Adventure Trip to Tambrauw

Guest Post by Astrid

Deer in Tambrauw mountains

If you want a holiday with a high wow factor, a visit to the Tambrauw region is worthwhile. I have been in this region for a week. Together with my guide Charles Roring, we stayed in Sausapor - a small quiet coastal town. From Sorong, it is a 3-hour boat trip. During this trip you can already enjoy the view.
Sausapor actually has everything. The village has many eateries. Especially the nasi koening near the guesthouse is advisable. You can also walk along the coast and relax along the water. You can enjoy a beautiful sunset. Do you like snorkeling or diving you will also enjoy yourself here. I learned to snorkel during this holiday. I did not expect to like it that much. The underwater world is beautiful here. Several coral reefs and fish can be seen.
Are you tired of the "urban" life you can go into the jungle. The paths are very good. A novice hiker can easily walk here.

Baby Pyton in Tambrauw forest

Nature is breathtakingly beautiful. The views are beautiful. Beautiful untouched nature. Furthermore you see and hear many birds. Charles enthusiastically tells which birds they are. I have learned a lot in a short time. In addition to birds, we have seen deer, butterflies, dragonflies and a baby python. I thought it was a special experience. The area is too beautiful to describe. It is best to see for yourself with your own eyes. Then you can also enjoy this untouched nature. It was nice to have some fun while  hiking and birding in the forest.

Riverwalk in Tambrauw forest

How to go there:
You need to fly from your country to Jakarta - the capital of Indonesia.
After that, you can take a domestic flight (served by Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Sriwijaya Air or Nam Air) to Sorong city.
Charles Roring could meet you at the airport and organize your trip to Tambrauw
If you want more information, please contact Charles Roring by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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Rainforest Tour Manokwari Lowland Forest

I have just opened a new rainforest tour destination in Manokwari this year. It is located in the north-west region of Manokwari. Its name is Mesirrokow river forest. The forest is the natural habitat of various species of birds such as Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Palm Cockatoo, Papuan Hornbill, Willie Wagtail, Little-ringed Plover, Variable Goshawk, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Lowland Peltop, and Brahminy Kite. There are also other animals such as soa-soa lizard, wild pigs, and deers.

Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, sunbathing and camping at the bank of the river. As a tour guide, I have organized several riverwalk and camping tours in the Mesirrokow forest for visitors who come from The United Kingdom, Switzerland, France and etc. 

They enjoyed their trips because they could swim in the river as much as they like and watch birds in the surrounding forest. 

This fores is suitable for nature lover who want to experience jungle tour in Manokwari. 

Camping and Birding

Most of the activities will be carried out along the Mesirrokow river-forest. Tents will be installed at the bank of the river. Because of the open space in the river is very wide, we could easily watch birds that fly or sit on the branches of the trees in both sides of the river. To enhance birding experience, a spotting scope with tripod and a good pair of binoculars will be provided.
Birds such as Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, and Papuan Hornbill can easily be seen in the mornings and in the afternoons. For watching Willie Wagtail, we need to walk along the river and have a look at fallen trees that are drifted during the floods and stuck in the middle of the river. The birds like to sit on the log or branches of he desd trees that extend over the river. Little-ringed Plover like to walk along the sandbank. A good pair of 10x42 mm binoculars is a perfect device for birding in this area.

Visitors are recommended to bring flashlight/ torch, insect repellent lotion and sunblock lotion, a good pair of binoculars, and clothings that are suitable for jungle tour and swimming. For camping in the jungle, we will provide tents as well as cooking and eating utensils. 

If you are interested, please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Trekking and Wildlife Watching in the Rainforest of Klasow Valley

by Charles Roring

Visiting Lowland Forest
Klasow valley is located in the east of Sorong town. It has been a favorite travel destinations for visitors who are interested in taking a jungle tour as an extension from their trip to Raja Ampat. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to reach the valley by a 4WD car and 2 hours okon foot to reach the guesthouse that is in the middle of the jungle. Early this month, I guided 2 visitors from the United States. They were father and daughter Indian American visitors who wanted to see birds of paradise. We went to the valley. We spent 3 days/ 2 nights exploring the lowland rainforest to see its birds, wallaby, and plants. We stayed in a village that was surrounded by rainforest.

Jungle Walk and Birding
Klasow valley has been a preferred rainforest tour destination in Sorong regency for visitors who return from Raja Ampat. During the trip to the valley, we were able to see Lesser Birds of Paradise, Twelve Wired Birds of Paradise, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Blyth's hornbill, Spotted Goshawk, Golden Myna and other tropical birds that make Klasow as their natural habitat.
Accompanied by some local guides, we were able to spot some Wallabies in the jungle near during a night walk.

Soa-soa Monitor Lizard in the jungle of
Klasow valley of Sorong regency

After completing this land tour, they continued their trip to Raja Ampat islands.
Rainforest tour in the valley can be done all year round for visitors who are interested in seeing the wildlife and tropical plants of West Papua.

