
- Start : Jayapura
- End : Jayapura
GROUP TOURS 2025
JOURNEY INTO THE TREE HOUSE TRIBE OF KOMBAY PAPUA
KOMBAY TRIBE in Papua
The Kombai tribe are a Papuan people living in the eastern most of Indonesian, part of the new province of South Papua, more specifically in Wanggemalo sub district of Mappi Regency. The Kombay tribe is the neighborhoods of Koroway tribe, the both tribe mostly have the same character and the way of life. The total population of Kombai tribe is about 5,650 approximately.
The Kombai people live in clans, each clan having its own territory in the forest. Certain areas of the forest are not inhabited, as they are believed to be sacred lands meant for the spirits. Each clan has a large treehouse where male tribesmen sleep, while women sleep in small huts on the ground. This sacred tree house is thought to act as a defense from enemy attacked, and is closely guarded by men with bows and arrows.
Like many other Papua ethnic tribes, the Kombai people are hunter-gatherers. Beside Sago as their staple food, the protein they get from the hunt the pigs and other animals with traps, or using dogs to track down and kill their prey. In order to fish, the Kombai build small dams in the stream and pour a poison from a toxic root into the water, this technic will force the fish to come out to the surface, making them easy to catch.
The Kombai also eat the larvae of the capricorn beetle, called sago grub, which is considered a delicacy. To harvest them, a sago tree is cut down and left for a month, then wrapped in leaves and left to rot for three months, after which time the larvae are collected. This traditional food is used in festivities with neighboring clans and tribes to strengthen social ties.
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Day 1
MON, JUN 16 JAYAPURA ARRIVAL (L,D)
Arrive at Sentani airport of Jayapura, transfer to the hotel for check in and take a rest, then by using car you will take lunch at the lake side restaurant, then after lunch by motorized boat to Assey island of Sentani lake then by car proceeding to Cendrawasih University Anthropological Museum, Jayapura down town and stop by Hamadi traditional fishing market and souvenir shop. Late afternoon drive return to the hotel for dinner and stay overnight.
DAY 2
TUE, JUN 17, JAYAPURA – TANAH MERAH (B,L,D)
After having breakfast at hotel, you will be transfer by car to the airport for your flight to Tanah Merah. Upon arrive at Tanah Merah airport a short transfer to simple hotel for lunch, dinner and overnight stay, here the day remains will be free program.
DAY 3
WED, JUN 18, TANAH MERAH – KUMULO (B,L,D)
A bit early morning wake up then having breakfast, after breakfast a short distance transfer by car to the river side of Digul river to get you motorized dug out canoe or motorize fiber boat for approximately 7 to 8 hours to reach Kumulo where a temporary camp builded huts by the local people for you stay overnight, the day remains is a chance for you for fishing. Picnic lunch will be provided and dinner will served at camp.
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Day 4
THU, JUN 19, KUMULO – WANGGEMALO (B,L,D)
Early breakfast at camp then depart by boat for about 4 hours to get the village port then proceed on foot for another 3 hours to reach Wanggemalo village. Picnic lunch will provided, dinner and stay overnight in the camp at Wanggemalo village.
DAY 5
FRI, JUN 20, WANGGEMALO – SAGO WORM FEAST PLACE ( B,L,D)
After breakfast at the camp, then with all the porters we will hike approximately 6 hours to reach a Family of Kombay tribe as the host for the Sago Worm Feast. Picnic lunch will be provided, dinner and stay overnight in the camp huts.
DAY 6
SAT JUN 21, SAGO POUNDING AND FISHING (B,L,D)
After breakfast, in a half day you will mingle with the family to the sago forest for seeing and studying the whole process to take sago essence as main food of Kombay tribe. Lunch will be served at appropriate time. After lunch you will continuing the activities for seeing and studying how the Kombay people fishing by several methods. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp huts.
