Snorkeling in Manokwari Waters

Coral reef in Manokwari Waters

Snorkeling and Wildlife Tour in Manokwari
Manokwari regency has got several coral reef areas that visitors can visit to enjoy swimming, snorkeling and freediving. I have organized a lot of snorkeling tours for visitors who come from North America, Europe, Asia, and Indonesia. During the marine tours, they were able to see various kinds of coral reef, and tropical fish such as anemonefish, butterflyfish, damselfish, moorish idol, and boxfish. Visitors need to bring their own snorkeling devices such as mask, snorkel and fins.
The snorkeling tour can be combined with hiking, and wildlife tour in the forest for several days where visitors may see tropical birds, colorful butterflies, and cuscus possum.

Snorkeling and Wildlife Tour in Raja Ampat

In addition to organising tours in Manokwari, I often organize tours for visitors who are interested in exploring the marine life of Raja Ampat. There are more than one thousand big and small islands in the regency that can be explored. The bio-diversity of marine animals in the coral reef of Raja Ampat is the highest in the world. The archipelago has got several landscape sites that are worth seeing.  The average duration for snorkeling and wildlife tour in Raja Ampat is 3 to 5 days.

Booking
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp: +6281332235180.

Green-backed Robin from Arfak Mountains

Green-backed Robin

I have just completed a tropical birding tour with 2 Swiss tourists in Arfak mountains. We spent 3 days/ 2 nights hiking, and watching birds. During the tour, they were able to watch Western Parotia, female Black Sicklebill, Mountain Owlet-nightjar, Feline Owlet-nightjar and Green-backed Robin.
The Green-backed Robin was the easiest bird to find. There was a cleared path that connected the guesthouse where we stayed with the main road. When I walked quietly and slowly in the morning at approximately 10.00 morning time, I saw the bird walking and hopping on the ground. I had anticipated this by turning on my camera in advance.
As soon as the bird stood still on the ground, I aimed my camera, adjusted the lens and pressed the shutter button. I was able to make some good pictures. The bird flew to a nearby branch and sat on it quietly. I took some photograps of him again. He was not afraid of me at all. I was happy with my pictures.
The best way to take pictures of this Green-backed Robin is by walking slowly, and quietly along the path. I have done it several times and I could see the birds using my Visionking 10x42 mm Bak4 prism Binoculars.

Rhododendron zoelleri

I also saw 2 kinds of Ground Doves which I still could not identify. The field guide Birds of New Guinea could not give me exact description which I could use as a reference to identify them.
Rhododendron
In addition to birds, I also saw beautiful flowers that were endemic to Arfak mountains such as Rhododendron zoelleri, Rhododendron konori, New Guinea impatient, as well as other beautiful flowers which I did not know their English and Latin names. Rhododendron zoelleri had yellow-orange colours that attracted the attention of anybody who passed by the flower plant. Rhododendron konori whose petals were white had a very fragrant smell. All these flowers were very beautiful and were worth seeing. There was red Hibiscus but I was not sure whether it was endemic or not.

Booking
If you are interested in taking a birdwatching/ wildlife tour in tropical rainforest of West Papua, and wants me to guide you, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by using form on right side of this blog or e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or whatsapp: +6281332245180.

Camping and Birding in Manokwari Montane Forest

Birdwatching in Susnguakti Forest of Manokwari

a European visitor was watching paradise bird

I have organized numerous camping and wildlife watching tours for foreign visitors who want to see tropical rainforest, paradise birds and wild animals in lower montane forest of Manokwari. The destination is Susnguakti forest located in the eastern region of Arfak mountains. Usually visitors spend 3 to 4 days in the jungle with local guides. The main target avifauna that visitors are interested in watching are Lesser Birds of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebirds, King Bird of Paradise, Hooded Butcherbird and Common Paradise Kingfisher.
Watching Lesser Birds Paradise are Usually Conducted in the mornings from 06.00 to 09.00 and in the afternoons from 15.00 to 17.00. A good pair of binoculars is highly recommended. Blinds (birdwatching huts) have been built by local villagers for tourists).

King Bird of Paradise

King Bird of Paradise

For King Bird of Paradise, their active time is different. After watching Lesser BOP, visitors can continue their trip to watch King BOP whose display tree is located in higher slope. Here, visitors can sit on logs that have been arranged by local villagers for visitors. A powerful spotting scope will greatly enhanced the birdwatching experience. The King BOP do not gather in big group. Usually, there is only one male bird in a tree calling his female counterpart. If there is one female King BOP coming, he will display his beautiful feather and dance, first up and down a vine and then expanding his red and white feather when he is closed to his female partner. If she is impressed with his courtship performance, they will mate.

Nightwalk

During the rainforest tour in lower montane forest of Arfak range, I often organize  nightwalk for visitors. The purpose is to watch cuscus possum. Local gude will immitate the sound of female cuscus possum to attract male ones. In addtion to cuscus, visitors can also see mushroom that glows in the dark. We also install white screen in near our basecamp and shoot it with light. This can attract insects to come and land on the screen. It is interesting for visitors who want to know more about rainforest insects.

