Snorkeling and Rainforest Tours in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat archipelago has got a lot of snorkeling sites for visitors to explore. The ones that are closer to Waisai town in Waigeo island include Saporkren coast, Lesser and Greater Urai islands, Friend Wall, Yenbuba Strait, Cape Kri, and Mioskon island. Visitors can enjoy snorkeling to see various kinds of marine creatures such as parrotfish, butterflyfish, wrasse, moorish idol, boxfish, anemonefish, lionfish, and etc. 

Snorkeling photo from Yenbuba Strait between Kri and Mansuar

Giant clam in Arborek island

Visitors need to bring their own underwater camera such as Nikon W300 or Olympus TG-6 to take pictures of these marine animals. They can also use action camera such as Go Pro to take underwater pictures. To get good results, the cameras have to be set for underwater use. 

The best time for snorkeling is in the mornings and during high tide. 

Brown Cuckoo-dove

In addition to snorkeling, visitors can also take hiking tour in rainforest for watching birds of paradise and other tropical birds of West Papua such as Eclectus Parrot, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Golden Monarch, Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet and etc. To take this rainforest bird watching tours, visitors need to bring their own binoculars. 

Endemic paradise Bird from Raja Ampat

For visitors who are interested in more adventurous trips, Batanta island is one of the destinations that they should go. There, visitors can enjoy snorkeling, dolphin and dugong watching as well as watching wildlife in the forest. 

Accommodation

There are a  lot of homestays and beach resorts that are built in the islands of Raja Ampat. They can be booked online through the internet or through tour guide like me. 

Booking

If you are interested in taking a snorkeling tour with your base in Waigeo island or Batanta island of Raja Ampat and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by WhatsApp to: +6281332245180. 

Birdwatching, Snorkeling and Sightseeing in Sorong and Raja Ampat

I have just finished running a tour for two visitors who came from the Netherlands. They were Femke and Mathijs. We spent 1 week exploring the rainforest of Sorong and Raja Ampat to watch birds, mammals, insects and reptiles as well as various kinds of unique tropical plants. 

Raja Ampat Marine Tour

In Raja Ampat, we did snorkeling, and sightseeing tour to see Piaynemo, Pasir Timbul (Sand Bank) and Friwen Wall. The sea current in the front waters of Arborek, between Gam and Mansuar island are quite strong.  That's why the coral reef in this area is the natural habitat of a lot of species of fish that like the current. However, we did not do snorkeling in the area where the current was strong. We went to Friwen-wall and enjoyed snorkeling there. After that we had our lunch at its beach which was on the other side of the islet. It was a nice experience because we can see colourful fish, and other marine animals of West Papua. Raja Ampat has got beautiful white sandy beach which is a good place for swimming and sunbathing. Sergeantfish, anemonefish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, are some of the many tropical fishes that Femke and Mathijs saw while snorkeling in Raja Ampat. 

Sightseeing and Birdwatching in West Papua

During the birdwatching tour, we saw Lesser Birds of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise as well as a lot of other birds including Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Frilled Monarch, Yellow-faced Myna, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, and etc.

Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 if you are interested in taking a rainforest wildlife watching, sightseeing and snorkeling tour in West Papua province of Indonesia. 

Camping Tour for Nature Lover in the Rainforest of Tambrauw Mountains

Our dome tents at the bank of Cuan river

Rainforest Camping Tour Package

Destination   : Lowland Rainforest in Tambrauw Regency in Syuan River

Availability   : All year round
Duration: 4 days/ 3 nights
Prices : Please, email us to: peace4wp@gmail.com for prices and customized trips.

Jungle Walk:
I offer had a 4-day/3-night camping tour in the rainforest of Tambrauw regency.
During the tour, participants will be able to see the bio-diversity of rainforest ecosystem. There are tourists who said that it is their first experience of camping in the jungle. So, it becomes an unforgetable journey. I seems scary to stay in the jungle but for most nature lovers, it is a great opportunity to see rainforest ecosystem by their own eyes.

Suphur crested cockatoo in the jungle of Tambrauw mountains

The sounds of water flowing in the river, the singing of birds and insects, the swaying of branches and twigs blown by the wind were our natural music during the tour. There were several indigenous Papuan people from the nearby village who will accompany us. They will carry our logistics that we need during our tour in the jungle. They usually catch shrimp and fish in the river, pick some vegetables in the garden and jungle. Some women will also cook food for us. 

We will build 3 to 4 tents at the bank of Cuan river in the lowland forest of Tambrauw mountains. Tourists can swim in the crystal clear water of the river. We will walk deeper into the jungle. The land on both sides of the river is flat so, it is not difficult for tourists to walk in the jungle. 

