Hiking and Camping in Arfak mountains

A few days ago, I guided an American girl to the coastal area of Arfak mountains approximately one hour by public transportation from Manokwari city. Her name was Rachel. Our destination was Warmarway - a small coastal village in the eastern region of Arfak. We spent 3 days/ 2 nights swimming, camping, hiking, birdwatching and butterfly watching and doing night walk in the jungle.
As a tourist guide I have guided a lot of single traveler girl or lady on various hiking, camping, birdwatching, swimming, snorkeling, and motorcycle tours around Manokwari.
Here is the scenery of the place that I and Rachel visited a few days ago.

Coastal area of Arfak mountains

There was an unfinished wooden house at the beach. I and Rachel, accompanied by local villagers (Yunus, Magdalena, and Susi) stayed at the house for one night and then continued our trip for another night in a tourist camp site located deeper in the forest of Arfak mountains.
Swimming

On the first day, we enjoyed swimming. Unfortunately, there was rain and strong wind at the time when we were there causing only zero visibility in the coral reef area. So, we did not enjoy snorkeling. We went swimming instead. Villagers showed us the beach with fine black sand that was good for swimmers. We really enjoyed swimming and spent a few hours in the water.
Eating Fresh Fried Fish
Magdalena, one of the villagers, went fishing before we came back to the house. She caught a snapper and proudly showed it to us that afternoon. Yunus cleaned and washed the fish and cut them in smaller pieces so that I could fry them. I also made stir fried kangkung vegetables and fried tempe.  Rachel, the American girl from Connecticut who came alone all the way to West Papua, liked the simple meal that we had that day.
Camping
The unfinished wooden house where we stayed had been installed with corrugated metal roof. Its floor was made of iron wood planks. Only the walls that had not been constructed. For bathroom and toilet, we used the river. The guesthouse was far from the village. So, we had a private beach, private forest, and a simple but good accommodation. I brought a dome tent and a mattress. I set the tent up and put the mattress inside ready for Reachel to sleep in it. I also brought an army standard sleeping bag for her. At night she could sleep well without having to fear the swarming mosquitoes. The sea breeze keep the mosquitoes  and sandflies away from the guesthouse. The sound of insects became our natural music during our time in the coastal and mountainous region of Arfak. We had a night walk in the jungle to find cuscus but could only see a bandicoot.
Hiking in the jungle of Arfak mountains
The next morning, we continued our trip into the forest. We had to carefully walk up the steep slope of Arfak mountains. Yunus (a local villager that we hired built a shelter for tourist near a small creek in the jungle. We arrived at the shelter on the afternoon. I quickly set the dome tent again before dark came.

Cruiser butterfly (Vindula arsinoe)

Butterflies

A lot of colorful butterflies flew around us. Some landed on the ground. Some even landed on our smelly clothes that were soaked in our sweat. Some species that we saw including Amathusiid butterfly (Taenari catops); Cruiser butterfly (Vindula arsinoe), Cairns birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera priamus). There were still more butterflies that we saw but could not identify.
Our dinner that night was rice, spinach vegetables, fried tempe and scrambled eggs prepared by Magdalena. After dinner, we still had a short night walk in the jungle to find cuscus. Unfortunately, we were not so successful.
Feeling exhausted, we walked back to our camp and sleep earlier than the previous night. Again the sounds of insects and water flowing in the river became the natural music that surrounds us during our sleeping time.
Watching Lesser Birds of Paradise
I checked the clock on my cell phone. It was 05.00 a.m. Time to get ready. I woke Rachel up. Yunus had already boiled some water for us. We had some biscuits and coffee before leaving for the birding ground approximately 45 minutes walk from our campsite. It was still dark when we walked again. I turned on my head flash light. The male birds of paradise were calling their female birds when we arrived. It was difficult to see them because they were perching on the twigs in the canopy of the trees. Rachel could only see a male paradise bird with his beautiful yellow plumes in a few seconds. But she said it was ok, she really enjoyed the singing of the birds while sitting on the ground under the tree. It's a relaxing experience.
We still enjoyed some swimming at the beach near Warmarway village before going back to Manokwari city again.
If you are interested in exploring the natural beauty of the coastal and mountainous areas of West Papua and want to hire me as your guide, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send text message to my cell phone: 006281332245180.
I can prepare a customized itinerary and cost that is suitable for you.

