Bird Photography Tour in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is not only famous for its marine environment but also its rainforest wildlife. There are Red Bird of Paradise, and Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, and etc.

In my recent trips with photographers from the USA and India, we saw the Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise in the forest of Waigeo.

Wilson's Bird of Paradise

We had to wake up at 04:00, made preparation and had some breakfast before leaving for the forest by car at 04:30. It took around 30 minutes to reach the entrance site of the forest. When we arrived, we still had to continue our trip on foot for around 30 minutes to reach the lek of Red Bird of Paradise and then another 30 minutes to the Wilson's Bird of Paradise. 

Although we experienced heavy rain, we were able to see the paradise birds as well as other birds such as Blyth's Hornbill, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Papuan Eclectus, and Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Hooded Butcherbird, Red-cheeked Parrot and etc. 

In my last trip with the Indian photographer, we went to a small island in Kabui bay by boat. There, we saw Violet-necked Lory, Beautiful Fruit-dove, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Great-billed Parrot, Dusky Scrubfowl, Palm Cockatoo and Helmetted Friarbird and Black-naped Tern.

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving

During the tour, participants will stay at a beach resort. So, in addition to birding or wildlife watching, participants could enjoy snorkeling at the house reef of the resort. For scuba diving, we could arrange it with the dive center of the resort. 

Marine Life in Raja Ampat

If you are interested in visiting Raja Ampat to enjoy snorkeling and birding, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Wildlife Tour in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

Waigeo is the largest island in Raja Ampat, located in the western part of Papua, Indonesia. This island is known for its rich biodiversity, both on land and in the sea. Wildlife watching tours on Waigeo offer visitors the chance to see unique and rare species in their natural habitats.

Tropical birds and marine life are natural attractions of Raja Ampat for tourism

One of the main highlights of a wildlife tour in Waigeo is birdwatching. The island is home to two spectacular species of birds-of-paradise: the Red Bird-of-Paradise and Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise. These birds are best seen early in the morning from forest hides, where they perform their courtship displays. Other bird species that can be seen include the Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Hooded Butcherbird, Blyth’s Hornbill, Papuan Pitta, and Red-cheeked Parrot.

Tiger Orchid Flower in Waigeo island

Besides birds, Waigeo also offers the chance to observe terrestrial and nocturnal wildlife. At dusk, visitors may spot the Waigeo spotted cuscus and sugar gliders around forest edges or eco-resorts. Night walks can reveal tree frogs, monitor lizards, snakes, coconut crabs, and even rare bats like the flying fox. During the day, it is common to see birds such as the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, White-breasted Woodswallow, and Osprey around the coastal areas.

Wildlife watching in Waigeo also includes exploring the underwater world. The coral reefs around southern Waigeo are full of life. While snorkeling, visitors can see colorful fish like parrotfish, butterflyfish, groupers, and damselfish. There is also a chance to spot reef sharks, including black-tip and white-tip sharks. Nearby islands like Kri, Friwen, Mioskon, and Mansuar are often included in snorkeling and wildlife tours.

Wobbegong

Coconut Crab

A typical wildlife tour in Waigeo lasts three to five days. On the first day, travelers usually arrive from Sorong by ferry and stay in a beachside homestay. A short walk along the coast in the afternoon can already provide sightings of parrots and other tropical birds. On the second day, a pre-dawn trek into the forest gives visitors the chance to watch the birds-of-paradise. After breakfast, a guided jungle tour may reveal reptiles and amphibians. The third day may include a boat trip to a small town tropical island in Kabui bay to watch Osprey, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Great-billed Parrot, and other wildlife, followed by island hopping and snorkeling in the afternoon. On the last day, guests often enjoy a final snorkeling session and a morning birdwatching walk before returning to Waisai for departure.

To enjoy this experience, it is important to bring good binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a flashlight for night walks. A snorkel and mask are useful for exploring the reefs. Visitors are encouraged to use local guides who are experienced in wildlife tracking and who work closely with local communities. The best time to see birds is in the early morning or late afternoon, when they are most active.

Tours on Waigeo support local villages and conservation efforts. Responsible tourism contributes to these efforts and helps preserve the island’s natural beauty.

