Birding in Malagufuk in Rainy Season

Malagufuk is one of the many villages in Klasow valley. I introduced ecotourism for the first time to local people in late 2014. There were only two big tents where local people lived. It was very difficult to organize birding trip at that time. There were no guesthouse, toilet, or comfortable mattrasses with mosquito nets. The walking paths were muddy. The forest was infested with mosquitoes and leeches. Every time I went there, I had to carry dome tents, air mattresses, and a lot of equipments to the village. Alone I could not carry them all. So, I hired some people to work as porters.
I had to raise fund, I saved my income so that I could help provide basic things that tourists would need during their tour in the valley. I bought cooking and eating utensils and with savings that I had collected from running previous birding tours, I bought corrugated metal roofs for the construction of simple guesthouse in Malagufuk. I also contacted Wally and Coby Vreede from SDSP Foundation from the Netherlands to help. They raised money to help with the construction of a small water weir and a water sistern with its piping installation from the nearby stream to the village. With two basic basic guesthouses, dining sets, and toilets, rainforest birding tours could now be started.

Black-capped Lory

No birding guide or travel agency knew its existence. I have been guiding a lot of tourists to this village. After several years of running birding tours to the village with Nico Nauw, I began to see more visitors coming to Klasow valley.  And now more birding guides and travel agencies know about the village. Now it has become a famous destination for birdwatchers.
A few days ago from 26 to 28 February 2020, I went to Malagufuk again with an American tourist. We watched several interesting birds that lived in the rainforest of Sorong's lowland area. Some that we saw were Black-capped Lory, Black Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Large Fig Parrot, Moustached Treeswift, Metallic Starling, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Hooded Pitta, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Lesser Black Coucal, Torresian Crow, Lesser Bird of Paradise, Northern Cassowary, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Hooded Butcherbird, Grey-headed Goshawk, Mimic Meliphaga, and Blyh's Hornbill.
Local government from Sorong regency built two more bungalows. Each of them was filled with comfortable furniture (spring beds, chair and table), small kitchen, and a nice toilet. A long wooden bridge that will connect main road and the village is being constructed too.

Common Paradise Kingfisher

Every day and night we experienced heavy rain. The paths were muddy and slippery. It was quite difficult to carry heavy things such as camera, drinking water, binoculars, spotting scope and field guide book. So, we spent much of our time birding around the clearing area of the village especially along the edge of the forest. Because I brought my spotting scope, I was able to show beautiful birds to Michael, a professor from a medical school in the United States. He was my only client during the 3 days trip in the rainforest that was located in the suburb of Sorong city. Because the muddy paths were slippery, he fell several times in the forest. Well, it was part of the adventure and he still enjoyed the trip.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon

I also brought my camera the Canon 200D with Tamron 150-600mm lens. It was not the best photographic device but it was good enough for me to make some nice pictures that we saw in the rainforest. Local people were very friendly. They were happy to see me again.

Other places or villages that are also good for rainforest tour and birdwatching
There are several other villages in the suburb of Sorong that are located along the roadside and are good for tourists who like to explore the biodiversity of rainforest, or to enjoy birdwatching. Some of them include Klatomok, Klayeli.  If we go by 4wd cars or by ferry to Tambrauw regency, we will be able to explore pristine rainforest that is the natural habitat of hundreds of species of tropical birds.

Blyth's Hornbill

Booking
If you are interested in taking a rainforest tour or birdwatching tour in Sorong regency, before or after your trip to Raja Ampat, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Also read:

• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching Tour in the Forest and Farmland of Minahasa
• Manado City Tour: Birdwatching and Sightseeing

• Birding in High Elevation Forest of Minahasa
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birdwatching and butterflywatching in Sonder
• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com
• 
  

Papua Trekking Tour

Rainforest of Tambrauw mountains along Cuan river

I am going to conduct a rainforest trekking and camping tour in Tambrauw mountains based on the following details:

Available Schedule: 15 to 18 August 2016

Activities: multi sport
Reservation is STILL OPEN
Group Size Limit: 4 people (2 spaces available) 

Price: 6 million rupiahs (approx. 405 Euros) per person.

Itinerary
15 August 2016 - We will meet you in Sorong city and transfer you to Tambrauw regency by 4WD car. It takes around 3 hours by car from from Sorong city to Sausapor town. We will inform local authorities and the local police about our rainforest walking tour activity and then continue our trip to the stop point in the forest edge of Tambrauw mountains and 30 minutes of walking along the bank of Syuan river to reach our first base camp. The rainforest which we will explore is  located in the bird's head (vogelkop) region of West Papua. Overnight stay in the jungle tents

16 August 2016 - Trekking/ jungle walk, riverwalk, night walk, wildlife and birdwatching, swimming, camping

17 August 2016
Trekking/ jungle walk, riverwalk, wildlife and birdwatching, swimming, camping

18 August 2016
We still have time to enjoy the scenery of the river and rainforest. After breakfast, we will dismantle our tents and leave the forest.

A short tour around Sausapor town and its surrounding area
Transfer to Sorong city

Riverwalk in the jungle of Tambrauw regency

How to get there?

• Fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia)
• Fly from Jakarta to Sorong city. Domestic airlines such as Garuda, Sriwijaya, Express Air, and Nam Air have got regular flights to Sorong.
• I will meet you in Sorong city and organize your trip to rainforest.

To book the tour, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Tropical rainforest of West Papua is very rich in bio-diversity. It has been a destination for nature lovers that come from all corners of the globe. There is one trekking destination that I am promoting for international visitors. Its name is Tambrauw regency

Lowland forest of Tambrauw regency. 
I highly recommend this site because very few tourists have been there. So, much of the forest areas are still unexplored. Nature lovers who go trekking in this region can see various species of herbal plants, wild flowers, giant trees, birds, marsupial and nocturnal animals. Tambrauw regency is located between Sorong and Manokwari. To go trekking in the rainforest of Tambrauw, we need to charter a 4WD car from Sorong city. It takes approximately 4 hours from Sorong city to Sausapor town (the temporary capital of Tambrauw). After registering our names in the local police station, we can continue our trip to Cuan river where we will be able to stay for a few days in the jungle.

Camping in the jungle of Tambrauw Regency

Wildlife
From my previous trips in this forest, we saw bandicoot, eupholus beetle, Swallowtail Blue Mountain butterfly (Papilio ulysses), Blyths hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Spangled Drongo and Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor).

Binoculars and bridge camera such as Nikon Coolpix P900 will be useful for birdwatching and wildlife watching.
To enhance your birding experience, we will bring spotting scope, field guide book entitled, "Birds of New Guinea" written by Bruce Beehler and his friends.
We will also provide camping gear such as tents, cooking and eating utensils, and torch. 

Please, book now
If you are interested in taking this rainforest tour in Tambrauw regency, please, contact me by e-mail: peace4wp@gmail.com. I could also prepare a customized itinerary and calculate the cost of your tours that are suitable with your travel schedule.

Also read:

• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in Minahasa
• Manado City: Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour

Tambrauw Mountains - a Recommended Destination for Rainforest Tour

Experience the Tropical Jungle
The mountain range of Tambrauw can be reached by 4WD car from Sorong city. Its tropical rainforest is the natural habitat of a lot of species of animals including Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Blyth's hornbill and Goliath Cockatoo. I promote it as a new destination this year for visitors who are interested in exploring the rich bio-diversity of Papua's jungle.

Camping Gear
Usually tourists who come in groups between 4 and 6 people spend between 4 and 5 days in Tambrauw regency. If you are interested in traveling to West Papua and want to take jungle tour, please, make sure that you bring all the necessary gear including dome tent, rolling mattrass or sleeping bag, raincoat, flash light, binoculars for watching wild animals and digital camera with telephoto lens and extra batteries.

Water Shoes
Most of the walks into deeper area of the jungle will be done along the banks of the river. Visitors will have to cross a river many times. That's why it is important to have a good pair of water shoes. You could buy the shoes at a local shoe store in your town or order them directly based on the following recommendation.

How to get there?
Fly from your country to Jakarta ( the capital of Indonesia)
Fly to Sorong city
I will meet you at the airport or at the hotel where you stay and organize your trip to Tambrauw mountains.
I suggest that the participants of the tour should be 3 or more people to share the cost of the tour.
Booking
I will be happy to arrange the tour, calculate the cost and prepare the itinerary for you. Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or you could call me, send text/ whatsapp message to my number: +6281332245180 for more information.

Rainforest Tour in Syugrar River of Tambrauw Regency

Hiking, Birding and Wildlife Watching in Tambrauw Mountains

Last week I organized a rainforest tour for six Polish visitors. They had a 2-week vacation in West Papua. They spent their first week enjoying scuba diving in Raja Ampat and their second week trekking and camping in the tropical jungle of Tambrauw mountains from 8 to 12 Nov. 2015. While in Raja Ampat, they stayed at Kri Eco Resort. I met them at the Usaha Mina Speed Boat harbor in Sorong town and then arranged their transfer to Sausapor (the temporary capital of Tambrauw regency). After informing the local police about our arrival, we continued our trip to Syuan river. Heavy rained welcomed us. I and my friends worked fast in constructing tents for our guests. We would spent several nights trekking, birding and wildlife watching in the forest. 

Lesser Bird of Paradise

The next morning we had a short walk into the jungle where we watched Lesser Birds of Paradise. It was a nice experience of the Polish tourists who saw the rainforest as a totally new environment for them. In addition to watching birds of paradise, they also had some conversation with local people about their marriage customs, what to give as dowry, hunting practices and things that were related to the daily life of Papuan people.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

In the afternoon, I decided to relocate the group to Syugrar river because the water current in Syuan river was very strong. I explained to them that if we moved to Syugrar river, we would be able to walk deeper into the jungle just by walking through the river. Syugrar and Syuan rivers were separated by a huge ridge from Tambrauw mountains. We walked back to the main road and wait for several ours for our 4WD car to transfer us to our new location. 

I made a right decision. The next morning, we were able to walk deeper into the jungle through Syugrar river whose current was not as strong as Syuan. During the trip, we saw hornbill, cockatoo, lory and other tropical birds that live in the jungle. At the end of our trip, we had a short tour around Sausapor town and a walking tour around Werur village.