Turtle Calling Ritual in Tambrauw Regency

Leatherback turtle landed at Jen Womom beach of Tambrauw regency in West Papua to lay eggs

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)  is the largest turtle species in the whole sea world. This marine animal is facing extinction due to continuous hunting for its eggs by human, choking from drifting plastic bag that it considers as jelly fish and other natural predators (soa-soa lizard and wild pigs), sharks in its early age.
To raise awareness about the importance of protecting turtles, local community leaders with the support of volunteers from WWF, Dept. of Maritime and Fishery Affairs and local government authorities of Tambrauw regency will conduct The Traditional Ritual for the Calling of Leatherback Turtles  on 25 June 2015. The traditional ritual is open to everybody who is interested in watching the turtles at Jen Womom beach lay their eggs.

Batu Kapal beach near Sausapor town of Tambrauw regency

Please, study the following map for the location of Sausapor town and Jen Womom beach

Sausapor town is the capital of Tambrauw regency and Jen Womom beach is the site where leatherback turtles land to lay their eggs.

Location of Sausapor townrelative to the map of Indonesia

How to get there?

• First fly from your country to Jakarta city.
• After getting Visa On Arrival, continue your trip to Sorong city by flying with Garuda, or Sriwijaya Air, or Express Air
• When you have arrived in Sorong city, continue your trip to Sausapor town by passenger boats KM. Sunlia and KM. Ave Maria (ticket price is 100,000 to 150,000 rupiahs for economy class rupiahs or approximately 8 to 12 US dollars per person). The boat leaves Sorong city (from Pelabuhan Rakyat) for Sausapor town on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Sausapor town is located in the northern coast of the bird's head region of West Papua.
• Make sure that you arrive in Sausapor town before 25 June 2015 so that you will get free transport to Jen Womom beach during the festival. 
• Accommodation is free (just go to the office of WWF in Sausapor town and meet Ronny Tethool or Anis Sundoi and say that you get the info from Charles Roring's blog on the internet).

Batu Kapal beach near Sausapor town during sunset time

Leatherback and other turtles species land along the beach of Tambrauw regency from May to December so, you can still go there to see the turtles during those months.
Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem

Tambrauw regency has got a lot of places that are potential to be developed for tourism. Some of them are numerous world class surf spots, pristine rainforest ecosystem, wreckages left by US troops after World War II.
Birdwatching in Viem
Viem is a local term for a site located deep in the jungle of Tambrauw mountains where warm salty water comes out of the ground. Every morning and before sunset, various species of birds land on the ground to drink until they get drunk. Birds are not the only animals that can be seen in the Viem. When I visited several Viems in Aiwatar hill of District Senopi, I saw a lot of deers, kangaroo and wild cows in the vicinity. I highly recommend the site for all avid birdwatchers who want to see the wealth of New Guinea's avifauna

If you are interested in visiting Tambrauw regency, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or cell phone: 006281332245180

FYI: During World War II, US forces landed on Sansapor and its nearby coastal area and islands as part of their campaign in fighting the Japanese forces in the Pacific. Today, the town's spelling has experienced slight change from Sansapor to Sausapor.

Recommended Trekking and Birding Sites in Arfak Mountains

Arfak range is located in the south of Manokwari city. It has been a famous destination for naturalist who wants to see the beauty of Papua's nature.

I often receive emails from tourists and researchers who want to go to Arfak mountains of Manokwari. They ask for a good trekking and birding site. From my personal experience, I highly recommend such villages as Mupi Gunung, Warmarway, and Kwau. These villages have got large rainforest areas that are suitable for anybody who is interested in exploring the biodiversity of Arfak range.
Birds of Paradise
There are tens of species of birds of paradise that visitors can see in the jungle. Some of them are western parotia, lesser birds of paradise, black sickle bill, king birds of paradise, and the magnificent birds of paradise.
Tropical birds
In addition to paradise birds, other species that can be watched include sulphur crested cockatoo, pasquet parrots, pinon imperial pigeon, blyth's hornbill, pygmy parrots, vogelkop bowerbirds and flame bowerbirds.
Marsupial Animals

West Papua and Australia are the natural habitat of various species of marsupial animals. Some that visitors can see in Arfak mountains are tree kangaroo, cuscus, and bandicoot.
Recommended Trekking Site in Bird's head region
There are several locations of trekking sites in Vogelkop or bird's head region. Some of them are as follows:

• Aiwatar hill of District Senopi in Tambrauw mountains (whic is also the best birdwatching site I have ever seen in my life); 
• Rainforest of Warmarway village in the eastern region of Arfak mountains,
• Klasow valley in Sorong regency (where you can see wallaby, cuscus, birds of paradise)
• Mupi Gunung hamlet whose trails are very steep and are only suitable for visitors who are physically fit.

