10th – 12th of August, 2023  –   Ambunti, East Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea

The Sepik River Crocodile and Arts Festival is a three-day celebration of the many communities and cultures living along the Sepik River.

The festival highlights the crocodile and its cultural significance to the communities living along the Sepik River.

The Sepik River is a mighty river running for over 1000km, starting from the central highlands and slowly winding its way to the ocean through a large wetland belt that is up to 10km wide.

It is home to one of the worlds largest salt and freshwater crocodile populations, who share a special cultural bond with the people who live amongst them. Men in the area still proudly wear the scars from skin cutting initiations that run from shoulder to hip and resemble the spine of  crocodile.

The Crocodile symbolizes strength, power and manhood. It plays a significant part in the Sepik culture where cultural traditions, beliefs and legends are based on this ancient animal.