Waigeo is a unique place where travelers can experience the rainforest, the mangroves, and the coral reefs all in one trip. It is a destination for those who love nature, adventure, and cultural discovery. Whether you are watching the birds-of-paradise dance at dawn or snorkeling with reef fish in crystal-clear waters, a wildlife tour in Waigeo of Raja Ampat promises unforgettable memories.

If you are interested in visiting Waigeo island for wildlife watching and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Village Trip and Waisai Town Tour in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

I am now guiding two tourists in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. They are from Australia. In the past few days, we have been doing sightseeing and birdwatching tour. 

This morning we went by car to the northeast area of Waisai town to have a tour around traditional market of Waisai and Warsambin village. We were accompanied by a boy from the village who showed us interesting things about his village. We took pictures about the village, its houses and alleyways, flowers, and its unique people. 

Tour from Waisai town to Warsambin village in Waigeo

Warsambin was a small coastal village. Villagers had been working as fishermen but now more of them were getting involved in tourism business. They used their motorized boats to transport visitors to Blue River. 

The landscape or the seascape of Warsambin was beautiful if we saw it from one of the jettys. It took around 1 hour for us to explore the village. We had some light but interesting conversations with the villagers. There were elementary school children and their mothers who went to school carrying foods for celebrating their graduation party. There was also a man who was making traditional wooden drum. He used simple tools such as small chisel and hammer. He could only make 1 wooden drum per week. 

Snowy Orchid-Tree

While passing by the houses of the villagers along the coast of Warsambin, I saw a shrub plant whose white flowers looked very beautiful. I stopped to make some photographs. Later when I asked Google Lens to identify it, it replied with description about Dwarf White Bauhinia or  Snowy Orchid Tree (Bauhinia acuminata).

On the way back to the resort where we were staying, we stopped at a waterfall near the road to enjoy the view. After that we stopped at a place where people were making bricks using adobe which they digged from the hill at the roadside. We also visited WTC (Waisai Torang Cinta) beach and had a car tour around Waisai town to see housing areas of the town dwellers, and government buildings. At the WTC beach, we had lunch that we took in lunch boxes from our resort. We watched Beach Kingfisher, tern and coconut lorikeet there. 

Swimming and Snorkeling

During the tour, we stayed at a beach resort in southern Waigeo. Its waters has got beautiful coral reef. It is suitable for swimming and snorkeling. So, we combined swimming, snorkeling and sightseeing during the 3 days 2 nights trip in Raja Ampat.

A wooden jetty of a beach resort on the seawater allows easy and safe access to the coral reef for snorkelers

Anemonefish in Raja Ampat

If you are interested in traveling to Indonesia to enjoy your holiday in Raja Ampat, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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Birdwatching Tour in Southern Wageo of Raja Ampat

The island of Waigeo in Raja Ampat is often visited by birdwatchers and wildlife photographers. They go there to watch and take pictures of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects that could be found in the forest and coastal area of the island. 

Red Bird of Paradise

A female Red Bird of Paradise in Waigeo 

General birdwatching activity is usually conducted along the roadside to look for such birds as Papuan Eclectus, Blyth's Hornbill, Coconut Lorikeet, Red-cheeked Parrot, Willie Wagtail, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Brown Oriole, Hooded Butcherbird, Helmeted Friarbird, Sahul Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Claret-breasted Fruit-dove, Beautiful Fruit-dove, Channel-billed Cuckoo and a lot more.

There are also sea birds that we could find along the beach such as Osprey, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Lesser-crested Tern, Common Tern, Black-naped Tern, Whimbrel, Pacific Reef Heron, Striated Heron, Purple Heron, Common Sandpiper, Pacific Golden Plover, Little-ringed Plover, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, and etc. 

The main attractions for visitors who love birding are Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise. They can be watched in the mornings and in late afternoons depending on the weather. There are several places in the forest of Waigeo island to watch the paradise birds. 

Birdwatching Tour in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

If the weather is calm, visitors could enjoy swimming and snorkeling at the beach. Usually, the accommodation for tour participants is the beach resorts that are built along the southern beach of Waigeo. Participants could enjoy swimming and snorkeling after doing the birdwatching activity in the mornings and in the afternoons.