If you are interested in taking a rainforest tour that is organized from Sorong city, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Also read:
Birdwatching and Snorkeling in Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat Snorkeling
Snorkeling Vacation in Raja Ampat archipelago

Rainforest Tour along Syugrar River of Tambrauw Regency

I have just completed a rainforest tour in Tambrauw mountains where I guided 6 visitors from Poland from 8 to 12 November 2015. We went camping and trekking along Syugrar river. On the first day, I met them at Usaha Mina speedboat harbor of Sorong city. After buying some food from Remu Market, we left the city for Sausapor town. It took around 4 hours to reach Sausapor that is located in the northern coast of the bird's head region of West Papua.

We built our first camps at the side of Syuan river but the next morning we had to move to Syugrar river to avoid the strong current of Syuan. We wanted to walk deeper into the jungle to see the rainforest ecosystem.

We spent 3 days/ 2 nights trekking, camping, swimming and wildlife watching along Syugrar river. For the Polish tourists, it was a unique experience because they had never seen tropical rainforest before.
If you are also interested in taking a rainforest tour in Tambrauw mountains, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Itinerary for the Rainforest Tour in Tambrauw Mountains of West Papua

Camping site at Cuan rive

I am going to conduct a rainforest trekking and camping tour in Tambrauw mountains based on the following details:

Activities: trekking, camping, riverwalk, swimming, wildlife/ birdwatching
Reservation is still open
Group Size Limit: 4 people
Price:  ...
Itinerary
Day 1 
We will meet you in Sorong city and transfer you to Tambrauw regency by 4WD car. It takes around 4 hours by car from from Sorong city to Sausapor town. We will inform local authorities and the local police about our rainforest tour activity and then continue our trip to the stop point in the forest edge of Tambrauw mountains and 30 minutes of walking along the bank of Syuan river to reach our first base camp. The rainforest which we will explore is  located in the bird's head (vogelkop) region of West Papua. Overnight stay in the jungle tents.

Soa-soa Lizard in Tambrauw Forest

Day 2
Trekking/ jungle walk, riverwalk, night walk, wildlife and birdwatching, swimming, camping
Day 3
Trekking/ jungle walk, riverwalk, wildlife and birdwatching, swimming, camping
Day 4
We still have time to enjoy the scenery of the river and rainforest. After breakfast, we will dismantle our tents and leave the forest.
A short tour around Sausapor town and its surrounding area
Transfer to Sorong city

How to get there?

• Fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia)
• Fly from Jakarta to Sorong city. Domestic airlines such as Garuda, Sriwijaya, Express Air, and Nam Air have got regular flights to Sorong.
• I will meet you in Sorong city and organize your trip to the rainforest.

Lowland forest of Tambrauw regency 

Rainforest along the side area of Cuan river

I highly recommend this site because very few tourists have been there. So, much of the forest areas are still unexplored. Nature lovers who go trekking in this region may see various species of herbal plants, wild flowers, giant trees, birds, marsupial and nocturnal animals.
Tambrauw regency is located between Sorong and Manokwari. To go trekking in the rainforest of Tambrauw, we need to charter a 4WD car from Sorong city. It takes approximately 4 hours from Sorong city to Sausapor town (the temporary capital of Tambrauw). After registering our names in the local police station, we can continue our trip to Cuan river where we will be able to stay for a few days in the jungle.

Wildlife

From my previous trips in this forest, we saw bandicoot, eupholus beetle, Swallowtail Blue Mountain butterfly (Papilio ulysses), Blyths hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Spangled Drongo and Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor).
Binoculars and bridge camera such as Nikon Coolpix P900 will be useful for birdwatching and wildlife watching.
To enhance your birding experience, we will bring spotting scope, field guide book entitled, "Birds of New Guinea" written by Bruce Beehler and his friends.
We will also provide camping gear such as tents, cooking and eating utensils, and torch.

Please, book now
If you are interested in taking this rainforest tour in Tambrauw regency, please, contact me by e-mail: peace4wp@gmail.com or whatsapp: +6281332245180. I will compose an itinerary and calculate the cost of your tours that are suitable with your travel schedule.

Please, support our efforts in preserving the bio-diversity of tropical rainforest in Papua

Wildlife Tour in Ases of Tambrauw Mountains

There is a place in Tambrauw mountains where tropical rainforest covers most of the terrains. It is called Ases. Because it is located in a very remote area, abundant wild animals live there. That's why I promote it as a new tourist destination this year for Wildlife Tour.

Road in Tambrauw Mountains of West Papua

Please, look at the map below. Ases is an oval green shape that is located in the south of Fef. To reach it, visitors have to walk for a whole day through dense rainforest. Ases is covered by pristine tropical rainforest that is the natural habitat of various species of animals such as deers, cassowary, wild pigs, snakes, soa-soa lizards, birdwing butterflies, and various species of birds of paradise. The minimum duration of the tour is 1 week. With 2 overnight-stays in Sorong before and after the tour in Ases.

