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.

Birdwatching in Tambrauw regency

Tambrauw regency is located between Sorong and Manokwari. Most of its land area is covered by pristine tropical rainforest which is the natural habitat of various species of birds. Last week, I visited the regency and had a birdwatching trip in its forest particularly along the bank of a river. I chose river because its sides had got a wide open space that was suitable for birdwatching. I saw various species of birds that were perching on the branches of trees, flying over my head or walking on the stony ground of the river.

Watching birds along the banks of a river is highly recommended

I highly recommend Tambrauw mountains as a destination for avid birdwatchers because their huge rainforest area.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo in the jungle of Tambrauw Mountains

The local government of Tambrauw regency declared their forest for conservation. So, they will not allow any destructive activities in the forest. Since birdwatching is considered as an environmentally friendly tourism activity, the government encourage eco-tourism as an alternative solution for the villagers who live around or in the forest to generate alternative income instead of logging, slash and burn farming practices and hunting.

Blyth's hornbill can easily be recognized by its fluttering sound when flying

Where is Tambrauw regency and how to get there?
Look at the following Map. Tambrauw can easily be reached by 4WD car from Sorong city. For land tour, it is important to go by 4WD car because the terrains to Fef are very steep. The roads are unpaved. For those who are interested in snorkeling and other marine tourism activities, they can go by passenger boats from Sorong city to Sausapor. KM. Sunlia and KM. Ave Maria go back and forth to Sausapor three times a week with ticket price is  between 100,000 and 150,000 rupiahs for economy class per passenger.

Traditional village of Abun tribe in Tambrauw mountains

Most of the mountains in Tambrauw are still covered with tropical rainforest. As of today the main challenge to reach the mountains is the cost of transportation which is very expensive. 

If you are interested in birdwatching in Tambrauw mountains, and need me to arrange your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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