ENGA PROVINCE
WAPENAMANDA
Whether you are coming by road or air, Wapenamanda District will most likely be your entry into Enga Province.
The Highlands Highway crosses the border from Western Highlands Province into Enga in this district. From the border it’s a one-hour drive to the provincial capital town of Wabag.
If you’re driving from Mt Hagen town, the Kumul Lodge Coffee Stop just inside the provincial border post is a great stop to grab a coffee or a bite to eat. There is a great view of Mt Hagen, which sits just inside Enga’s Western border.
If you arrive in the afternoon, it could be starting to get a bit chilly, so a warm coffee or tea is the perfect break on your journey. Make sure you have a jacket handy and don’t be surprised if you experience an afternoon drizzle of rain.
WORLD FAMOUS ECO-LODGE
The world renowned Kumul Lodge is also located near the border. Established in 1994, this high altitude eco-lodge (2,800m above sea level), is nestled in unspoilt tropical montane forest. The lodge has become famous for birdwatching, with a myriad of different bird species to be spotted in these forests.
This cozy lodge offers birdwatching, orchid and cultural tours. More information on Kumul Lodge can be found here on the lodge's website.
SOARING GORGES
One of Wapenamada’s most epic features are the soaring gorges carved over the millennia by the Lai River. The best time to photograph this is in the early morning. If you get there early enough you will capture the rising fog.
AIRPORT
Wapenamanda has a population of more than 75,000 people. The district has one hospital, the Mambisanda Immanuel Hospital run by the Good News Lutheran Church, and three secondary schools which are St Paul's Lutheran Secondary School, Highlands Lutheran International School and Wapenamanda Foursquare Secondary.
The capital of this district is also called Wapenamanda, where the district headquarters are located. The Wapenamanda Airport is also here and is the only airport in Enga. There are daily flights from Port Moresby to Wapenamanda, operated by Air Niugini and PNG Air.