Booking
Please, contact me by using form on the right side of this blog or send email to peace4wp@gmail.com or whatsaap to my number: +6281332245180

Wildlife Watching in Susnguakti Forest of Manokwari

Spanish Lady in Susnguakti forest
Manokwari

I often guide tourists to Susnguakti forest of Manokwari. We go there to watch Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius), cuscus possum, Arfak dragon lizard, Hooded Butcherbird, glowing mushroom, and various species of butterflies.
Visitors
In the average, visitors spend between 3 to 4 days in Susnguakti forest. There are simple jungle huts that we provide for our visitors. Tourists come from Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. They come as a couple or in groups of 3 to 4, and 5 people. But I often guide solo traveling man or lady.
Recommended Binoculars

To enhance birdwatching and wildlife watching experience, I bring a good pair of Visionking 10x42 mm binoculars, and a 20-60x60 spotting scope.
Most visitors bring their own binoculars. For those who are looking for an excellent pair of binoculars, I highly recommend a pair of Swarovski SLC 10×42 WB binocluars. They are light enough to travel with and have got fluorite HD glass elements. The binoculars are filled with nitrogen gas to ensure that they perform well even in high moisture and foggy environment such as the tropical rainforest of Manokwari. There are also similar products manufactured by Leica, Nikon, Vortex. Please, do some research and read reviews on the internet before buying the binoculars that you are interested in.
Watching Paradise Birds

Lesser Bird of Paradise in Susnguakti forest
Manokwari

To watch paradise birds, we have to wake up early in the morning at 05.00. After having some tea, or coffee, we go on foot to the birding site of Lesser Birds of Paradise. There are some birdwatching huts built by local guides. Visitors can go into the huts to watch the birds. Lesser BOP are usually active until 09.00. After that, we can continue our hiking and wildlife watching trip to watch King Bird of Paradise.

How to go there?

• From your country, find an international flight that brings you to Jakarta city or Manado city of the Republic of Indonesia.
• After that take a domestic flight to Manokwari city.
• I could meet you at the airport or at the hotel where you stay and then organize your trip to Arfak mountains.

Booking

I guide tourists in Raja Ampat, Klasow valley of Sorong, Susnguakti forest of Manokwari, and Numfor island. If you are interested in taking a tour with me as your guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp: +6281332245180

Watching Common Paradise Kingfisher in Manokwari

Common Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea)

Common Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea) is a beautiful bird that can be watched in Susnguakti forest of Arfak mountains of Manokwari. I saw bird several times at a slope near the birding ground of Lesser Birds of Paradise. The head, back and tail of the bird are blue. The tips of its long tails of the bird have got two round feather resembling racquets. That's why it is also called Racquet-tailed Kingfisher.

Racquet-tailed Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea)

In 1858, Alfred Russel Wallace visited Dorey (modern Manokwari regency in West Papua).  He was able to collect the specimen of this bird. Although it is called Common Paradise Kingfisher, actually, it is not that common. I have been visiting the lower montane tropical rainforest of Arfak mountains for 10 years and I could only see the bird twice.
Susnguakti forest is located in the south of Manokwari city. As a matter of fact, it is in the eastern region of Arfak mountains. To reach the forest, visitors need to go by car or motorcycle for one hour and then continued their trip by hiking steep slopes of Arfak range for 1 hour. There is a basecamp that I and local villagers have prepared for tourists.

Hiking in Susnguakti forest of Arfak mountains - Manokwari

In addition to this paradise kingfisher, visitors can also watch King Bird of Paradise, Lesser Birds of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Black-capped Lory, Hooded Butcherbird and etc.
If you are interested in watching birds in Manokwari and wants me to organize your trip, please, contact me ((Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180

Sightseeing Tour to Anggi Lakes

Irai village of Arfak Mountains

I have organized numerous sightseeing and hiking tour to Anggi Lakes for visitors who come from Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Austria, China and Indonesia. We visited both Lake Anggi Giji and Lake Anggi Gida. The scenery of the lakes as seen from Mount Kobrey was very beautiful. It was very cold when I stood on top of the mountain for taking pictures.
Arfak range is one of the most important destinations in Manokwari for visitors who like hiking, birdwatching and cultural interactions with local people.
Local people who live in Arfak mountains grow flowers at the front yards of their houses. They also like to grow vegetables such as cabbage, napa cabbage, carrot, spring onion in their vegetable patches. In villages along the Anggi Gida Lake, whose temperature is warmer, we can see local people grow banana, passion fruits,

Lake Anggi Gida

The traditional house of Arfak tribes is called Rumah Kaki Seribu (meaning a thousand leg house). It is a kind of traditional wooden house with a lot of wooden pilars. The frame of the house are made of straight wooden pilars that are tied to other wooden beams using small rattan. The wall and the floor are covered by tree bark with wooden frames support them from outside and below. The roof of the house is made of pandanus leaves. This traditional wooden house is warm at night because the villagers make fire inside the house. Unfortunately, the house does not have a good exhaust system.  Visitors who are not used to thick smoke will not be able to sleep inside the house.

Traditional House of Arfak Tribes in Manokwari

There are several houses that do not have the fireplaces inside them. Visitors can choose to stay in these houses.
As a tourist guide, I can organize a sightseeing and hiking tour for visitors who want to see Arfak range both its scenery, people, and wildlife. The duration of the tour is between 3 to 7 days. Because the cost is quite expensive, I suggest that visitors go in a group of 3 to 4 people to share the cost.
How to go there?

• First, fly from your country to one of the major cities of Indonesia such as Jakarta, Denpasar and Manado.
• After that, take a domestic flight from this city to Manokwari city.
• I will meet you at the airport or at the hotel where you stay and organize your trip to Arfak mountains.

Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or whatsapp: +6281332245180.
Also read:

• Tropical Flowers on Top of Arfak Mountains
• Anggi Lakes of Arfak Mountains
• Hiking in Anggi Lakes of Arfak Mountains
• Sightseeing Tour in Arfak Mountains

• Birding 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