ASES is the most recommended destination for visitors who want to take a wildlife tour in the rainforest of Tambrauw mountains.

Participants of the tour have to be fit physically. They need to bring head torch or flashlight, wear sport or water shoes, flipflops, t-shirt and long trousers for walking in the jungle. Insect repellent lotion will be needed too. Those who want to swim in the ponds of the rivers need to bring beach or swim suit. There is no cell phone coverage. So, if you need to keep in touch with the outer world, you could bring satellite phone. For participants of the tour who are interested in photography, please, bring D-SLR camera with telephoto lens or such bridge camera as Nikon P900 or Sony DSC H400 with extra batteries. As tour guide, we will provide complete camping gear such as tents, air mattresses, cooking and eating utensils, rechargeable lamps.

Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Sorong, Buying food and other logistical needs
Day 2 Transfer from Sorong to Fef by chartered 4WD car
Day 3 Trekking, Camping and Wildlife watching
Day 4 Trekking, Camping and Wildlife watching
Day 5 Trekking, and Wildlife watching, walking back to Fef
Day 6 Transfer from Fef  to Sorong by chartered 4WD car
Day 7 Transfer to Airport

Cost: Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com for further information about Wildlife Tour in Ases of Tambrauw regency and other areas in West Papua.

Rainforest Tour in Tambrauw Mountains of West Papua

Coral reef in the waters of Sausapor town

Last week I had a survey trip with seven foreign visitors to Tambrauw regency that was located between Sorong and Manokwari. We visited its coastal town, Sausapor, and stayed for one night in Ef We island. The next morning, we went snorkeling at the western tip of  the island and northeastern area of Ef Nay island.
Coral Reef
There were several coral reef areas in Tambrauw regency that were potential to be developed as tourist destinations. In this post, I presented the underwater picture of coral reef environment which was taken a few days ago near Sausapor town. For more articles related to coral reef, and marine tourism, please, visit my personal blog: charlesroring.blogspot.com.
Watching Leatherback Turtle
In the afternoon, we continued our trip to Batu Rumah where we did a short rainforest tour and a long overnight turtle watching trip at Jen Womom beach. Leatherback was the largest turtle in the world and its population was shrinking. Many of them die after eating transparent plastic shopping bags that are drifting in the ocean. They considered them as their food, i.e. jellyfish.

Sujak River in Tambrauw Mountains of West Papua

Rainforest Tour
The last segment of the trip was done in the forest areas near Fef in the highland of Tambrauw mountains. Fef was located in a valley in the south of Tambrauw mountains. It is the capital of Tambrauw regency. Visitors who want to reach it had to go by 4WD car. The slopes were very steep and could not be climbed by ordinary city cars. The scenery of Tambrauw mountains was really magnificent.

A traditional village in Tambrauw mountains

Activities
Most of the areas of the mountains are covered by pristine rainforest. There are a lot of things that visitors can enjoy including sightseeing, trekking, camping, birding, swimming, and wildlife watching.
In addition to birds of paradise, visitors may see deers, wild pigs, cuscus possum, snake, soa-soa lizard, colorful butterflies, unique beetles, and exotic wild orchids.
Tambrauw is a place that I highly recommend to all tourists who are interested in exploring the rainforest ecosystem particularly its wildlife. All participants of the tour were impressed with the courtship dance of Lesser Birds of Paradise in the last morning of their rainforest tour in Tambrauw mountains.

Tour Package for June, July, August, and September 2016
Rainforest Tour Itinerary
Day 1. Arrive in Sorong city
Day 2. Transfer to Fef, overnight stay in the town
Day 3. Trekking to Ases valley
Day 4. Trekking, camping, birding and wildlife tour in Ases
Day 5. Trekking, camping, birding and wildlife tour in Ases
Day 6. Walking back to Fef, overnight stay in the town
Day 7. Return to Sorong city
Please, contact Charles Roring for the price by sending email to: peace4wp@gmail.com



Although the capital was Fef. But the town is being constructed. So, it is still not ready to function as the administrative center of the local government. Today, Sausapor is the temporary capital of Tambrauw regency.
If you are interested in traveling to Tambrauw mountains and need me to be your guide, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Rainforest Tour along Dopi River of Manokwari regency

The tropical rainforest along Dopi river is located on the west of Manokwari town. To reach the river, we need to walk for around 3 hours. There is a camp at the bank of the river that is usually used by foreign visitors when they go trekking and camping in the lowland rainforest of Manokwari. 

Wildlife

Wild animals such as kangaroo, deers, wild pigs, casuari, possums, monitor lizards (soa-soa) snakes, cuscus may be seen in the jungle around Dopi river if visitors camp there for several nights. 

Birdwatching

The rainforest of Dopi are also home to a lot of species of lowland birds. Two Swedish birdwatchers spent 3 days birding along the river. They were able to see some species which they wrote in the following list:
Longtailed Honey Buzzard
Variable Goshawk
Brahminy Kite

Common Sandpiper

Beautiful Fruit-dove
Pinon Imperial Pigeon

Palm Cockatoo
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Rainbow Lorikeet
Pesquet Parrot (endangered species)
Yellowcapped Pygmy-parrot
Moluccan King Parrot

White-eared Bronzed-cuckoo
Jungle Hawk Owl

Marbled Frogmouth

Azure kingfisher
Rufous-bellied Kookabara

Papuan (Blyth's) hornbill

Black Sunbird
Yellow bellied longbill
Pygmy longbill

Olivecrowned (Papuan) Flowerpecker
Spangled drongo
Hooded Butherbird

Lesser Birds of Paradise

Yellow Faced Myna

Birds are usually active early in the morning and before sunset.

