Hiking in Anggi Lakes of Arfak Mountains

Lake Anggi Giji in Arfak Mountains

Magnificent Panorama
A few days ago I and some visitors from Australia and Indonesia went hiking in the hills around Anggi lakes that were located in southern region of Arfak mountains. We visited Gunung Maut (and walked to the top of Mount Sensenemes). The next day, we visited Mount Kobrey that is located between Lake Anggi Giji (Lake Man) and Lake Anggi Gida(Lake Woman). The elevation of the mountains were between 2,500 and 2,760 meters above sea level. It was very cold but it was also very beautiful.
Actually, we went there from Manokwari by a chartered 4WD car. It takes five hours from the city to our destination. We stopped several times along the way to take pictures and meet local people. Most often our car had to climb steep slopes that are dangerous. We felt our hearts were beating faster because of the dangerous terrains. Fortunately, our driver was an experienced one.
Flowers
While walking on tops of the mountains, we could see spectacular scenery of the lakes and the mountains that surround them. We also saw a lot of species of high altitude wild flowers and unique plants.

Rhododendron Flowers in Arfak range

There were rhododendron konori; rhododendron laetum, orchids, nepenthes, ants nests or Myrmecophyte and passion flower. We spent 5 days/ 4 nights traveling across the hills, slopes and valleys of Arfak range.
Staying in the house of the indigenous people
We met the indigenous people too. They were friendly and were very happy to receive us staying for a few days in their traditional houses. We cooked our food together using forewood. Their houses were made of wood and tree bark. In the past the roofs were made of leaves. Now, they have replaced the roofs with corrugated metal roof. Mostly they don't have rooms. The following picture show how the traditional house of the indigenous people of Arfak mountains looks like.
The indigenous people of Arfak mountains work as farmers and hunters. They sell their vegetables, fruits in Manokwari city. They raise pigs and grow spring onions, carrots, cabbage,  choy sum, passion fruits, and flowers.

Traditional house of Arfak tribes

Smokes
They burned firewood in their house to keep warm. Unfortunately, there was no chimney in the house. So, the smoke filled all of the spaces in the house. My eyes could not stand with the smokes, as a result, ears kept on forming in my eyes. There were two lakes in Arfak mountains, i.e. Anggi Giji and Anggi Gida. Both of them were very beautiful.
Interested?
As a tourist guide, I could organize hiking trips for tourists who want to visit Arfak mountains. I highly recommend that you come in a group of 3 to 4 people to share the cost. If you are interested, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send whatsapp message to my number: +6281332245180.

Traveling around Anggi Lakes of Arfak Mountains

Lake Anggi Gida in Arfak Mountains - West Papua

I have just completed a hiking-and-sightseeing tour around Anggi Lakes of Arfak Mountains today. I went there with several other visitors from Indonesia and Australia. It was a nice and unforgetable experience. We saw a lot of colorful flowers.

Hiking to the top of Mount Cirinohu
We visited Cirinohu village  and stayed with the indigenous Papua people from Sougb tribe. The villagers were very kind to us and received us to stay in their traditional house called Rumah Kaki Seribu (meaning a thousand leg house).  The village is located below the top of Mount Sensenemes (2760 meters above sea level). It was one of the tops of Arfak mountains. We went hiking to the top of the mountain the next day. It was very cold up there.
The scenery from the top was very beautiful with various high altitude flower shrubs thriving in the mountains. Some of them include rhododendron flowers, orchids, nepenthes and other unique plants that cover the steep slopes and hills of Anggi lakes.

Lake Anggi Gida in Arfak Mountains - West Papua

Tour Package
I often receive requests from visitors who want to visit Arfak mountains to see its wildlife, particularly its birds of paradise, wonderful scenery and meet the indigenous people of the region.
To meet the demand, I have prepared a tour around Arfak mountains. This tour is suitable for those who want to see unique birds of paradise, wonderful scenery, meet and stay with indigenous people and explore the tropical rainforest of the range for its vegetation and wildlife.
I recommend that visitors travel in a group 2 - 4 people to share the cost.

Itinerary:
Day 1
Arrive in Manokwari
Getting Surat Jalan from local police station
A short trip to Mansinam island

Wild Orchids at the slope of Mount Sensenemes

Day 2
Buying food at traditional market
Transfer by 4WD car to Arfak mountains
Birding in the jungle of Mount Soyti to see Vogelkop Bowerbird

Day 3
Watching Western Parotia
Leaving Mt. Soyti for Lake Anggi Giji by 4WD car
Sightseeing trip around the lake where there are several villages.
Ascending Gunung Maut (meaning Mount Dead) to see the magnificent scenery of the lakes and mountains as well as a lot of beautiful flowers such as Rhododendron and Orchids.
Continue trip by 4WD car to Cirnov village.
Staying with local people

Day 4
Hiking to the top of Mount Sensenemes to see flowers such as Rhododendron Konori and Myrmecophyte. After that, we will continue our trip to Mt. Kobrey that is located between Lake Anggi Giji and Lake Anggi Gida. After that we will go down the steep slopes of Arfak range to reach Ransiki town and spend one night at the house of a Papuan family.

Day 5
We will buy some food at the local market and then continue our trip to Mount Mabowi. Guided by local people, we will climb the mountain and stay in a base camp in the middle of the tropical jungle. We could do night walk to see glowing mushroom and to find cuscus possum.

Day 6
We could go trekking to watch Lesser Birds of Paradise
In the afternoon, we could go trekking to higher elevation area of the forest to see its unique trees, insects and other animals.

Day 7
We could do a second attempt of watching Lesser Birds of Paradise or try to find Western Parotia (Parotia sefilata).

If you want me to guide you for traveling around Anggi Lakes to see beautiful nature, meet and stay with  the indigenous people and see various colorful flowers, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email: peace4wp@gmail.com.