Kokoda Trek Guide and Porter

Guides - Australian/ Historian/ Local

 

John Derick Eroro

Age : 41
Number of Treks : 400 + spanning 25 years
Place of Residence :  Kokoda, originally from Gona.

EXPERIENCE

Youth Leader; Scouts Leader; Village Court Magistrate; First Aid Level I - St John's Ambulance

BRIEF BACKGROUND

• Attended Popondetta secondary school.  Started walking the track in 1980. His enjoyment comes from walking with trekkers
• Talking about the history of the track,  PNG Culture; fishing and singing.  He enjoys trekkers friendship and learning the Western way of doing things and enjoying their company
• Fluent in verbal and written English, Pidgin English;  Motu
• Knowledge of emergency radio communication
• Very reliant in outdoor activities as team leader 
  

WHAT HE SHARES WITH TREKKERS

• The War History
• Unknown Battlefield's like Myola Lake
• Stories of the first missionaries
• Informs about the flora; fauna.
• PNG Cultural Experience

ABOUT JOHN

He started walking in 1980 and has been trekking the Kokoda Trail ever since.  Initially he was employed by a company called 'New Guinea Adventures' which was owned by the legendary Clive Baker from Sydney in the position of porter.  After several trips, he was promoted to be a senior guide.  Clive continued to train John eventually promoting him to 'Trek Leader'.

Clive Baker also recommended him to other tour operators in Australia to employ him as a senior guide.  Companies such as 'Rope Pack & Paddle;  South Pacific Tours from Australia. He was also recommended to 'Edmond College' who hired him as a guide to walk with them.  John also looked after the logistics and other things for them before they arrived in PNG.  He has also been employed by local tour companies such as 'Koiari Tours and ourselves, Kokoda Trekking Ltd.

He has a certificate as a tour guide attained by training conducted by the Papua New Guinea Tourism Authority.  John was also asked to help the PNG Tourism Authority in running a training workshop for guides and porters and worked as an assistant facillator at the workshop.

His history of the Kokoda Trail spans many years walking in both directions.  Due to his vast experience, he knows in advance what tourists expect of him and how to treat them whilst out on the Kokoda Trail.  With a background of being born to parents from Gona, he has a fair history and knowledge of this area of PNG as well.

John has a good grasp of English, both written and verbal; is friendly and can always be relied upon to help where needed.  He is well respected by porters and people living along the Kokoda Trail.  During his years of service to the trekking industry, he has often helped village people with medicine when necessary and has their respect.

John is also a great leader and continues to train young porters and guides as to their responsibilities and chores.  He ensures they are comfortable, happy and not overloaded.

He is well respected by village elders both in Kokoda and along the track and amongst our past trekkers.

 

Wallace "Soc" Kienzle : (Historian)

 

Soc Kienzle is the youngest son of Captain Bert Kienzle the man who has been given accolades like "Architect of the Kokoda Trail" and "King of the Angels".

 

 

 

 

 

Soc Kienzle was born in Port Moresby Hospital in 1950. He grew up, lived and worked at Kokoda until 1983. He spoke Motu (the true language of the Papuan people - not Pidgin) and Koiari before he spoke English. As a child, Soc explored the jungle with the "fuzzy wuzzies" and their families, searching for war relics on the battle sites his father would describe. Much of what is and was in the Kokoda Museum was found by him, including the Japanese Mountain Gun now located next to the Japanese memorial on the Kokoda plateau.

At the age of 13, Soc set the record for a non-national "man" when he crossed the Trail, from MacDonald's Corner to Kokoda in 33 hours (approx 30 hrs from Ower'sCorner) including 6 hours sleep at Kagi. Over the ensuing years he traversed different parts of the track helping drove the first cattle to native blocks and on aircraft search and rescue missions.

Soc's love of Kokoda did not begin with reading a book although he has read every one that has been written about the Campaign! His passion for Kokoda and its people is in his blood and his desire to maintain the integrity of the Trail is borne for this reason and out of deep respect for his father, the Papuans and the diggers.

Traversing the Kokoda Trail with Soc entertaining you with stories of the war, and many other tales only he can tell, is an experience you will never forget and one which cannot be matched.

His rapport with the nationals as he talks and jokes with them in Motu will fascinate and amaze you and give you an insight into the local people, their humour and their culture that again, cannot be matched.

 

Justus Evari

Age : 33
Number of Treks : 142
Place of Residence :  Amada Village presently residing at the Kokoda Station.

 

 

 

EXPERIENCE

Attached to the Kokoda Police station as a 'Reserve Policeman'. Heavily Involved in sporting community base activities; Worked with the Kokoda District administration during the National Elections; Involved heavily in Tourism along the Kokoda Trail for 11 years; Certified with tour guide and first aid; Subsistence Farmer.

BRIEF BACKGROUND

• Completed secondary school.
• Fluent in verbal and written English, Pidgin English;  Motu. 
• Knowledge of emergency radio communication;
• Very reliant in outdoor activities as team leader. 
• Nil medevacs during expeditions. 
• Walked with a lot of army cadets during the past few years.
• Son of a Sgt. Major in the PNG defense force.

