Wildlife Tour in Kasulala Forest of Sorong Regency

Kasulala is the name of a forest area in the east of Sorong regency that is the natural habitat of various species of plants and animals. It can be reached by a 4WD car for around 1 hour 40 minutes. 

There are cuscus, dorcopsis, fruit bats, wild pigs, bandicoot, and etc. For reptiles, there are monitor lizard, and snakes. Kasulala is also the habitat of hundreds of species insects and birds. 

Bird of Prey in Kasulala Forest

Visitors who are interested in exploring the biodiversity of Kasulala forest need to bring binoculars, flash light, rain poncho, wellington boots, insect repellent, binoculars and camera. Birdwatching is a very popular tourism activity in Kasulala. So, bringing a spotting scope is also highly recommended.

Ground Orchid in Kasulala forest of Sorong regency

Birds that can be watched in Kasulala forest include Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Blue-Black Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Papuan Eclectus, Red-cheeked Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Shining Flycatcher, Frilled Monarch, Mimic Honeyeater, Brahminy Kite, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Gray-headed Goshawk, Pacific Baza, Western-crowned Pigeon, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Zoe Imperial Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Blyth's Hornbill, and etc.

Papuan Eclectus

King Bird of Paradise

Birding activity is usually conducted very early in the mornings, in late afternoons and at nights. Tour participants need to bring their own binoculars to enhance their birding experience.

Most often, sound player is used to call certain species of bird for tour participants to see. Some birds such as the Black-sided Robin, Blue Jewel Babbler, Papuan Pitta and Hooded Pitta can be called using their recorded sounds. 

Wompoo Fruit-dove

For mammal watching, this is usually carried out at nights using flash lights and thermal scope. Night birding is often carried out after dinner to find nocturnal birds such as Papuan Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, Papuan Hawk Owl, and other birds that sleep on the lower branches of trees. 

Usually, visitors spend around 3 days/ 2 nights in Kasulala to explore the plants and animals of the forest.

Accommodation

There are simple guesthouses in Kasulala forest for visitors who want to stay for several days. It is not luxurious but it is good enough as accommodation for visitors who want to stay near the forest during their wildlife watching tour. 

Basic Accommodation in Kasulala Forest of Sorong regency

Birding in the Suburb of Sorong City

For visitors who do not have much time, they could still enjoy nature/ birding tour in the suburb of Sorong city. Usually the duration of the tour is half or full day. 

Forest areas that can be visited include mangrove, ridge forest, hill forest, and coastal area of Sorong city. 

Birds that can be watched include: Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Beach Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Olive-backed Sunbird, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Glossy-mantled Manucode and etc. 

Birding tour from Sorong city

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Kasulala forest or the suburb of Sorong city, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Also read: 

• What to do in Sorong city
• Short Birding Tour in Sorong City
• Birding near Sorong City
• Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City for Non Birders
• Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong Regency

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Nature Tour Around Sorong City and Raja Ampat

Sorong city is the main entrance gate for visitors who want to enjoy their vacation in Raja Ampat islands. Every day airplanes land at Domine Eduard Osok (DEO) Airport of Sorong city. They bring hundreds of visitors. Most of them want to enjoy swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in Waigeo, Batanta, Gam, Kri, Mansuar, Arborek, Piaynemo, Wayag and the remote Misool islands. 

Nature tour in Sorong city

Visitors who have just landed in Sorong city are often too tired to start their trip in Raja Ampat. They may want to take a rest in Swissbel or Aston hotels in Sorong city after their long flights from home. There are also visitors who have just returned from Raja Ampat after their snorkeling or diving trips. Most of them want to take a rest for 1 or 2 days in Sorong. Some of them are interested in taking easy to do nature tour around Sorong city to see beautiful landscape, watch birds, butterflies, reptiles and mammals.

Willie Wagtail

Helmeted Friarbird

As a tourist guide, I often organize easy nature tour around Sorong city. The duration of the tours can be as short as morning or afternoon trip, 1 full day nature tour, or 2 full day birding and sightseeing tours around Sorong city.

