The Highland Sing-sings

Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse nations on earth, home to hundreds of distinct tribes and over 800 languages, and nowhere is this astonishing diversity more spectacularly displayed than at the highland sing-sings. At great gatherings like the Goroka and Mount Hagen shows, dozens of clans come together in a breathtaking riot of colour, adorned with towering headdresses of bird-of-paradise plumes, intricate face and body paint, shells, furs and feathers, to perform their traditional dances, chants and drumming in a proud, thunderous celebration of identity.

What you actually see

• The costumed clans - the tribes in feathered headdresses and paint.
• The dancing and drumming - the traditional performances.
• The Goroka and Hagen shows - the great annual cultural festivals.
• The bird-of-paradise plumes - the spectacular feather adornments.

When to go

August and September, when the two most famous shows, the Goroka Show and the Mount Hagen Show, are held, are the prime time to witness the sing-sings at their most spectacular; these are the highlights of the cultural calendar. Smaller sing-sings and festivals take place at other times across the country.

Honest expectations

Papua New Guinea is a genuinely challenging destination, with limited infrastructure, high costs, and real safety concerns in some areas, especially around Port Moresby, so most visitors travel on organised tours with local guides, and current advice should be checked. The festivals are dazzling but crowded. For those prepared for the effort, though, witnessing the extraordinary living cultures of the highlands is a rare and unforgettable privilege.

Nearby

The highland towns of Goroka and Mount Hagen and the Sepik region are within reach.