Korowai Tree Tribes of Irian Jaya

The Korowai tribe are direct neighbours of the Asmat and live north of the Dairam Kabiur. Their habitat is limited by two large rivers and the mountains in the north. Their swampy area is approximately 600 km² bid. In this difficult area are living up to 2500 Korowai together in small family groups. The Korowai are hunters and collectors. They nourish themselves mainly with Sago which they won from Sago palms. They refer their main protein food from the larvae of the Capricorn beetle. The huntable animals represent their further base of live. There are wild pigs; Casuar bird; birds; snakes; and small insects. Vegetable food is also very important for them. Especially palm leaves, fern, breadfruit and the red pandanae fruit.

The Korowai live together in small family groups in tree houses. These tree houses can reach heights up to 50 meters, what however only in exceptional cases the case is. The Korowai build such kind of tree houses only if there is a dispute with the neighbours, or if they live in an hostile area. Their normal tree houses are around 6 to 25 Meters high. A Korowai family with up to eight persons live in such kind of houses. But there is a strictly separatism between men and women. Their material culture is exclusively limited to indispensable things of daily live as well as decoration articles for the body.

Particularly to call the still common stone axe, bone knifes as well as the grave stick to remove the hard skin from a Sago Tree and the wooden Sago hammer. For the decoration of the body we have to name the bones from the wings of a flying fox. The Korowai women place this in the nose. Also the necklace from dog´s tooth are really important for them. The mother give these necklaces to the daughter and this is still in use. The men use necklaces from pig´s tooth. The women use only a small skirt made from tree skin and Sago fibres. The men use only a leaf around the penis. Some groups have just the half of a nut around the penis. Around the chest you can see also some rotanings. Without their net the women never move out of the tree house. The men never move out without bow and arrows.

Day 01
From Jakarta or Bali, transfer to the airport for flight to Jayapura. Overnight at hotel in Jayapura.

Day 02
Depart by flight to Wamena. Sighseeing around Wamena. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03
Depart by charter flight to Yaniruma. Overnight at missionary house.

Day 04
Trekking and canoeing to Dearam and Dayo Village. Overnight in shelters.

Day 05 - 09
Five days exploring the swampy lowland rain forest in searching for the Tribes live on trees, the Korowai. Overnight in shelters.

Day 10
Trekking back to Yaniruma. Overnight missionary house.

Day 11
Depart by chartered flight direct to Jayapura. Overnight hotel.

Day 12
Leave Jayapura to Jakarta or Bali. END OF TRIP

Duration: 12 Days/11 Nights
Grade: Moderate to Challenging
Starts/Ends: Jayapura

> IRIAN JAYA GENERAL INFORMATION
> BALIEM VALLEY GENERAL INFORMATION
> BALIEM VALLEY TREKKING
> BALIEM VALLEY TREKKING
> DANI & LANI TRIBE TREKKING
> YALI TRIBE ADVENTURE
> ASMAT TRIBE ADVENTURE
> KOROWAI TREE TRIBES ADVENTURE
> BIAK DIVING

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