Swamp Tiger Butterfly

During these tours, participants will be brought to places in the hills that have rainforest to see the scenery, enjoy watching birds and butterflies. Tours to mangrove forest can also be organized for visitors who are interested in seeing mangrove trees with birds, butterflies, dragon flies, and other insects,  mudskipper, fish, and crab that form the ecosystem mangrove. 

White-bellied Cuckooshrike

Participants can bring their own binoculars and cameras during the tours. To enhance the nature tour experience of the participants, I, as a tour guide, usually bring spotting scope that will enable participants to watch distant birds, or epiphytes in trees. 

Sorong city's nature tour

This nature tour around Sorong city can be taken by a solo traveling visitor, a couple or a group of tourists who are interested in exploring natural places in the suburb of Sorong city. 

Terrestrial Orchid at the outskirts of Sorong city

Nature Tour in Raja Ampat

For tour participants who want to take nature tour in Raja Ampat, it can be combined with this Sorong tour. The main destination is Waigeo. Birds that can be watched include coastal and sea birds such as Pacific Golden Plover, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Beach Thick Knee, Wandering Whistling Duck, Radjah Shelduck, Black-naped Tern and a lot more. For Rainforest Birds, the main targets will be the Wilson's Bird of Paradise and Red Bird of Paradise. There are a lot of other species too such as the Papuan Eclectus (Echletus polychloros), Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus), Great-billed Parrot, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud), Beautiful Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus pulchelus), Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), Yellow-billed Kingfisher (Syma toro-toro), and a lot more. Birdwatching or butterfly watching could be conducted between 06:00 to 09:00 and 15:00 to 18:00. Between these times, participants could enjoy snorkeling or sightseeing to a number of islands around Waigeo.

Nature Tour in Raja Ampat

Red Bird of Paradise

Equipment

Tour participants need to bring binoculars and camera. In general the 8×42; 10×42 and 10×50 mm are the binoculars which most wildlife observers bring during their trip. To enhance their birding experience, I, as a tourist guide, will bring a spotting scope that will enable participants to watch animals or plants in distant trees or places. 

If you are interested in taking this Sorong nature tour and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Also read:

• Explore Sorong City and Its Surrounding
• Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City
• Short Birding Tour in Sorong City
• Birding at the Outskirts of Sorong City
• Sorong City Sightseeing and Birdwatching Tour
• Tourist Attractions in Sorong City
• Birding in the Forest Near Sorong city
• Birding and Snorkeling in Waigeo of Raja Ampat
• Birdwatching and Wildlife Watching Holiday in Waigeo of Raja Ampat
• Birding in Klabili and Malagufuk

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• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com

Birding in Waigeo of Raja Ampat and Klasow valley of Sorong Regency

Waigeo island is the most recommended destination for visitors who want to enjoy birding in Raja Ampat. The main targets of observation are Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise. A lot of species of tropical birds can be watched in Raja Ampat especially Waigeo and its surrounding islands. They include Claret-breasted Fruit-dove, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Beautiful Fruit-dove, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Spangled Drongo, Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, and etc.

The trip in Raja Ampat is usually combined with snorkeling and sightseeing trips in Kabui bay, Friwen, Yenbuba Strait, Arborek island and Piaynemo karst. Visitors who are interested in snorkeling should bring their own snorkeling masks, snorkels and pipes. Underwater cameras are also needed for taking pictures of marine life during the snorkeling excursions in Raja Ampat. 

Red Bird of Paradise

Snorkeling photo from Arborek

Snorkeling Photo from Waigeo

Coral reef in Raja Ampat

I often guide tourists on birding or wildlife watching trip to Malagufuk, Sorong's ridge forest and Waigeo island in Raja Ampat. The duration of the trip is usually around 1 to 2 weeks covering lowland, hill and sea or coastal avifauna. During the tour, we could see various species of tropical birds from parrots and fruit doves to kingfishers and paradise birds. 

Blyth's Hornbill

In Malagufuk, I usually spend between 3 to 4 days. We do birding in the mornings, late afternoons and at nights. Birds that we watch include Lesser Birds of Paradise, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, King Bird of Paradise, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Azure Kingfisher, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Red-cheeked Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, and a lot more. 