The duration of this birding trip in Waigeo is 3 days/ 2 nights. It can be combined with another 3-day/ 2-night wildlifewatching tour in Sorong regency's forest.  

Palm Cockatoo in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

If you are interested in taking this birdwatching tour in Raja Ampat and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

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Snorkeling, Island Hopping and Birdwatching Trip in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is one of the most favorite destinations in the world for marine tourism. For visitors who love snorkeling and island hopping, perhaps, this tour is interesting. We could start from the Kri island. The coral reef around this island is very beautiful. It is the habitat of a lot of species of marine creatures from batfish that likes to swim around the jetty of the resort or homestay to anemonefish and parrotfish that are common in coral reef of this tropical archipelago. For more unusual species such as the longtail carpet shark or also called epaulette shark, we could see it at night at the shallow water of the beach. 

A beach in Kri island

During the transition period from high tide to low tide in Yenbuba strait, most often, there is current. Tour participants need to wear swim fins. As a guide, I often carry an orange lifejacket with me which I can give to snorkeling participant who may have problems with leaks on his or her snorkeling mask. It is also a clear sign for boat drivers that there are snorkelers in coral reef area where they are passing. 

Homestays and dive resorts in Kri and Mansuar can be used as a base for marine tours around northern Raja Ampat archipelago. There are dive centers that provide equipment for snorkelers and scuba divers who want to see the beauty of coral reef and its marine life. 

Warahnus homestay in Kri island

Dive center in Warahnus homestay of Kri island

For those who are interested in birdwatching, the nearby Merpati island and Mioskon island are very good destinations to watch Lemon-bellied White-eye, Varied Honeyeater, Violet-necked Lory, Papuan Eclectus, Great-billed Parrot, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Beach Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, White-bellied Sea Eagle and etc.

Coral reef in the east of Waigeo island

Underwater picture of marine life in Mioskon

The next trip during the tour is going to Piaynemo. It takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to reach it. The wonderful view of the karst of Piaynemo looks like emerald jewels that are arranged in turquoise blue water. One the way back, we could enjoy snorkeling in Piaynemo and Mansuar island. 

For visitors who are interested in birdwatching, the island of Waigeo is the next stop. It can also become the base for exploring other parts of Raja Ampat such as Kabui bay, Kali biru (Blue River), Gam Island, and a lot of small islands in the west of Waigeo. There are homestays and beach resorts along the south of Waigeo. 

Coconut Lorikeet in Waigeo island

A lot of species of birds could be watched in Waigeo. They include Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Claret-breasted Fruit-dove, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Coconut Lorikeet, Black-capped Lory, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Hooded Butcherbird, Brown Oriole, Papuan Eclectus, Blyth's Hornbill, and etc. 

Beautiful Fruit Dove

Tour participants need to bring birding binoculars such as the Nikon Monarch 7 or Leica Trinovod 10×42 mm, and photographic device with telephoto lens.

If you are interested in taking a snorkeling, birdwatching, and island hopping tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Raja Ampat Snorkeling Sightseeing and Birding Tours

I often organize tours for visitors who want to enjoy snorkeling, sightseeing and birding tour in Raja Ampat. The program is described as follows:

Marine Tour in Raja Ampat

Day 1

Arrive in Sorong city, transfer by car to ferry harbor, going to Waigeo by fast passenger ferry. It takes around 2 hours to reach the harbor of Waisai. Transfer to resort or homestay. Rest. Snorkeling at the house reef of the resort, birdwatching in the complex area of the resort. Birds that we could watch include Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Beach Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Willie Wagtail, Osprey, Pacific Reef Heron, Helmeted Friarbird, Brown Oriole, Hooded Butcherbird, Papuan Eclectus and a lot more.

To enhance the birding experience of tour participants, binoculars and spotting scope will be used during the tour. Every participant will be able to share the spotting scope. 

