Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the world’s second-largest island and is highly susceptible to volcanic activity, earthquakes, and tidal waves. Linguistically, it is the most diverse country on Earth, with more than 700 native languages. About 80% of Papua’s people live in rural areas with few or no modern facilities. Many tribes in the remote mountainous interior have little contact with one another—let alone with the outside world. The country harbors a rich variety of reptiles, marsupials (animals that carry their young in pouches), native freshwater fish, and birds, but it is almost devoid of large mammals. This absence helped shape the evolution of around 40 species of birds-of-paradise. Papua is a true paradise for birdwatchers. I had dreamed of exploring the island for many years, and when I finally arrived, it exceeded all expectations. The journey was both challenging and exhilarating.