I have guided a lot of tourists along the river of Dopi on a number of rainforest tours since several years ago. They came from France, England, Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States. Some visited the rainforest just to enjoy walking in the tropical jungle while others went there to see birds, flowers and various species of trees, flowers, and green plants.

Flowers

Terrestrial orchids can be seen growing on the mountain just 1-hour walk from Dopi river. They have got red, pink, and white colors. African tulip (Spathodea campanulata) blooms out of the branches of tall trees. They can easily be recognized by their orange color. Another flower that attracts the attention of visitors is Glory Vine (Varadaya splendida). It release fragrant smell. This vine plants grows near the bank of Dopi river. Ylang-ylang plants also grow in the forest. The extracted oil from the flowers are highly valued by beauticians and natural therapists around the world.
Trekking and Camping
The best way to experience the nature is by staying fore several nights at the bank of the river. Two camps have been built on separate locations in the jungle which visitors can use. Accompanied by our local guides, visitors can walk in the mornings, in the afternoons and at nights to explore the rainforest and see various species of animals that live in the rainforest. Most often, the sounds of birds can clearly be heard while visitors swim or take a bath at the river.
We have prepared cooking gear for visitors so they don't have to bring pan, plates, or glasses. This rainforest tour program is prepared by Charles Roring to help local people get some money from their efforts in preserving the tropical rainforest of Dopi river. 

For trekking, camping and birdwatching at Dopi river, please contact me by e-mail: peace4wp@gmail.com

One Night in Arfak mountains

After trekking for 10 hours in the lowland forest along Pami river, the next morning I and the 3 French tourists continued their trip to upper montane forest of Arfak mountains. They were Paul, Sophie and Stephanie. We left Manokwari early in the morning hoping to reach the forest of Kwau village at around 6 a.m. so that we would be able to watch vogelkop bowerbird seducing his female birds. The 4WD pick-up truck that was carrying us was driven by Goris. He drove the Toyota Hilux too fast. Unfortunately, the driver made a mistake. By accident he drove the truck into a ditch that was covered by thick grass. We had to put granite stones into the ditch to help the driver pulled the car out of it. The car could not arrive on time.

Fortunately, when these French guests went to watch the vogelkop bowerbird (Amblyornis innornatus), they were able to see it. In the afternoon, they were able to watch Western Parotia (Parotia sefilata) whose male bird dances like a ballerina. They were lucky because not all of the guests who visited Arfak range saw the bird. Well, because the one that dances is a male bird, the right term might be dancer or danseur. What is a male ballet dancer called? balletmen or ballerino :-)
At night, the temperature dropped. I saw the French women put on thick clothing. It is funny to see European wear several layers of clothing. Perhaps, they are not use to cold temperature anymore because they have been living in Bali for more than five years. They are scuba divers who are attracted to the beauty of coral reef of Indonesia. All of us went to bed at around 8 a.m. in order to wake up early in the morning to watch the Magnificent birds of paradise.
They did a very long walking tour in the jungle. They fell to the ground, experienced bruises on their feet and become exhausted at the end of the trip. But they said that they really liked the rainforest tour. I am really grateful for their support in my eco-tourism program that is aimed at preserving rainforest and empowering the indigenous people of Papua. by Charles Roring/ E-mail: peace4wp@gmail.com

Rainforest Tour in Dopi River of Manokwari

I have written some articles about rainforest tour in West Papua especially in Manokwari regency. This time, I want to talk about tours in Dopi. It is a river around 2 hour on foot from Manokwari city. Tropical trees and shrubs that grow on both sides of river are the natural habitat for various species of birds including pygmy parrots, lesser birds of paradise, hornbills and hawk.

Because Dopi is quite close from but untouched by city dwellers of Manokwari, it is a nice destination for budget travellers who want to experience or see the ecosytem of tropical rainforest by staying in the jungle for several nights. On my efforts to reduce the hunting of endangered animals, I try to recruit the indigenous Papuan to work as guides and porters. They know every corner of the jungle so they can give you accurate information about the time when hornbills fly back to trees where they usually sleep in.
From my previous tours in Dopi river, I saw birds of paradise dancing on the branches of trees and snake moving on the ground. Insect lovers will find that Dopi river is a must see place to photograph colorful butterflies, beetles or cicada. Male cicada is a unique insect that creates noisy sounds to attract female cicada for mating. His mating sound can be heard from several hundreds away.

The tropical rainforest near Dopi river is also the natural habitat of tikus tanah (literally mean ground mouse). But scientifically, it is called bandicoot. The marsupial animal like to eat small fruits that come out of the roots of a tree trunk just above the ground. Birds such as the beautiful fruit dove also like the fruits.