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Day 7
SUN, JUN 22, HUNTING AND GRAB DAILY FOOD (B,L,D)
After breakfast at the camp, you will hike out to the jungle with the family for hunting with bow and arrows, some time with dogs, set the traps for wild pigs and also grab insects, greens as vegetable. Picnic lunch will be provided, at the afternoon return to the camp for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 8
MON, JUN 23, CONSTRUCTING A TREE HOUSE (B,L,D)
Breakfast at camp, then you will seeing and studying how the people construct a tree house. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay at the camp huts.
DAY 9
TUE, JUN 24, COLLECT SAGO WORM AND FINISHING THE FEAST HOUSE (B,L,D)
After breakfast, half day you will out with the family to collect the sago worm, lunch at camp. After lunch you see the host family finishing the feast house while the others will collect the stone, leaves, woods for making fire, etc.
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Day 10
WED, JUN 25, SAGO WORM FEAST DAY (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we will be ready to join the sago worm feast, groups of the family will come and entering the feast house by dancing. The feast ceremony will continuing till the whole night. Lunch, dinner and overnight will be at camp.
DAY 11
THU, JUN 26, SAGO WORM FEAST DAY – WANGGEMALO (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we will leaving the host family for hike return to Wanggemalo village. Picnic lunch will be provided enroute at a convenient time. Dinner and overnight stay at camp in Wanggemalo village.
DAY 12
FRI, JUN 27, WANGGEMALO – TANAH MERAH (B,L,D)
Have early breakfast at camp then hike to the port of the Wanggemalo village to get the boat then drive the boat down follow the current of the river to Tanah Merah. Today is a long journey to Tanah Merah which is likely to arrive in Tanah Merah at night, but we will be made as comfortable as possible throughout the trip. Picnic lunch will be served enroute, dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
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Day 13
SAT, JUN 28, TANAH MERAH – JAYAPURA – NIMBOKRANG (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel, transfer by car to the airport for your flight departure to Jayapura. Up on arrive at Sentani airport of Jayapura get in to the car for transferring to Nimbokrang. Lunch will be provided enroute. At the afternoon when the weather permits, you will have a first opportunity to see the paradise bird. Dinner and stay overnight at the simple accommodation.
DAY 14
SUN, JUN 29, NIMBOKRANG – JAYAPURA (B,L,D)
Early morning have breakfast then you have the second opportunity to see again the paradise birds when the weather permits ofcourse. After lunch you will drive return to the hotel for dinner and stay overnight.
DAY 15
MON, JUN 30, DEPARTURE (B)
After breakfast, transfer by car to Sentani airport of Jayapura for your flight departure to your next destination.
15 DAYS TRIP
AN EXPEDITION TO KOMBAY TREE HOUSE TRIBE
AND SAGO WORM FEAST
THE CONDITION
- This trip will lead by Kornelus Sembiring with English Speaking.
- This trip may change at any time due to local conditions and will be adjusted to the basic principles of safety and maximum participant satisfaction.
- 20 % transfer from the land cost as deposit must be done 2 months before the day of the sago worm feast day, this deposit will be forfeited if the trip is cancelled, and this deposit will be used as a replacement for the efforts of the host and other family who had organizing the party and also to the local organizer.
- Full payment must be done 1 month before the day of arrival in Jayapura.
PRICE INCLUDED
Local air tickets, land, river transportation, All porters fee, Guide fee, Chef fee, All accommodation and meals which mentioned in the itinerary, All ceremonies and activities, Entrance fee, Travelling permit fee, another 10 kg baggages for flights sector Jayapura-Tanah Merah-Jayapura as baggage allows in this flight sector just 10 kg.
PRICE EXCLUDED
Travelling Insurance, Medical things, Liquour, Beverages, Laundries at hotels and other personal expenses.
EQUIPMENT
Hat, Sun cream, Rain coat, Umbrella, Sun glasses, mud rubber boots for hiking, A type of rubber shoe for wearing on boat and around camp, Insect repellant, Water bottle, Flashlights or headlamp, Lightweight ( quick dry ) long sleeved shirts and pants, A device to dry cameras or other electronics from moisture, Plastic zip lock to protect gears from wet.