Meet Papua Korowai Tribe Tree House and Baliem Valley

Discovered only in 1974, the Korowai live high above the ground in forest tree houses, relying on their environment to protect and nourish them. As a semi-nomadic tribe with an ancient culture, the Korowai live an almost entirely self-sufficient lifestyle in the dense jungle of Papua. Today, their unique way of life is undergoing rapid change, under the impact of modernity and the actions of the Indonesian government.

The Korowai are hunter-gatherers who live in a small, close-knit society that fosters strong family ties. They need to share all that they have and to work together in order to survive. We estimate that they number about 3,000 in southeastern Papua. Traditionally, the Korowai live in small isolated groups, and each group, or clan, has a particular territory. There are usually no more than five tree houses in one settlement, and typical family home is built about 8 to 12 metres above the forest floor. However, in certain areas some of the tree-houses reach as high as 45 metres.

The distinctive high stilt architecture of the Korowai tree houses, well above flood-water levels, is a form of defensive fortification. They are intended to prevent rival clans from capturing people (especially women and children) for slavery or cannibalism. It is also a form of protection from biting insects and helps to ward off annoying evil spirits.