Photograph the Baining Fire Dance

From Kokopo you can drive up into the mountains to reach the Baining area in the early evening. Here, in the village of Gaulim, you can witness the incredible sight of the Baining Fire Dance – during which masked "spirit men" dance in and out of the fire. The Baining People are famous for this dangerous, and rather painful looking, fire dance during which young men wear elaborate animal masks and dance through flames in a night time ritual that is performed to celebrate births and the passing of family members, as well as to initiate young men into adulthood. This is one of the most impressive dance performances Papua New Guinea can offer.