Eupholus schoenherri beetle from the forest of Tambrauw mountains

Most of the land of Tambrauw regency is still covered by pristine tropical rainforest which is the natural habitat of various species of animals and plants. During our previous camping tour, we saw a lot of birds including sulphur crested cockatoo, Blyth's hornbill, friarbird, egrets, eagles, and pigeons. 

I also took some nice pictures of Eupholus schoenherri's beetle. I saw it on the walking path. I thought it was dead so, I picked it up and put it on the leaf of a plant. Seconds later it started to walk slowly. The beetle had beautiful turquoise, black banded, and blue colors.

approximate location of Cuan river as a recommended destination of
nature lovers who want to stay in tropical rainforest

Cuan river is located near Sausapor town of Tambrauw regency.

Where is Sausapor and How to there?
If you look at the map, Sausapor is located in the northern coast of West Papua between Sorong city and Manokwari city.

• To get there, you need to fly from your country to Jakarta - the capital of Indonesia. 
• And then you need to continue your trip by taking a domestic flight from Jakarta to Sorong city. 
• I will meet you at the airport in Sorong city or at the hotel where you stay and organize your trip to Tambrauw regency

If you are interested in taking this rainforest camping tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Wildlife Tour in Tambrauw Regency

Sujak river in Tambrauw Mountains of West Papua

I have just returned from my exploratory Wildlife Tour in Tambrauw regency. I went trekking along the bank of a river and then enjoyed snorkeling in the waters of Sausapor the next day.
Tambrauw regency is located between Sorong and Manokwari. Its land is mostly covered with tropical rainforest and its sea waters have got coral reef areas that are suitable for snorkeling and scuba diving. The beaches of Tambrauw are the natural nesting grounds for several species of turtles including green turtle, hawksbill, olive ridley, green, and the leatherback turtles that are now facing extinction.
The capital of Tambrauw is Fef. It is located deep in the remote area of Tambrauw mountains. Fef is the gateway for everybody who is interested in exploring the Tropical Rainforest of New Guinea.

Orange Anemonefish (Amphiprion sandaracinos) in the waters of Tambrauw 

Visitors who are interested in taking a wildlife tour in Tambrauw regency can go trekking in the jungle to see rainforest that is the natural habitat of cuscus possum, wallaby, wild pigs, cassowary, and other various species of birds including sulphur crested cockatoo, Blyth's hornbill, Yellow faced myna, pinon imperial pigeon, and etc.
While walking in the jungle, we can see plants which local people us to make bow and arrows, string bags, and build their houses. There are also a lot of medicinal plants in the jungle which the indigenous people usually use every day.

Anemone and some tropical fish in the waters of Tambrauw regency

Snorkeling
In addition to rainforest tour, the trip to Tambrauw regency can be combined with snorkeling tour along the northern coast of West Papua where its coral reef areas are the natural habitat of such tropical fish as striped surgeon fish, anemone fish, parrot fish,  butterfly fish, turtles, and etc.
Because the coastline is facing the Pacific Ocean, the snorkeling tour can only be done in April, May, June, July, August and early September. Don't forget to bring your snorkeling gear.

Contact
If you are interested in wildlife tour in Tambrauw regency and need me to organize your trip (local guides, transportation, food, accommodation, camping gear, boats and other logistical needs) and be your trekking and snorkeling guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Watercolor painting of Black-capped Lory

I am drawing and painting a bird this week. Its name is Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) with the background of tropical rainforest in Arfak mountains near Warmarway village.
As a matter of fact, this painting is not finished. But I haven't updated my blog for more than a week. So, I decide to upload this painting and write some description.
Yunus Sayori, a local villager from this village always guide me when I go trekking with some tourists. We usually spend one or two nights in the jungle to see paradise birds, cuscus (a nocturnal animal) and tropical plants of the mountains.

Title: Black-capped Lory
Media: watercolor on paper
Size: A4
Painter: Charles Roring
Date: 17 August 2014

The tropical rainforest of Arfak mountains near Manokwari city has often been my art inspiration. When I guided tourists on various trekking trips, I saw beautiful birds such as lory, sulphur crested cockatoo, lesser birds of paradise, Papuan frogmouth, blyth's hornbill and many other birds. I also saw glowing mushrooms, wild flowers, bamboo trees on the slopes of these mountains.
If you are interested in trekking in the jungle of Arfak mountains, please contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. I can arrange a trekking trip for you where you will be guided by Yunus Sayori and other villagers from Warmarway.