After exploring the rainforest of Malagufuk, we usually continue our adventure by birding in coastal mangrove forest of Sorong city. There, we could look for Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Sahul Sunbird, Willie Wagtail, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Sacred Kingfisher and etc. Sorong city is the main transit point for visitors who want to travel to Raja Ampat. 

Common Paradise Kingfisher

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• Short Birding Tour in Sorong city
• Birding in Klabili and Malagufuk

Birding and Wildlife Watching Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland

Tangkoko Nature Reserve is a favorite destination in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia for birdwatching or wildlife watching activities. The tropical rainforest of area is the habitat of Yellow-billed Malkoha, Blue-backed Parrot, Ashy Woodpecker, Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher and White-necked Myna, and Red-backed Thrush, Ochre-bellied Boobook and etc. 

At the edge of the forest, especially on Temboan hill, visitors could see Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Hornbill, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Minahasa Racquet-tail, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon and etc. 

For visitors who are interested in mammals, they could see Celebes-crested Macaque, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, Gursky's Spectral Tarsier, and Celebes Dwarf Squirrel. 

Gursky's Spectral Tarsier

The trip in Tangkoko National Park usually includes a boat ride excursion to Naun river to find Great-billed Kingfisher, Purple Heron, Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Heron, Lesser Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird, White-rumped Cuckooshrike, Pacific Swallow and etc. 

The duration of the birdwatching and wildlife watching tour in Tangkoko is usually 4 days/ 3 nights and can be combined with another birding tour to Minahasa Highland. 

There are several birding sites in Minahasa Highland such as Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow, Sonder's Farm Forest, Lalek Farm Forest, Talikuran Rice Field, and Kengkang Waterfalls. Visitors could spend 4 days/ 3 nights in this region. 

Some birds in Minahasa Peninsula

A lot of species, including the endemic ones, could be watched in Minahasa Highland. There are Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Turquoise Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Sulawesi Pitta, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Zebra Dove, White-breasted Woodswallow, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-faced Munia, and etc. 

There are regular flights between Sorong city and Manado city of North Sulawesi served by TransNusa and Lion Air. Visitors who are interested in taking a tour in North Sulawesi first and then in Raja Ampat could fly to Singapore and then continue their trip to Manado city by Scoot Air. There is direct flight between Guangzhou China and Manado city of Indonesia served by TransNusa and China Southern Airlines. Visitors who are already in Indonesia could fly from any big cities to Sam Ratulangi International Airport of Manado city. 

Flight Routes to Manado City

Accommodation

There are hotels and homestays in Tomohon town, and lodges for visitors near Tangkoko Nature Reserve. 

If you are interested in taking a birding, sightseeing and snorkeling tour in West Papua as well as wildlife tour in North Sulawesi, and want me to organize your tour and guide you, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Related Posts:

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Birding and Snorkeling Tour in Waigeo Island of Raja Ampat Regency

Raja Ampat is a popular destination in Indonesia for visitors who love snorkeling and birding. There are a lot of islands which visitors can choose to explore if they want to see the beauty of the coral reef and the marine life as well as the biodiversity of the tropical rainforest of the regency. 

Coconut Lorikeet

For visitors who love birding, Waigeo island is the highly recommended destination. There are a lot of birds that visitors can watch including Palm Cockatoo, Papuan Eclectus, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Hooded Butcherbird, Red-cheeked Parrot, and etc. 

Birds are usually active in the mornings and in the afternoons. To watch them, visitors need good binoculars. As a birding guide, I usually bring a spotting scope. It will significantly enhance the birding experience of tour participants. Distant birds that sit on the branches of trees could be watched easily using the scope.