Visitors who plan to go hiking in the rainforest of Dopi river must wear proper hiking boots that are light, comfortable and strong enough for walking for at least four hours. Two camps have been built for tourists who want to stay for several nights. Here is my email: peace4wp@gmail.com that you could send email to if you are interested in taking a hiking tour in Camp Dopi . by Charles Roring
Map:

Dopi is the tributary of Pami river. The river flows to the north coast of Manokwari. So, it is important to keep the rivers clean while trekking through the rivers by not throwing any plastic wastes into the water to protect the coral reef in the region.
Related article Hiking and Birdwatching in Dopi river

Rainforest Tour in Kais Village of West Papua

Rainforest tour is a kind of tour that is conducted inside a rainforest. As a complex environment, a rainforest is the natural habitat of various species of animals such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Trees that can be seen in the forest are more diverse and have got trunks whose diameters are bigger than 1 meter. The rainforest tour that I promote in this blog is aimed at providing alternative tourism scheme to travelers and at the same time promote the conservation of this precious environment.
The Lowland Rainforest of District Kais
I went to District Kais early this month for a 2-day tour in its lowland rainforest. I visited Kais as part of my survey trips in the bird's head region of West Papua for developing and promoting ecotourism. Kais administratively is under South Sorong regency whose capital is Teminabuan. The regency is a neighbor of Raja Ampat - a world class diving destination.

The southern land of New Guinea is more flat and swampy with sago and nipa palm trees grow along the banks of its rivers. Mangrove trees grow in the coastal area. The vegetation that I saw in the dry land of Kais was unique compared to other parts of the bird's head region of West Papua province.
Birdwatching

However, one thing that attracted me the most is the abundance of birdlife in Kais' rainforest. During a short tour through a small tributary river of Kais, I was able to see various species of birds including the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Blyth's hornbill (Rythiceros plicatus), Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon) fruit doves, lorry, eagles, drongos, kingfisher and bats.

How to get there?

• First you need to fly from your country to Indonesia. Jakarta is the capital of the state but Denpasar is the most popular tourist hub. 
• From these cities, take one of the domestic flights served by Batavia Air, Express Air, Sriwijaya Air, Lion Air or Merpati Air to Sorong city. You will need to stay for around 1 or 2 days in Sorong to get a Surat Jalan (Travel Permit) from the local police station and buy some food and gasoline. 
• Then you need to go to Teminabuan - a small town in South Sorong regency by car. 
• Before continuing your trip by a motorized outrigger boat to Kais village, make sure that you have got at least 120 liters of gasoline. The boat trip itself is a nice river tour that you will enjoy very much. The cost of this rainforest tour depends on how many days you want to explore the forest and how many of you who will take this tour. I can calculate it for you. So, if you are interested in taking this tour, please, contact me via my email: peace4wp@gmail.com. I will arrange your accommodation and transportation as well as contacting local people in Sorong, Teminabuan and Kais to support your birwatching trip to one of the most beautiful tropical rainforests in the world. I will also work as your guide, translating conversation between you and the local Papuan people. 

The easiest way to explore the rainforest was by using a boat. After conducting a little walk around the jungle in the vicinity of Kais village, I continued my day exploration of the forest by a small outrigger boat. Two Papuan guys paddled the boat with me sitting at its front. As we entered the Kerzek river which was the tributary of Kais river, we could hear the sounds of some sulphur crested cockatoes warning their friends about our arrival. These birds had got very sharp eyes. They could easily identify us even though we were rowing the boat quietly under the overlapping branches and leaves of the trees that cover the river.

The tropical rainforest of Kais is still in pristine condition. It is a nice destination for travelers who are interested in taking a rainforest and birdwatching tour in South Sorong regency for several days and nights. by Charles Roring
Also read: Tropical Rainforest of Numfor island

Hiking tours in Inggramui forest

As a new hiking destination, Inggramui forest is the natural habitat of various species of animals that are endemic to New Guinea island. Last October I conducted a tour for two Dutch tourists, Sandra and her father, to the area which lasted for 4 days/3 nights. It was really an amazing adventure for her because she was able to watch tens of blyth's hornbills (Rhyticeros Plycatus) flying back to their sleeping trees after sunset. I and the local Papuan guides who work together in developing the hiking tour program in this Inggramui forest built a small camp as a basic accommodation for tourists.

We don't use RV or recreational vehicles because such vehicles do not exist in Manokwari. This campsite is located near a river. This is an important place for watching birds, soa-soa (giant lizards) and snakes. Two days before our arrival, the Papuan guides had gone into the forest to set some animal traps. When we came, the traps got some animals such as soa-soa, fruit dove and deer. They were released after I and Sandra took pictures of them. The deer had died when the hunters found it so they cut its meat in pieces and brought them back to our camp. The next morning we were able to eat some noodle soup with chips of deer meat. The low elevation forest in Inggramui is rich in orchid flowers such as dendrobium and other tropical flowers that grow in high trees.

The Inggramui forest is a perfect destination for multiple day hiking trips. I don't recommend it for one day hiking trip because it is very far from Manokwari city. And also because there are a lot of things that you can see and do there.

