Kapa Kapa Trail Expeditions offers you the unique opportunity to undertake one of the greatest jungle and village treks in the world, the Kapa Kapa Trail also known as the Ghost Mountain Trail. If you are looking for a demanding, beautiful and culturally rewarding trekking experience, then the Kapa Kapa Trail is the perfect adventure for you.
Kapa Kapa Trail 15 Day Expedition Summary:
This adventure tour is for experienced trekkers only. The trekking distance at approximately 170km is considerably longer than the Kokoda Track and the altitude of 2,780 meters in the middle of the Owen Stanley Ranges ranges is significantly higher. The total ascent and descent over the Kapa Kapa Trail is around 17,000 metres, so there is a lot of climbing and descending with numerous steep and challenging ranges and river crossings. Mt Suwemalla (or known as Ghost Mountain or Mt Obree) is the highest point on the trail. The trail also goes by the name "The Ghost Mountain Trail".
The tour duration will be 15 days. The expedition is planned such that the team will arrive in Port Moresby on a Saturday and leave Port Moresby in 2 Saturdays' time, so that those taking time off work will need to take 2 weeks leave. There will be 11 trekking days, with the first day spent travelling to the trail by road and river, and days 13 and 14 spent in Buna and day 15 is to fly to your home destination.
The start village of Kwikila is approximately 75km by road south-east from Port Moresby and will be traveled by vehicle, followed by a short boat trip along the beautiful Kemp Welch River. We then start hiking and the track spans approximately 170 km across the Owen Stanley Range near Mt Suwemalla (or Ghost Mountain) and includes many river and stream crossings. The trek is completed near Popondetta followed by a vehicle journey into historic and picturesque Buna, before flying back to Port Moresby from Popondetta.
The first section of the Kapa Kapa Trail along the Kemp Welch river follows a beautiful landscape of gardens, villages, waterfalls and leads through dense lowland rainforest. The trail then leads up through a dramatic landscape of deep jungle ridges interspersed with pure fresh water creeks. Mountains are climbed through the rainforest and remote villages passed along the way. Finally the top of the Owen Stanley Range is reached in an eerie and mysterious cloud forest where the mist flows through the deep jungle. The decent into the northern side of the Owen Stanley ranges leads us to beautiful lowland villages and widening rivers. The forest opens up into lovely open terrain and lastly we reach roads that lead to Popondetta and from there we visit Buna before flying back to Port Moresby.
Along the way we will pass through some of the world's most remote and inaccessible villages, where the people have had very few passing travelers and their warm and inquisitive hospitality is raw, refreshing and deeply memorable. This is in strong contrast to the Kokoda Track where countless trekkers passing through have significantly diminished the cultural aspect of that trek.
In a world where jungles and remote villages are disappearing, the Kapa Kapa Trail remains one of the greatest opportunities to truly experience these remarkable places. Kapa Kapa Trail Expeditions can take you on this extraordinary journey so contact us today to have us put together an expedition.
Location:
The Kapa Kapa Track is in Papua New Guinea and runs approximately 50km to the southeast of the Kokoda Track and crosses the Owen Stanley Ranges in a similar north-south direction, although in a more higher and remote area. The expedition starts on the Kemp Welch River near Gaba Gaba (hence the name of the trail being an American pronunciation) and ends at the Girua River bridge near Popondetta.
History:
In October-November 1942 the Kapa Kapa Trail was used by American troops as an alternative to the Kokoda Track, which was at that time heavily occupied by Japanese and Australian forces. The Kapa Kapa Track was used by the Americans in an attempt to outflank the Japanese and catch them by surprise on the northern PNG beaches. The American's struggled over the trail, as they had little information about the trail and found it difficult to retain local porters to help supply troops over the trail. Health deteriorated rapidly and many of the troops failed to make it over the demanding mountain range. Members of the US Army’s 2nd Battalion, 126th Regiment, 32nd Red Arrow Division undertook the incredible journey through this magnificent landscape.
Group size:
We only take private groups of 1- 6 people on the expedition. The expedition will be lead by an extremely experienced Australian guide, with local support an integral and key part of the expedition.
Accommodation:
Accommodation on the trail will be in tents and in village guest houses.
Suggested Reading:
“The Ghost Mountain Boys”, by American author James Campbell, Crown Publishers, New York. The book is readily available in paperback or on Kindle. The book provides an excellent account of the trail and reveals the pain and suffering the American troops encountered both on the Kapa Kapa Trail and on the coastline in Buna and the surrounding areas.
Required Experience:
Previous trekking experience is required to participate in this expedition as well as a high level of fitness. The Kokoda Track is the preferred pre-requisite trek. Please note, in order to assess your suitability for this expedition, you will need to provide details of your previous trekking experience.