Papuan Eclectus

Raja Ampat is also a great destination for birdwatchers who love snorkeling. The coral reefs of Waigeo and its surrounding islands are the habitat of a lot of fishes such as grouper, moorish idol, butterflyfish, box fish, jackfish, wrasse, parrotfish, damselfish, and etc. To enjoy snorkeling, visitors need to bring mask, snorkel and fins. Some visitors bring underwater camera. The southern coast of Waigeo is good for snorkeling. There are also small islands such as Kri, Mioskon, Friwen, and Urai that are good destination for snorkeling. To enjoy snorkeling at these sites, visitors need to be accompanied by guides. 

Natural Beauty of Raja Ampat

For visitors who love both snorkeling and rainforest birding in one place, they can choose Batanta island as their destination. There are homestays in Batanta. 

After taking an adventure trip in Batanta, Waigeo, Kri and Mansuar islands of Raja Ampat, visitors could continue their exploration of rainforest of mainland West Papua by visiting Sausapor or Kasulala forest. There are colorful birds and butterflies in these places. 

For Sausapor town, there is a good beach resort. Its name is Sansapore Pacific Park. 

If you are interested in traveling to Raja Ampat and nearby Sorong city to enjoy snorkeling and birding and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Also read:

Birding in Malagufuk Village of Klasow valley

Birding in Malagufuk in Rainy Season

Rainforest Tour in Malagufuk

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Birding near Sorong city

I often receive requests from tourists who want to spend their time in Sorong city for 1 or 2 days before continuing their trip to Raja Ampat or flying back to their country. 

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra

Birding tour near Sorong city

As a tourist guide, I offer birding and sightseeing tours for visitors who want to enjoy sightseeing and birding tours to explore mangrove forest along the coastal area or rainforest in hills of Sorong regency. These areas are suitable for watching birds and butterflies as well as seeing unique tropical food crop plants and wild flowers. 

Beautiful Fruit Dove

Some interesting birds that participants could watch during this tour include: 

• Blyth's Hornbill
• Palm Cockatoo
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
• Orange-fronted Fuit-dove, 
• Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, 
• Beautiful Fruit-dovre
• Collared Imperial Pigeon,
• Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, 
• Black Sunbird, 
• Sahul Sunbird, 
• Brown-backed Honeyeater, 
• Brown Oriole, 
• Helmeted Friarbird, 
• Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
• Sacred Kingfisher,
• Collared Kingfisher, 
• Beach Kingfisher, 
• Little Kingfisher, 
• Common Sandpiper,
• Rainbow Bee-eater, 
• Black-browed Triller
• Double-eyed Fig-parrot
• Hooded Butcherbird
• Black Butcherbird, 
• Blue-fronted Fig-Parrot (also called Orange-breasted Fig Parrot), and etc.

Blue-fronted Fig Parrot

Usually the tour starts at 06:00 and finishes as 10:00. After that, participants will be returned to their hotel to take lunch and rest. For tourists who want to go birding in the afternoon, the trip starts at 12:00 and finishes at 18:00. Birding will be conducted by walking along the roadside, boardwalk and footpath.

This tour is suitable for solo traveler,  a couple or a small group of tourists who fly to Sorong city as transit point. 

Brown-backed Honeyeater, Sahul Sunbird, Shining Flycatcher

Equipment

In general, participants of this birding tour need to bring their own binoculars. However, if they do not have binoculars, I, as a birding guide, usually bring a spotting scope which can be shared by participants to watch birds. 

Birdwatching activity using a spotting scope

In addition to nature/ birdwatching and butterflywatching tours, visits to other tourist attractions in town can also be added into the itinerary. Non-birding tourists can visit traditional market, Doom island or mangrove park. Natural places such as Buddhist temple, Cathedral Church of Christ the King, shopping malls, Love Hill and Batu Lubang Beach can be included in the tour package.

If you are interested in taking the tour and want me to organize it, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Also read:

• What to do in Sorong city
• Explore Sorong City and Its Surrounding
• Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City
• Short Birding Tour in Sorong City
• Birding at the Outskirts of Sorong City
• Sorong City Sightseeing and Birdwatching Tour
• Tourist Attractions in Sorong City
• Birding in the Forest Near Sorong city
• Birding and Snorkeling in Waigeo of Raja Ampat
• Birdwatching and Wildlife Watching Holiday in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

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