The above glory vine (faradaya splendida) flower plant grows near the bank of a river around 300 meters from our base camp. Its flowers are fragrant and abundant. Because I saw it near the river, it must need a lot of water to grow.
Hikers who want to experience living in the middle of a tropical jungle should try visiting it.  The terrains are not steep in general although there are some slopes that are quite demanding to hike. Visitors do not need to bring their own tents if they want to go hiking in Inggramui forest of Manokwari. Things that they need to bring are food, sleeping bag, mosquito net and photographic equipment. A set of GPS and compass devices are also good if you want to find out where you are on the map while walking in the middle of no where. Raincoat is also needed especially during the rainy season. Hikers need durable footwear or hiking shoes that are resistant to water.
If you need a guided hiking tour in Inggramui forest of Manokwari regency, please, email at: charlesroring@gmail.com
Also read:
Hiking tours in the rainforest of Arfak mountains
Hiking and birdwatching in Arfak mountains

Hiking tour in the north coast of Manokwari

Hiking and birdwatching in Arfak mountains are two popular eco-tourism activities that tourists like to enjoy while traveling to Manokwari. As a matter of fact, there are other destinations that I offer to tourists who like hiking. One of them is the north coast of Manokwari. There are two hiking tour routes in the north coast of Manokwari that I have developed and promoted to visitors. The first one is in Asai and the second one is in Inggramui. The hiking track in Asai is more moderate for jungle explorer because it is located along a river and can be covered in one or two days hiking. Inggramui forest is more suitable for multiple day hiking. Both routes are unique and beautiful. As a hiking guide who have accompanied a lot of tourists, I highly recommend Inggramui forest due to its isolated location and abundance of wildlife. Last year I guided two Dutch travelers on a 4 day/ 3 night hiking tour in the tropical rainforest of Inggramui. This tour had been prepared for them two months earlier. During the jungle walks in Inggramui, we were able to see a lot of hornbills, sulphur crested cockatoo, fruit dove, two big soa-soa (giant lizards whose overall lengths were between 1.6 to 2 meters) and colorful orchids.

To make pictures of the birds in high trees, you will need a photo camera with telephoto or super zoom capability. If you don't have one, you can buy a Nikon Coolpix P510. It has got 42 x optical zoom (which is equivalent to 1,000 mm in 35 mm lens format) can easily magnify tiny subject such as the birds of paradise in tall trees. Nikon Coolpix P510 is a compact point and shoot camera that is suitable to hikers. It can produce images with 16.1 MP picture quality. This affordable camera will be available on the shelves of camera stores in March 2012.
The tropical rainforest of Inggramui, located in the northern area of Manokwari regency, is unknown to tourists because it is a new hiking destination in Manokwari. I highly recommend this forest as hiking tour destination to tourists to support my program in converting local hunters to become hiking guides so that the ecosystem of the Inggramui forest can be preserved for future generations of Papuan people.

Travelers who take hiking tour in Asai can also enjoy snorkeling on the second day of their trip in the northern coast of Manokwari particularly between May and October. The coral reef along the shore of Asai and Kaki island are worth snorkeling. Most tourists bring their own hiking shoes or camping boots when going to West Papua but I suggest that they buy a pair of jungle boots in Manokwari city for a price that is less than 7 Euro. The jungle boots are made of rubber and are more durable for walking in the river. If your feet size is larger than 42 (which is the maximum size of boots that are sold in Manokwari), you need to buy boots in your country. Or you can buy them through an online store. Please, try the following hiking boots by clicking on the picture below:

In addition to wearing hiking shoes or jungle boots and t-shirts, tourists need to apply insect repellent lotion all over their exposed skins to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Such lotion is sold in most of the shops in Manokwari. Mosquito net is also needed if they want to stay for several nights in the forest. I can provide mosquito net. You need a high quality waterproof backpack for hiking through the north coast of Manokwari. If you haven't got one, I recommend that you buy it from your local backpacking supply store. Or you can buy the following backpack from online store if you click on the image.
Because tours to the rainforest of Asai and Inggramui have been part of my eco-tourism program, transportation, local guides, and campsites (including tents) have been prepared for receiving tourists. Please, contact me via my email peace4wp@gmail.com or call me or send whatsapp message via my cell phone +62081332245180 if you are interested in hiking in Manokwari. by Charles Roring
Also read: Go hiking in the Table Mountain

Beautiful Fruit Dove from the rainforest of Manokwari

The lowland rainforest in Inggramui is a must see destination for anybody who is interested in bird watching. It is a three hour walk from Inggramui village in the sub-urban area of Manokwari city. When I guided Thomas and her daughter Sandra (two tourists from the Netherlands) to this forest area from 16 to 19 October 2011, we had a chance of seeing a dove from very close distance. I even held it in my hands. A trap made by Papuan hunters near a fruit tree had caught it. When the hunters told us that they had just got this dove, we had just returned to Camp 1 after walking for a few hours from Camp 2 that was located deep in the jungle of the north coast region of Manokwari.