Another imporant destination in West Papua for wildlife watching is Weyos beach in Tambrauw regency. It is a great site to watch sea turtles that land on the beach to lay eggs and various species of birds, mammals, as well as reptiles and insects. 

Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com if you are interested in taking a rainforest tour in Sorong regency.

Trekking and Camping in the Rainforest of Syuan River

Camping in the jungle of Tambrauw regency - photo by Charles Roring

I have just finished a rainforest tour today. I guided 4 visitors from the USA, and Hongkong. We went to Tambrauw regency where we stayed for 4 days and 3 nights trekking and camping on the sides of Syuan river. We went there by a 4WD car and stayed in outdoor environment using tents as our "hotel." We enjoyed birdwatching, and swimming. We had plenty of time swimming in the river whose water is cool and fresh. There were fish, and shrimp in the river. The indigenous people used traditional fishing tools to catch them. The Papuan people were expert in hunting. One of our workers was able to catch a bandicoot just like a cat punches on a mouse. Bandicoot, cuscus possum, deer, wild pig, and snake were the source of protein of the indigenous people who live in Tambrauw mountains.

Tropical rainforest of Tambrauw regency in West Papua

In the mornings, when the weather was bright, a lot of butterflies flew in the air to find flowers that were blooming from numerous trees around us. There were some whose sizes were larger than the average butterfly. They were called birdwing butterflies.
While we were walking along the trails of the riverside, we saw cockatoo, kingfisher, egret, blyth's hornbill and many other birds which we could not identify.
Under the trees, the temperature was cool.

We hired local villagers to cook our food and carry our bags and other logistical goods. My concept in ecotourism was preserving the rainforest environment by empowering local villagers. When the indigenous people got economic benefits from eco-tourism, they would seriously support the preservation of the forest and protect the wildlife. 

Because most of the visitors were from the United States, I extended the trip to Werur village where they were able to see Amsterdam island and Middlelburg island. These two islands, with Werur (or Mar) and Sausapor, became the base for US forces when they were fighting Japanese forces during World War II.

I introduced eco-tourism in this regency this year. Some foreign tourists have visited Tambrauw regency to explore the beauty of its forest.
The temperature in the forest is cool with abundant water. Visitors can enjoy swimming or just reading their favorite books at the bank of the river while listening to the music of nature (sounds of bids, the swaying of tree branches blown by the wind and water flowing in the river).

Female Eclectus Parrot in the forest of Tambrauw mountains

The tropical rainforest along the sides of Syuan river is the natural habitat of various species of wild animals wild pig; deer; wallaby; bandicoot; and a lot of species of birds including cassowary bird, lesser birds of paradise, eclectus parrot, goliath cockatoo, sulphur crested cockatoo, grey crow (Corvus tristis), Papuan frogmouth, egrets, egrets, blyth's hornbill, brahminy kite. I also used to see a Ribbon-tailed Astrapia (Astrapia mayeri) flying over my head when I was swimming in Syuan river. I was a very rare sighting.

If you are interested in taking a rainforest trekking and camping tour in Tambrauw regency, please, book the trip by contacting me (Charles Roring) at this email: peace4wp@gmail.com

Rainforest Tour in Tambrauw Mountains

Camping

Rainforest of Tambrauw regency along both sides of Cuan river

The mountain range of Tambrauw is the natural habitat of a lot of species of animals and plants. Last month, I guided a tourist from Luxembourg on a 5-day/ 4-night trekking, camping and birding tour in the jungle of Cuan river. We saw sulphur crested cockatoo, friar bird, cuscus possum, birdwing butterflies, deers, wild pigs, cassowary birds, and colorful beetles. 

The easiest way to explore the jungle was by walking along the sides of the river. We built tents at the bank of Cuan river, and enjoyed the beauty of the surrounding nature. At night the sounds of insect were mixed with the sound of flowing water in the river. It was so natural and refreshing. The next morning we dismantled our tents and walked up against the stream. Sometimes we had to cross the river to make shortcuts. 

Discovering the unique biodiversity of rainforest

Camping in the tropical jungle of Tambrauw regency in West Papua

Some people from the nearby Jokte village helped us. There were two women who cooked for us and some men who carried our bags and caught shrimps in the rivers for our lunch and dinner. During the days, we walked in the jungle exploring the plants and the animals. I saw several species of colorful butterflies that were flying from one wild flower to another to collect nectar. I also saw a small beetle that looked like a plastic toy. When I checked on the internet for its name, I found out that its name was Eupholus schoenherri. 

Snorkeling

After the fourth day of our rainforest tour, we walked out of the jungle and continued our trip to Sausapor town. In the afternoon, we went to the beach and enjoyed snorkeling over the coral reef. Sausapor was aJ small village in 1944 when American forces landed on its beach to fight the Imperial Japanese Forces during World War II. Now the sea in Sausapor is relatively calm for the coral reef to thrive again. The northern coast of West Papua has got plenty of surf spots too. Visitors who are interested in this sports should visit Sausapor in the months of October, November, January, February, and March.

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If you are interested in exploring the rich biodiversity of tropical rainforest of West Papua, please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com

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