Typical view of tropical island and forest in Raja Ampat

Day 2

Participants will wake up early in the morning at 04:30. Have some tea or coffee with bread or biscuits. At 05:00, we will go by car to the site of paradise birds. It takes around 30 minutes to reach it. We will continue on foot to the site of Red Bird of Paradise. The hiking duration is around 40 minutes. We will watch the bird until around 07:30. We will walk down the slope to the site of Wilson's Bird of Paradise. At around 09:30 we will return to resort/ homestay. Restt.

Snorkeling at the house reef of the resort at around 11:00 to 12:00. Lunch. Rest. At 15:00 birding along the roadside behind the resortm At 17:00 to 18:00 snorkeling could be done again at the resort's or homestay's house reef. 

Night walk for birding could be done after dinner.

Nature Tour in Raja Ampat

Day 3

After breakfast, trip to Piaynemo will be organized. Returning from Piaynemo, we will stop at Arborek, and then Yenbuba as well as the sand bank. Back to resort/ homestay. Rest.

Day 4

We will visit Kabui bay in the morning to enjoy birdwatching and snorkeling. Back to resort for lunch. At around 15:00, we will visit Mioskon or Friwen wall for snorkeling and sightseeing. 

Boat Tour around Kabui bay (between Waigeo and Gam) of Raja Ampat

Day 5

A trip to Blue River can be organized. 

Birding and Sightseeing Tour in Raja Ampat

Snorkeling and sightseeing tour in Raja Ampat

Day 6

Check out of the resort. Transfer to Sorong city. Check into hotel. Rest. At 15:00, we will enjoy birding at the mangrove forest of Sorong city. As well as doing optional visit to traditional market to find souvenir.

Mangrove forest is the habitat of a lot of species of birds such as Brown-backed Honeyeater, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Collared Kingfisher, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, and a lot more. Birding could be done along the roadside or from boardwalk and observation tower. 

Day 7

Transfer to airport. End of Tour

Visitor need to bring binoculars, camera for the tours. If participants choose homestay as accommodation, they need to bring their own snorkeling equipment. 

Booking

This tour is suitable for visitors who plan to visit Raja Ampat for holiday in small groups such as 2, 4, 5 or 6 people. To book your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Birding, Snorkeling and Sightseeing Tour in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is a famous destination for visitors who love marine tourism. They go there to enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving and island tours. As a matter of fact, there are other attractions which visitors can enjoy while in Raja Ampat. 

Most of the big islands of Raja Ampat are covered by tropical rainforest. They are the natural habitat of a lot of species of birds, butterflies and other insecte, reptiles, and mammals. Visitors can enjoy rainforest tour while doing snorkeling or scuba diving in Raja Ampat. 

Piaynemo Karst

The easiest wildlife tour that anyone can enjoy while in Raja Ampat is doing roadside birding. The birds that can be watched include Hooded Butcherbird, Shining Flycatcher, Spangled Drongo, Eclectus Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Beach Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher and etc. Most visitors want to watch birds of paradise. Usually, this is carried out early in the morning. Visitors need to wake up early at 04:30 to have coffee or tea with some biscuits. After that, they need to leave their resort or homestay at 05:00 for the site of paradise birds. Most guides will organize a car to reach the site earlier. The trip to the jungle will be carried out on foot. Birding can easily be carried out along the roadside of Waigeo island. 

The view of Kabui bay as seen from a homestay

However, it can also be done in remote islands along the beach. For example to Lesser Urai or Merpati island. Birds that live in remote islands of Raja Ampat include Violet-necked Lory, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Great-billed Parrot, Singing Starling, Palm Cockatoo, Claret-brested Fruit Dove and etc.

Birding in Raja Ampat

The birding activity in remote islands can be combined with snorkeling in coral reef areas. Raja Ampat is the habitat of tropical reef fish such as Wobbegong, butterflyfish, damselfish, parrotfish, moorish idol, grouper, trevally, and a lot more. 

Marine Life in Waigeo island

Coral reef in Mioskon island

Sightseeing tour can be done to interesting places of Raja Ampat such as Blue River, Piaynemo Karst, Yenbuba Strait or Kabui bay. For this purpose, a speedboat will definitely be needed. 

If you are interested in taking a tour in Raja Ampat and want me to organize your tour and guide you, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.