Beautiful Fruit Dove

I immediately called Sandra if she was interested in taking some pictures of this beautiful bird. She came with her Nikon D4 - a small D-SLR camera that was light - suitable for travelers who like walking in the jungle and do not want to carry heavy photographic devices. I shot the bird using my Nikon Coolpix P500.

During our tours in the rainforest of Arfak mountains and the North Coast of Manokwari, I brought with me a copy of Birds of New Guinea - a very good book written by Beehler and Zimmerman. We opened the book and got some information about this fruit dove. Its name was Beautiful Fruit Dove. In Latin, it was called Ptilinopus pulchellus. The bird had pink cap on her head. Sandra released the bird at a river near our Camp. Fruit doves, birds of paradise, cockatoos, hornbills and various other birds in this mountain range help trees by dispersing their seeds thus expanding their growth coverage area in the rainforest.

The eco-tour to rainforest of Inggramui village in Manokwari that I am now promoting will help provide alternative jobs to hunters that are more friendly to the environment. If more tourists visit this rainforest, we can effectively preserve this precious environment and raise the awareness of the Papuan people that they can still survive in this modern world without having to irresponsibly exploit the wood from their rainforest or catch wild animals for trading.

Basecamp in the forest of West Papua

Recommended Bird Watching Destinations in Manokwari
In addition to the rainforest of Inggramui, other wildlife watching destinations that I recommend to tourists are District Senopi, lowland rainforest of Arfak mountains and Numfor island.
Optical Devices that you need for bird watching
If you want to travel to Manokwari for watching birds, don't forget to bring binoculars, telephoto camera or if possible a powerful digiscoping device. Also prepare some plastic sheets or bags to cover your equipment during rainy days.
Why rainforest in Inggramui is highly recommended for birding
I can say that when you travel to the rainforest of Inggramui, you will see a lot of birds that are endemic to New Guinea island - the largest tropical island in the world. I have been trying to convert local hunters to become wildlife guide. Since they are expert in catching animals, they can still set up traps to catch the animals but after shooting them with digital cameras and making scientific identification of the wild animals, tourists can have them released to their natural habitat again. We all know that tropical rainforest is a very important ecosystem that effectively absorbs CO2 gases that we emit every day. Thus the preservation of the rainforest through eco-tour program that I am now promoting in Manokwari regency of West Papua will give positive contribution in fighting global warming. Because this eco-tourism program heavily depends on the visitation of tourists, anyone who is willing to visit our rainforest and gives some financial contribution to the creation of jobs for these hunters will always be welcomed. For further information about traveling in Manokwari, please contact me via my email: peace4wp@gmail.com. by Charles Roring

Post Update 25 Nov 2019
I don't offer camping and birding tours to this forest anymore.
Also read:
Beautiful Fruit Dove in Raja Ampat
Converting hunters to birding and wildlife guides
Rainforest flowers in Inggramui village of Manokwari
Rainforest insects in Inggramui village of Manokwari

Rainforest Tour in Manokwari regency of Indonesia

I often accompany foreign tourists on various rainforest tours in Manokwari regency. Manokwari is the capital of West Papua province of Indonesia. Today, the number of tourists who want to go hiking and wildlife watching in the forest is increasing. Most of them choose the rainforest of New Guinea because they want to see the wealth of its bio-diversity. There are hundreds of species of birds, nocturnal animals, mammals, reptiles, insects, flowers, and green plants in the jungles of Manokwari.

As a tourist guide, I opened a new tourist destination in the middle of the forest of Inggramui village last month. From my recent trip with 2 Dutch tourists there, I was able to make some pictures of flowers, butterflies, rivers and tropical trees. For example, the photograph of white petal flowers below was shot by me using a pocket camera - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3. These flowers are called Glory Vine (Faradaya splendida).

Another new picture was taken from my rainforest hiking tour along a river in the north coast of Manokwari. I made it using Nikon Coolpix P500 - telephoto digital camera that is suitable for shooting distant subjects. My main intention of buying that camera is to make promotional photographs for my ecotourism project in West Papua. I believe that ecotourism can help the indigenous Papuan people improve their living standard and at the same time preserve their environment.

The Nikon Coolpix P500 is also good for macro shooting. The close-up picture of the eupholus beetle looks sharp and beautiful among the green leaves of the surrounding plants. I didn't use any macro lenses to create this picture. This rainforest insect did not run or fly away when I shot it from close distance.

The tour to tropical rainforest can help the indigenous Papuan people preserve their forest because they will be able to make some extra money from their natural resources without having to cut trees or hunt wild animals.
To visit Manokwari city, first you need to fly from your country to one of the major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar or Manado. After that take a domestic flight served by Batik Air, Lion Air, and Sriwijaya Air to Manokwari. Check traveloka.com or their respective websites for further information about the flight schedules and ticket prices.
If you are interested in taking a tour inside the tropical rainforest of Manokwari, please contact me (Charles Roring) via email at peace4wp@gmail@gmail.com
Also read:
Birding in Raja Ampat
Morning Bird Tour in Waigeo island
Hiking, Camping and Wildlife Watching in Arfak mountains
Flowers in the Rainforest of West Papua
Traveling around Anggi Lakes
Traveling around Arfak mountains