Green Frog

When I was hiking through a rainforest, I saw various kinds of animals. Some of them were frogs or toads. Frog usually come out from their hiding at night. Frogs are amphibious animals meaning that they live in the water and dry ground. When the frogs are still in the form of eggs, they are called spawn. It takes 2 weeks for these eggs to grow into tadpoles and hatch from their eggs. With their feathery gills, they can breath in the water. When they reach 12 weeks old, they become frogs. At this age, frogs breath with lungs. That is the time when they come out of water. Some species of frogs or toads are eaten by people in Asian countries especially Indonesia, and China. Frogs are delicous meat when they are fried. Below is the picture of green frog at the foot of the Table Mountain of Manokwari city.

The next picture is the green frog that I shot using my Sony Cybershot in the tropical rainforest near Senopi village of West Papua. When I saw this frog, I remembered the story of "the Princess and the Frog." Well, he looked handsome, I think. : )

Frogs are sensitive to climate change. Global warming caused by the increasing amount of CO2 gases influences the survivability of frogs. When the land becomes drier, frogs will be lack of water. Rapid deforestation of tropical rainforest really threatens the frog population. Therefore we need to preserve the rainforest to protect frogs and other animals for future generations of human being. by Charles Roring

Also read: 

Frogs from Arfak Mountains

Night walk in the tropical rainforest of the Table Mountain

A trip to Arfak mountains with Rhett Butler

Paradise bird

Birds of paradise in the rainforest of West Papua are being threatened from their habitat due to hunting, logging and conversion of the forest into monoculture plantation. From 41 known species of Birds of Paradise known to science, there are 37 of them that inhabit New Guinea island. The most famous species among the indigenous Papuan people in the bird's head or vogelkop region is the Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor). The indigenous people use its feather during traditional ceremonies and dances.

The lesser birds of paradise usually come out of their nests to perform courtship dance early in the mornings and in the afternoons before the sunsets. Several male birds gather in a tree whose branches have been cleared from small twigs to enable them compete from one to another in performing the best courtship dance. The surrounding dusk area of the forest that is not too bright meets the bright colors from the birds of paradise. This creates a contrast impression to those who were watching the birds. 
The above photograph shows how a male Lesser Birds of Paradise attracts the female birds (that were sitting above him) for mating. Klasow valley of Sorong regency is one of the most favorite site among birdwatchers who want to go hiking in the jungle and watching wild animals.

Paradise birds, besides being the best natural dancers in the avian world, are also effective seed dispersers. A lot of plants in the tropical rainforest of New Guinea rely on these birds to spread their seeds to far away places. Without the role of the paradise bird, the forest of Papua would not be able to expand effectively. So, the hunting of these birds should be stopped to ensure that paradise birds will survive and continue to carry out their duties in the next century.

Also read: 

• Paradise bird from vogelkop region of New Guinea island
• Facing extinction, paradise birds and Crown Pigeon

Paradise bird from Vogelkop region of New Guinea

Birds of paradise are important species in New Guinea island particularly in the Vogelkop region. As seed disperser a paradise bird can travel several kilometers away with some seeds of a plant in its bill or beak, and stomach and drop them off at a place where the plant has not grown before. In other words, birds of paradise and other species of birds help preserve and expand the forest. Without the existence of paradise birds and other birds in the jungle of New Guinea island, the expansion of the tropical rainforest would be limited.

Personally, during my tour in Sorong regency and Tambrauw mountains, I saw and heard several species of birds of paradise. The first one was the magnificent birds of paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus). They can be watched in high elevation forest of Tambrauw mountains. The second species was the Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor). I saw them while doing a birdwatching tour in Klasow valley of Sorong and at the bank of Syuan river of Tambrauw.

When the first time I saw these magnificent birds of paradise, I was totally amazed by the behavior of the male birds. They had to perform courtship dance in order to attract the female birds. I believe that everybody who has seen these birds would recommend that this species be protected.
I am sad to see that paradise birds are facing extinction due to high hunting rate. They are being caught alive or dead. Hunters will sell them to buyers in big cities in very high prices. This very profitable business threatens all species of paradise birds and other tropical birds in Papua's tropical rainforest.
Alternative income creation for the villagers that we can generate in New Guinea includes the introduction of intensive but small scale vegetable and poultry farming, the controllable exploitation of non-wood products from the forest such as rottan for furniture, and herbs that can be processed into medicine and the promotion of ecotourism. The conversation of large area of tropical rainforest into monoculture plantations is not a wise solution. The negative environmental impact of such plantations is higher than the positive benefits which the villagers might get.
I hope that with these alternative small businesses more people will be able to improve their economic livelihood without having to destroy their surrounding nature.
Please, contact me by e-mail: peace4wp@gmail.com if you plan to visit Sorong town of West Papua for trekking, camping, and watching wild animals in the jungle.

