Watching Tree Kangaroo in Arfak Mountains

According to reports from the indigenous Papuan people who live in Mupi Gunung, there are three species of tree kangaroos in Arfak mountains of Manokwari regency. Their population is decreasing rapidly due to hunting by villagers for their meat, the conversion of forest into agricultural land and logging activities. The prevent these animals from extinction in their own habitat, I and some villagers in Arfak range offer hiking tours into the jungle where tourists can watch tree kangaroo and birds of paradise.

Ursine Tree Kangaroo in Arfak Range (Dendrolagus ursinus)

Gray Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus inustus)

There are 2 villages that can be visited by tourists, i.e. Warmarway and Mupi Gunung (also called Bray). But the "kangaroo watching" itself has to be done far into the forest. For instance, in Mupi Gunung area, visitors have to walk through dense tropical rainforest for 9 hours to reach the watching site.
Arfak range
Arfak range is a nature reserve with a total area of 68,325 hectares. It is also the natural habitat of birds of paradise, birdwing butterflies, cuscus, wild pigs, deers and various species of reptiles.
If you are interested in watching tree kangaroo in Arfak mountains, please contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com
by Charles Roring

Also read:

• Birdwatching in Minahasa
• Manado City: Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birdwatching and butterflywatching in Sonder
• Birdwatching in the Farmland of Sonder town in Minahasa Highland

Arfak mountains

Here is the picture of Arfak mountains that I took from Mansinam island two days ago.

Arfak range - photo by Charles Roring Sept. 2015

Please contact me by email to:  peace4wp@gmail.com if you plan to go trekking to see various vegetation, insects, birds, of tropical rainforest of the range.

Rainforest Tour in Arfak Mountains near Warmarway Village

Steep road near Warmarway village

Arfak mountains have been a favorite destination for tourists who want to see and experience everything about rainforest. There is a coastal village in the easternside of the mountains that frequently receives tourists. Its name is Warmarway. Visitors can take a public transportation from Terminal Wosi in Manokwari city to the village.

Cuscus Possum in the jungle of Arfak mountains

Trekking and Wildlife Watching

Guided by local villagers, visitors can start walking up steep slopes of lower montane forest to a basecamp deep in the jungle. Lesser Birds of Paradise, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Blyth's hornbill, Papuan frogmouth, Black capped lory live in the lower montane forest of the range.

Local villagers have gota special skill in calling cuscus possum. This nocturnal animal goes out to find food at night. He will imitate the sounds of female cuscus to attract the male one.

When I went trekking with some tourists from Belgium and The UK, I saw petals of ylang-ylang or cananga flowers on the ground. The flowers are important raw materials for making essential oil. Other tropical vegetation include terminalia cattapa, iron wood trees, bamboo trees and mushrooms that glow at night.

Locations of Mupi Gunung and Warmarway
in the eastern region of Arfak mountains

How to go to Manokwari?

• From your country, take an international flight to the capital of Indonesia - Jakarta city
• After that you can continue your trip by taking a domestic flight to Manokwari city (the capital of West Papua province). Domestic airlines that fly to Manokwari city are Garuda Indonesia, Express Air, Wings Air, and Sriwijaya Air.
• I could meet you at the airport and organize your rainforest tour in jungle of Arfak mountains.

Booking
Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by sending text message to my cell phone: +6281332245180.

Wildlife Tour in Arfak Mountains

The mountain range of Arfak is home to various species of animals. Some of them are tree kangaroo, cuscus, and birds of paradise.

MUPI GUNUNG
This is a small village that is located in the middle of the jungle. Tourists who come to Mupi Gunung will be able to watch tree kangaroo and birds that are endemic to vogelkop region such as bowerbird and western parotia, brown sicklebill, black sicklebill and Arfak Astrapia. The recommended duration of wildlife tour in Mupi Gunung is at least 1 week.

WARMARWAY VILLAGE
This village is only a 1-hour ride from Manokwari. Here, visitors can watch several species of coastal and lower montane forest birds such as kingfishers, blyth's hornbill, sulphur crested cockatoo, brahminy kite and lesser birds of paradise. At night, you can see glowing mushrooms growing from decaying bamboo. Your D-SLR Camera should be set to capture subject at low light condition in order to take picture in the dark. Tourists who only have between 2 to 3 days in Manokwari can visit Warmarway for the wildlife tour.

Where is Warmarway ?

This coastal village is on the eastern region of Arfak mountains, in the south of Manokwari city.

How to get there?

• Take an international flight from your country to Jakarta city
• Then take a domestic flight by Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya or Lion Air to Manokwari city.
• When you have arrived in Manokwari, go to Terminal Wosi and find a public bus to Warmarway village. If you go as ordinary passenger, the cost is approximately 3 US dollars/ passengers. But if you rent the whole bus, the cost is around 30 US dollars (one way). Tell the villager that you want to meet Yunus Sayori. He is a local guide that will accompany you to the jungle of Arfak mountains.

I promote this rainforest and wildlife tour to tourists to economically empower the indigenous Papuan people who live in Arfak mountains and help them preserve the environment.

Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com