All photographs and text are copyright. All rights are reserved. Kapa Kapa Trail Expeditions 2023.
Kapa Kapa Trail 15 Day Expedition Summary:
This adventure tour is for experienced trekkers only. The trekking distance at approximately 170km is considerably longer than the Kokoda Track and the altitude of 2,780 meters in the middle of the Owen Stanley Ranges ranges is significantly higher. The total ascent and descent over the Kapa Kapa Trail is around 17,000 metres, so there is a lot of climbing and descending with numerous steep and challenging ranges and river crossings. Mt Suwemalla (or known as Ghost Mountain or Mt Obree) is the highest point on the trail. The trail also goes by the name "The Ghost Mountain Trail".
The tour duration will be 15 days. The expedition is planned such that the team will arrive in Port Moresby on a Saturday and leave Port Moresby in 2 Saturdays' time, so that those taking time off work will need to take 2 weeks leave. There will be 11 trekking days, with the first day spent travelling to the trail by road and river, and days 13 and 14 spent in Buna and day 15 is to fly to your home destination.
The start village of Kwikila is approximately 75km by road south-east from Port Moresby and will be traveled by vehicle, followed by a short boat trip along the beautiful Kemp Welch River. We then start hiking and the track spans approximately 170 km across the Owen Stanley Range near Mt Suwemalla (or Ghost Mountain) and includes many river and stream crossings. The trek is completed near Popondetta followed by a vehicle journey into historic and picturesque Buna, before flying back to Port Moresby from Popondetta.
The first section of the Kapa Kapa Trail along the Kemp Welch river follows a beautiful landscape of gardens, villages, waterfalls and leads through dense lowland rainforest. The trail then leads up through a dramatic landscape of deep jungle ridges interspersed with pure fresh water creeks. Mountains are climbed through the rainforest and remote villages passed along the way. Finally the top of the Owen Stanley Range is reached in an eerie and mysterious cloud forest where the mist flows through the deep jungle. The decent into the northern side of the Owen Stanley ranges leads us to beautiful lowland villages and widening rivers. The forest opens up into lovely open terrain and lastly we reach roads that lead to Popondetta and from there we visit Buna before flying back to Port Moresby.
Along the way we will pass through some of the world's most remote and inaccessible villages, where the people have had very few passing travelers and their warm and inquisitive hospitality is raw, refreshing and deeply memorable. This is in strong contrast to the Kokoda Track where countless trekkers passing through have significantly diminished the cultural aspect of that trek.
In a world where jungles and remote villages are disappearing, the Kapa Kapa Trail remains one of the greatest opportunities to truly experience these remarkable places. Kapa Kapa Trail Expeditions can take you on this extraordinary journey so contact us today to have us put together an expedition.
Location:
The Kapa Kapa Track is in Papua New Guinea and runs approximately 50km to the southeast of the Kokoda Track and crosses the Owen Stanley Ranges in a similar north-south direction, although in a more higher and remote area. The expedition starts on the Kemp Welch River near Gaba Gaba (hence the name of the trail being an American pronunciation) and ends at the Girua River bridge near Popondetta.
History:
In October-November 1942 the Kapa Kapa Trail was used by American troops as an alternative to the Kokoda Track, which was at that time heavily occupied by Japanese and Australian forces. The Kapa Kapa Track was used by the Americans in an attempt to outflank the Japanese and catch them by surprise on the northern PNG beaches. The American's struggled over the trail, as they had little information about the trail and found it difficult to retain local porters to help supply troops over the trail. Health deteriorated rapidly and many of the troops failed to make it over the demanding mountain range. Members of the US Army’s 2nd Battalion, 126th Regiment, 32nd Red Arrow Division undertook the incredible journey through this magnificent landscape.
Group size:
We only take private groups of 1- 6 people on the expedition. The expedition will be lead by an extremely experienced Australian guide, with local support an integral and key part of the expedition.
Accommodation:
Accommodation on the trail will be in tents and in village guest houses.
Suggested Reading:
“The Ghost Mountain Boys”, by American author James Campbell, Crown Publishers, New York. The book is readily available in paperback or on Kindle. The book provides an excellent account of the trail and reveals the pain and suffering the American troops encountered both on the Kapa Kapa Trail and on the coastline in Buna and the surrounding areas.
Required Experience:
Previous trekking experience is required to participate in this expedition as well as a high level of fitness. The Kokoda Track is the preferred pre-requisite trek. Please note, in order to assess your suitability for this expedition, you will need to provide details of your previous trekking experience.
All photographs and text are copyright. All rights are reserved. Kapa Kapa Trail Expeditions 2023.