Birds of Paradise in the Rainforest of Papua

When I watched the birds of paradise performed courtship dance on the branches of a tree in a forest in District Senopi, I was speechless. I was amazed by the beauty of those birds. I also heard the sounds of cockatoo and hornbill around the area but for me what attracted me the most were the birds of paradise. They were dancing that afternoon to attract the female birds. Bird watching and deer watching are two ecotourism activities that nature lovers or tourists like to do in the tropical rainforest of District Senopi in the Tambrauw Mountains of West Papua province, Indonesia. It is not easy to reach Senopi because the distance that the car has to cover is nearly 200 kilometers with extreme road condition. But this long trip cannot stop people like me to go there. 

The tropical rainforest of Papua island has been experiencing deforestation for years. During 1970s to 1990s massive logging operations were conducted to harvest the precious timber in this greatest tropical island and to make way for housings for migrants under the national transmigration program. Tens of thousands of hectares rainforest in the flat regions near the equator along the northern coast of this island have also been cleared to make way for massive monoculture palm oil plantation.

If the deforestation of Papua rainforest is not stopped, sooner or later, the birds of paradise, rainbow lory, cockatoo, and the whole forest ecosystem will be eliminated from their native land and can never be recovered. If we really love nature, we have to behave as true nature lovers. We don't easily buy products that are produced from the palm oil plantations that have destroyed the rainforest in Papua. by Charles Roring

Also read: 

Facing Extinction - birds of paradise and crown pigeon

Palm Cockatoo in Senopi Forest

New Threat to Papuan Tropical Rain Forest in Manokwari West Papua

by Charles Roring The photographs that you see below were taken in the Prafi area of Manokwari. The first photo was about the palm oil plantation that belongs to PT Perkebunan II and the second was about the logging business in the concession area of PT Medco Papua Hijau Selaras. Logging both legal and illegal has been a major threat to tropical rainforest in West Papua and Papua New Guinea. Logs taken by timber companies are sold in markets of Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and even to China. I am sad to see that day by day Papuan tropical rainforest continues to shrink rapidly. While timber companies enjoy high profit from this wood business, the indigenous people only receive very small fraction of the revenue their forest creates from logging. Actually, there is no revenue sharing in logging business in West Papua. What the indigenous people receive is tiny compensation compared to the price of wood in national and international market. Besides threat from logging, the increasing influx of migrants in West Papua creates increasing demands in wooden planks and blocks for housing material. More people mean more houses. The price of 1 cubic meter of merbau wooden blocks is around 120 US dollars in local market or even several times higher than that. This amount of money is considered high. As a result more people decide to enter the logging business. To get higher profit, they prefer to bribe the security personnel and smuggle the logs to towns late at night. By doing this they don't have to pay contribution to the forestry agency. It is not surprising to see that the illegal loggers have never faced severe punishment.   Another threat to Papuan forest is conversion to Palm oil plantation. National companies began opening Palm or Sawit oil plantation in around 1990s in Arso area of Jayapura and in Prafi valley of Manokwari. Again very little compensation was paid to the land owners. In recent video interviews made by Kevin and Darcy from Canada, the tribal chief in Prafi expressed his regret of selling his land in very cheap price for the sawit palm plantation. He said that the local people do not get significant benefit from that business. Many return to their vegetable and sweet potato patch. Although the sawit plantation run by PTP 2 - a state owned palm oil company in Prafi Manokwari, has shown its failure, another company named Medco has entered the region and began leasing thousands of hectares of land in Manokwari only for Rp. 450,000 or 36 US dollars per hectare for 35 years. The company will enjoy millions of rupiahs from logging the huge forested land areas that is rich of natural biodiversity before converting it into monoculture sawit plantation. This does not include the possibility of selling carbon offsets once the sawit seedlings start to grow. The pristine tropical rainforest in Sidey Manokwari will soon be jeopardized and converted into massive palm oil plantation with very little benefit to the local people. According to Cahaya Papua, a local newspaper in Manokwari, Medco has began paying 850 million rupiahs for the leasing of 1,896 hectares in Sidey of Manokwari West Papua. In 9-11 December 2008, it will pay 1.3 billion rupiahs for the leasing of 2,890 hectares in Masni of Manokwari. There will be another leasing of 280 hectares of land area in Pantura of Manokwari regency of West Papua.  Through this posting in my blog, I appeal to Green Peace, Down To Earth and any green support groups around the world to take serious actions to prevent this pristine Papuan forest from being converted to Palm Oil Plantation.  Also read:   The Leasing of Papuan Tropical Rainforest - Too Low for Compensation Too Stupid for Conversion Irresponsible Logging the Main Cause for Deforestation