Preparations
Visitors need to make certain preparations prior to their trip to Arfak range. Here are some of them:
- Bring only clothes you really need. These include some T-shirts, long trousers, underwear, running shoes or trekking boots.
- Bring mosquito net, and some insect repellent lotion.
- Extra batteries, telephoto lens for your photographic activities.
- Buy food in Manokwari city.
If you want to visit it and need my guiding service, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Visiting Koroway Tribe

by Charles Roring
Early this month, I made an exploratory trip to the land of Koroway tribe in South Papua. I went there because I heard that this tribe built houses high above the ground. I took nearly two weeks to do the trip. I was really happy to see the river scenery where the indigenous Papuan people rowing their boats while standing. The southern region of Papua was flat land. Most of the land consisted of swamps, rivers and dense tropical rainforest.

I had the chance to visit several hamlets of Koroway tribe and met the indigenous people who lived in their traditional wooden houses deep in the jungle.
In order to survive, they built their houses on high poles so that enemies, snakes, mosquitoes would not easily reach them. They hunt wild pigs, caught fish in the river, and extracted flour from sago trees. They also worked in their garden. They grew taro, banana and vegetable plants. They were very simple people but I saw that they were happy with their modest lifestyle. They wore traditional clothing that was very minimum or almost naked. Forest was their home, their playground and their fortress. They knew their forest very well and could tell when the right time to hunt for pigs or cut sago trees.

I stayed in their traditional houses for several nights and had the chance to eat grilled pork, and sago worm. The taste of sago worm was delicious. Everybody who plans to go to West Papua should consider visiting the Koroway tribe.

I met with Daud, their village head and talked to him several times. He said that Koroway tribe in his village was open to tourists. He hopes that eco-tourism could bring positive impact to his people. 

They could generate some income to buy salt, farming and cooking tools. So, if you are interested in visiting Koroway tribe, and need me to be your private guide, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Mansinam Island

by Charles Roring
Mansinam is a small island located in Dorey bay of Manokwari city. The island is considered as The Island of Civilization by the indigenous Papuan people. Christianity was introduced for the first time to the indigenous people on 5 February 1855 by three German evangelists C.W. Ottow and his wife, and Geissler. At that time, they were still involved in tribal wars. The evangelists and their successors built schools, health clinics, and churches that have now become GKI (Gereja Kristen Injili di Tanah Papua) - one of the largest Christian denominations in West Papua. They were able to stop tribal wars, slavery and introduced education.

White Sandy Beach of Mansinam Island

Every year, on 5 February, pilgrims visit Manokwari city and Mansinam island to celebrate the landing of the missionaries as the date when the indigenous Papuan people began to embrace modern civilization.
Tourism Activities
In addition to visiting Cross Monument and Giant Jesus statue, visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving along the coastal area of the island. Coral reef can easily be found around the island. The government build concrete road that circles the island.  It is suitable for visitors who are interested in nature walk or birdwatching walk particularly on the south-eastern region of the island.

Reef Flat area in Mansinam island

Snorkeling or Scuba Diving
Coral reef is the tropical rainforest of the ocean. It is the natural habitat of thousands of species of fish. Mansinam island has got several sites that are suitable for snorkelers and scuba divers. Visitors could see various species of fish including damsel fish, grouper, butterfly fish, jack fish, that live in the coral reef of the island.

Marine Life in drop off area of Mansinam Waters

In addition to tourism activities in the island, we could also organize trekking and birding tours in Arfak mountains for visitors who want to see biodiversity of tropical rainforest.
For further information about traveling to Mansinam island, Manokwari and its surrounding areas, please, contact me by Email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

How to get there?

• Fly from your country to Jakarta city
• After that fly from Jakarta to Manokwari city
• We will be happy to meet you at the airport and transfer you to the island.

We also provide tour hiking and wildlife watching tour in the jungle for visitors who want to see rainforest ecosystem with unique trees, flowers, butterflies, and birds.
Also read: Snorkeling Tour in Coral Reef of Manokwari