There is a huge area of lowland rainforest in Klasow valley approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by 4WD pick-up car to the east from Sorong city. There are tens of villages in the valley. Some of them were Malagufuk, Klatomok, Klabili. Various species of tropical trees such as ficus, African tulip, matoa and merbau can be found in the region.
Rainforest in Malagufuk
It is also the natural habitat of Lesser Birds of Paradise, Blyth's Hornbill, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Kingfishers and Casuari birds. There are also deers, wallaby and wild pigs that live in the jungle.
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Ficus tree in the rainforest of
Klasow Valley - Sorong regency |
Because much of the land is flat, visitors will be able to enjoy an easy nature walk find while exploring the forest.
Use digital camera with telephoto lens or such bridge camera as Nikon Coolpix P900 to take pictures of Blyth's hornbill, cockatoos, butterflies, terrestrial orchids, cuscus possum, snake, riverscape and wild vines that are seen during the jungle walk.
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Blyth's hornbill in the rainforest of
Klasow valley - Sorong regency |
How to get there?
- If you are still in your country, fly to Jakarta
- Then continue your trip to Sorong city by a domestic flight. Check the websites of Garuda Air, Sriwijaya Air, Express Air, and Lion Air for flight schedule between Jakarta and Sorong city.
- At least, one week before flying to Sorong, please contact me Charles Roring by calling or sending text message to my cell phone number +6281332245180. I will arrange a 4WD pick up truck, prepare the logistics, and contacting local villagers for your trip in Klasow valley.
CostEvery tour in the rainforest is unique. The cost depends on the number of participants, the number of days visitors want to stay in the jungle and the distance visitors want to cover while walking in the jungle. We can customize the tour based on the duration of stay and the number of participants of the forest tour.
We can calculate the cost including chartered 4WD car, food, cook, local guides, chartered boat, snorkeling mask, camping gear, cooking and eating utensils, rechargeable lamps and etc. Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com for further information about the cost and itinerary of the tour.
What you need to prepare
Because you are going to have a tour in the rainforest, do not expect to stay in a comfortable hotel. You will stay in homestay or basic accommodation guesthouse.. Bring a thin sleeping back that will cover your body from insect bites. Buy a bottle of insect repellent lotion and apply it on your skin.
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Terrestrial orchids in the forest of Klasow valley - Sorong regency |
The villagers of Malaumkarta, Klabili, and Malagufuk are still in the very early stage of developing their eco-tourism. So, visitors are advised to be more tolerant to their lack of skills and experience when serving you as visitors. We greatly hope that the villagers of Klatomok, and Malagufuk in the Klasow valley will stop logging activities and preserve their precious environment for future generation of Papua. You could do the rainforest tour in this valley alone or with your friends before or after visiting Raja Ampat.
Snorkeling Trip in Raja Ampat
In addition to rainforest tour in lowland forest of Sorong regency, visitors can combine it with a trip to Raja Ampat to enjoy snorkeling and birdwatching. The coral reef of Raja Ampat is the habitat of a lot of species of marine creatures. Visitors could enjoy swimming and snorkeling in various sites around Waigeo such as the Lesser Urai Island, Mioskon island, Arborek, Yenbuba Strait, Sawandarek, and Cape Kri.
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White sandy beach in Raja Ampat |
To take photographs of marine life, visitors can bring GoPro action camera, or Nikon W300 and Olympus TG-7. Although most beach resorts provide snorkeling mask, and fins, visitors should bring their own snorkeling device that are fit on their face and feet.
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Coral reef in Arborek |
If you are interested in taking this rainforest tour in Sorong regency and still need my help in providing more info about costs or in arranging your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send text message to my cell phone: +6281332245180
Rainforest Tour in Minahasa Peninsula of North SulawesiMinahasa Peninsula is a region in the Province of North Sulawesi of Indonesia that is also interesting for rainforest wildlife tourism. Its lowland and lower montane forest in Tangkoko Nature Reserve is the habitat of Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, Celebes-crested Macaque, Gursky's Spectral Tarsier, and etc.
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Sulawesi Bear Cuscus |
Birdwatching is a favorite activity among visitors who go to Tangkoko. There, they could watch Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Great-billed Kingfisher, Ashy Woodpecker, Purle-winged Roller, and etc.
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Green-backed Kingfisher |
In the mountains, there are a lot of species of tropical birds that we could watch such as Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Crimson Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Pale Blue Monarch, Pygmy Woodpecker, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, White-breasted Woodswallow, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Yellow-billed Malkoha, and etc.
Lakes and wet rice fields are the habitat of various kinds of water birds such as Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Isabelline Bush-hen, White-browed Crake, White-breasted Waterhen, Javan Pond Heron, and etc.
Most birdwatchers need binoculars. The recommended ones include Nikon Monarch, Swarovski, Swarovski 8×42 mm, 10×42 mm or 10×50 mm binoculars.
Flight Routes
To visit Minahasa Peninsula, visitors need to fly from their countries to Manado city which is the capital of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. There are regular flights between Manado city and other big cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, SuperAirjet, and TransNusa.
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Flight Routes to Manado City |
There are direct flights between Singapore and Manado city served by Scoot Air, as well as between Guangzhou of China and Manado city of Indonesia served by Transnusa, and China Southern Airlines.
Accommodation
- For birding and wildlife watching in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, visitors could stay in one of the many homestays and lodges outside the park.
- For the same activity in Minahasa highland such as Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow, and Sonder farm forest, visitors could stay in hotels or homestays in Tomohon town.
Booking
If you are interested in taking a birding and wildlife watching tour in Minahasa Peninsula and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by WhatsApp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.
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