Trekking and Watching Tree Kangaroo in Arfak Mountains of Manokwari

I used to guide a visitor named Tia on a trekking tour to Imubri area of Arfak mountains of Manokwari. We went trekking in the jungle for a few days. Our goal was to see tree kangaroo but we were also interested in seeing tropical trees, shrubs, vines, wild flowers as well as birds, insects, mammals and marsupial animals.
We started our tour early in the morning. Accompanied by local people, we began walking into dense forest of Arfak mountains. At first, the path was only flat. After 30 minutes of walking, the path was leading us to steep slopes. Our walking speed was getting slower as the slopes were getting steeper.

Blyth's Hornbills

After walking for one hour we reached a flat ground again. It was almost eight o'clock in the morning but the surrounding area looked darker. Only very little sunlight that could penetrate through the canopy of the forest. Suddenly, I heard sounds of big birds flapping their wings in the branches of the tree in front of us. Several Blyth's hornbills, perhaps after hearing noise from our voices, jumped from the tree and began flying away. They looked awesome while flying. I had not finished admiring the beautiful birds when I saw another attraction on the ground. There were some pink wild flowers that were coming out of green plants. I could not identify its species name. There were also butterflies that were flying in the air. We might have disturbed them from daily routines of collecting nectar from the flowers.

deep ravine in Arfak range of Manokwari

We walked up and down numerous steep slopes and crossed small and big rivers. In the middle of the day, we stopped at the side of a fast flowing river to have lunch.  It was the last river that we would cross. After lunch, we climbed very steep slopes again until we reached our base-camp located very deep in tropical rainforest of Imubri. It took around 7 hours of walking up and down steep slopes, for us to reach our destination. 

Tree Kangaroo in Arfak range

Tree Kangaroo
We still had some walking tours in the jungle to watch birds of paradise, butterflies and most importantly the tree kangaroos. The indigenous people were very smart in locating where the kangaroos were. They used dogs. Dogs that were trained to hunt animals in the jungle could sense the smell of tree kangaroos even though  the animals were sitting in the branches of high trees. When the dog found a tree kangaroo, we could see scratches of claw prints on the trunk of the tree.
Taking pictures of the kangaroo was quite difficult. I had to adjust my camera several times and aimed it at the marsupial animal located high above my head. After several attempts, I could make some nice photographs of the tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus). It was eating young leaves. He saw us on the ground but did not move away from us. Perhaps he was curious about what we were doing down there.

Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor)

We were very happy with the trekking tour in Imubri area of Arfak mountains because we could see tree kangaroo in their natural habitat. We did not see flame bowerbird but it was ok. Overall the trip to watch wild animals was tough or quite difficult as we had predicted it before. But we were satisfied with the experience. It was an adventure.
Birds of Paradise
The jungle of Arfak range is the natural habitat of various animals including several species of birds of paradise. Visitors need to bring binoculars if they want to watch the birds.

Where is Arfak range?
It is a mountaineous region in Manokwari, the capital of Papua Barat province of Indonesia. See the map below:

How to go there?

• Fly from your country to Jakarta city (the capital of Indonesia)
• Fly from Jakarta to Manokwari (there are regular flights served by  Garuda, Express Air, Sriwijaya Air)
• I will meet you at the airport, or at the hotel where you stay and organize your tour to Arfak mountains

Are you interested?
Since 1800s Arfak has been a famous destination among foreign visitors. In the past, they came as researchers who wanted to study anything about New Guinea, its people, its flora and fauna and its land. Now most of the visitors are tourists. Only very few tourists would like to do long hours of walk to the jungle where tree kangaroes live.
Well, if you are interested, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. Don't forget to do regular exercise before taking the rainforest tour with me.

Birds of Paradise watching trip in Manokwari

Lesser Birds of Paradise in Arfak range of Manokwari

There are 39 species of birds of paradise in the world and most of them can be found in New Guinea. This tropical island is divided into 2 territories. The eastern region is the independent state of Papua New Guinea and the western one is West Papua that is under the rule of the Republic of Indonesia. There are 2 provinces in West Papua, i.e. Papua and Papua Barat. The capital of Papua is Jayapura and the capital of Papua Barat is Manokwari. 

Manokwari is a beautiful coastal city that has been considered as the best destination for birdwatchers. This town is not far from the mountain range of Arfak. Located in the south of the city, Arfak mountains are covered by dense tropical rainforest that are home to various species of birds of paradise. 

I personally have arranged tours and guided tourists to Arfak mountains, northern coast of Manokwari, Kaimana, Numfor island and Aiwatar hill in Tambraw regency of Papua Barat province. We saw various species of birds including Magnificent Birds of Paradise, Western Parotia, Lesser Birds of Paradise. We also see birdwing butterflies, beetles, tree kangaroo, cuscus possum, soa-soa, and snakes that live in the jungle of Manokwari and its surrounding regions.

Recommendes birding sites 
Some birding sites in Arfak mountains that I recommend are as follows

• Mupi Gunung is for watching Blyth's hornbill, sulphur crested cockatoo, Lesser birds of paradise, Western Parotia, Vogelkop bowerbird, Flame bowerbird, blacksickle bill, brownsickle bill, Papuan frogmouth, and etc. Mupi Gunung is the best destination for anybody who is interested in everything rainforest. As a matter of fact, its vocal point for wildlife watching is tree kangaroo.
• Warmarway village - this is the recommended site for watching Lesser birds of paradise. Lower montane forest birds such as sulphur crested cockatoo, pinon imperial pigeon and Brahminy kite can also be seen in the forest.
• Kwau village (for watching Western Parotia, Magnificent birds of paradise, and Vogelkop bowerbirds). You need to take a long car trip from Manokwari to the village.

tree kangaroo

Traveling to Manokwari

It is not difficult to visit Manokwari.

• Fly to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
•  After that, take a domestic flight that is offered by Garuda Indonesia Airways, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air, or Express Air to Manokwari. 
• The next morning, you can continue your trip to the mountain range of Arfak to watch birds of paradise. You need to be physically fit if you want to go trekking birdwatching and wildlife watching in Manokwari.

I can arrange a birding and trekking trip for you. Your destinations can be Manokwari, Numfor island, Sorong regency, Kaimana or Raja Ampat. Please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by sending text message to my cell phone: +6281332245180.