WHAT HE SHARES WITH TREKKERS

• The War History
• Significant WWII Relics
• Informs about the flora; fauna.
• PNG Cultural Experience

ABOUT JUSTUS

Feels he informs; imparts and directs advice as the local 'Unofficial' ambassador of Kokoda and his country.

Am proud to say I am from Kokoda and the challenge of tourism and what it offers to generate income for PNG's economy to sustain the nation.  He loves meeting new people and learning and sharing with them such things as their culture.

Married with 2 children.

 

Wallace Lemeki

Age - 30
Number of Treks - 40
Place of Residence:  Originally from Milne Bay, but moved to Saga Village in Kokoda.

 

 

 

EXPERIENCE

Worked as a storekeeper for 2 years before joining Kokoda Trekking as a porter; Worked my way up to the position of Guide and now Manager of Orohaven Kokoda Retreat when not walking the Kokoda Trail; I am also in charge of all the logistics of running our treks based in Kokoda.

BRIEF BACKGROUND

• Enjoy doing things on the track such as playing the uke'ule; Singing and entertaining trekkers.
• Talking about the history/ culture and sharing with trekkers experiences from their country. 
• Interaction with trekkers and getting to know them.
• Fluent in verbal and written English, Pidgin English;  Motu
• Knowledge of emergency radio communication
• Very reliant in outdoor activities as team leader
  

WHAT HE SHARE WITH TREKKERS

• The War History - Taught by Soc Kienzle 'Historian'
• Informs about the flora; fauna.
• PNG Cultural Experience

ABOUT WALLACE

He has good communication skills; is honest; works hard and at all times. Always puts his trekkers and the company before his own needs; a totally loyal and hardworking employee.

Wallace has attended the Lord Somers camp in Melbourne on two occasions.  Has been invited to Australia three years in a row to meet with various trekkers.  One trekker and his wife last year invited him to travel with them to the Tamworth Music Festival as a way of saying thank you to someone who truly cared about him when he walked the track for his 70th birthday.  Against all odds, the trekker made it to Kokoda and accredited the experience and knowledge to Wallace.

All our staff respect Wallace who has a wonderful personality that makes him well liked by anyone who meets him. Many return trekkers ask for Wallace - 'David Currie (3rd year in a row and now booked for a 4th year and has asked me to be the guide AGAIN)'. Married with 1 child and living a happy life.

 

Tony Ogonemi

Number of Treks - 32
Place of Residence:  Ilimo Village, Kokoda

 

 

 

 

EXPERIENCE

Completed Year 10 at High School.  Only been employed with Kokoda Trekking firstly as a porter working his way up to Guide.

 

BRIEF BACKGROUND

• Fluent in verbal and written English, Pidgin English;  Motu. 
• Excellent communication skills. 
• Son of a well known businessman in Kokoda.
• Talking about the history/ culture.
• Knowledge of emergency radio communication
• Very reliant in outdoor activities as team leader
  

WHAT HE SHARE WITH TREKKERS

Loves showing trekkers about the environment; the quietness it offers and the challenge that awaits them.  Tony enjoys meeting trekkers and feels the kind of setting on the Kokoda Trail is just magic.  He enjoys interacting with them and showing them a great time.  He loves to share stories about his life and he also likes to listen to anything they have to say whilst walking with them.  A religious man who always tries to do the right thing.

ABOUT TONY

Excellent communication skills; Tony is an honest guide who always wins the hearts of whoever walks with him.  Quietly spoken guy who loves being out on the track with trekkers.  Tony's possesses an easy going personality; is well respected by all our staff; makes a good team leader and is someone others go to for advice.  Is an honest and loyal employee who always tries his absolute best to ensure you are safe and enjoy your trek with him & his team of dedicated porters.

Porters/Carriers:

A personal porter can be hired to carry your pack. This should be arranged before the trek, as it can be difficult to hire a porter once a trek has commenced. Pack weight for a porter is restricted to a maximum of 15kg.

Highly recommended if you do not fit into the 'super' fit category.

 

 

Pictured above is Brendan Buka, the fastest man to run the Kokoda Track in a record setting pace of (16 hours 34 minutes - Ower's Corner to Kokoda). Brendan hold's the record for both dirctions. He is available as a personal porter.

The porters will look after you while you are out on the Kokoda track. They will help you lead the way, light up the fire in the morning before everyone else wakes up, boil some water, cook some food and in general be a good companion to your group.

At night upon reaching your daily target, our guides and porters will again help set up camp, light up some fire, and boil water and prepare food for you. Very helpful when you are exhausted after a long day's walk.

When reaching a village, our guides and porters will also arrange for you to stay at the village guest house, and perhaps arrange for some village food should you like to try some kau-kau or choko or even chicken when available.

Meet our guides and porters in our photo gallery.