Sunday, January 8, 2012

Hiking tours in the rainforest of Arfak mountains of Manokwari

Hiking and camping tour
in the jungle of Arfak mountains

I have been guiding tourists on a lot of hiking tours in Arfak mountains since 2010. There are several destinations that I provide to tourists. The most popular location is in the jungle of Mount Mabowi, It is located in the lower montane forest of Arfak mountains. The hiking trips that have been developed are integrated with one or two hours birdwatching activities where travelers can watch endemic bird and butterfly species from the vogelkop region of New Guinea island. Four important bird species in high elevation forest of Arfak mountains are the magnificent bird of paradise, the bower bird and the western parotia and the owlet night jar. In low elevation rainforest of Arfak mountains and the northern coast of Manokwari, travelers can watch hornbills, cockatoo, and the lesser birds of paradise.
Other interesting destinations in the bird's head region are Klasow valley and Tambrauw mountains.
Our basecamp in the jungle of Mount Mabowi
of Arfak Mountains
There is a base-camp located in the middle of the jungle where hikers can stay for two or three nights while doing the hiking tours along the slopes and ravines of the Arfak mountains. Because the accommodation facilities are in basic condition, travelers are advised to bring their own sleeping bag. During the hiking tours, all travelers have to be guided by at least 2 people (an indigenous Papuan as local guide, and an interpreter - which is usually me). In addition to the sleeping bag, travelers need to bring extra batteries for their own camera, and watertight bags to keep their electronic devices during rainy days. Trekking shoes, t-shirts, and raincoats are needed for your journey through the tropical rainforest of New Guinea.
Travelers from Germany, the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia and many other countries from around world have come to Manokwari city and enjoyed hiking tours with me. If you are a single traveler, you can take hiking tour with me to all of the destinations that I have promoted in this blog. As a guide for bird/ wildlife watching, hiking and camping tours in Manokwari, I could guide single traveler who wants to visit Arfak mountains in Manokwari or other parts in West Papua. I will adjust or adapt the trips that are more suitable for his or her budget. You need to be physically fit for taking this hiking tour package. Usually after joining the 3 or 5 day hiking tour in Arfak mountains, hiker will feel very exhausted and pains all over the body. Sometimes, visitors asks me to arrange massage service to sooth the muscle pains or tensions. I could arrange it too.
In addition to hiking or trekking along the steep slopes of Arfak mountains or moderate terrains in the north coast of Manokwari, other interesting ecotourism activities that tourists can enjoy in West Papua and its surrounding region are swimming, snorkeling and wave surfing (don't forget to bring your own gears).
Since the main goal of this ecotourism project is to empower the indigenous Papuan people, I will always try to hire local people as local guide, porter, or cook during the tour program that you take with me. All of the rainforest hiking tour packages in Arfak mountains, Tambrauw mountains and Klasow valley in Sorong regency or even the forest of Fish Lagoon in Raja Ampat islands have been developed in cooperation with the indigenous Papuan people who live in the area. For further information about hiking tour in Arfak mountains, the north coast of Manokwari and Numfor island, Tambrauw mountains and Sorong regency, please, email me at peace4wp@gmail.com or send text message/ whatsapp message to +6281332245180
Also read: Hiking and birdwatching in Arfak mountains