Raja Ampat Karst

Raja Ampat is a very beautiful destination for tourists who like sightseeing because it has got a lot of karst. There are a number of karst formations in this archipelago that attract visitors. The famous ones are Wayag in Northwest of Waigeo and Piaynemo in the southwest of Arborek island.

Fish Lagoon in Eastern Shore of Waigeo

As a matter of fact there are still karst formations that tourists can see when visiting Raja Ampat. There are karst in the passage area between Waigeo and Gam, as well as Wawiayai, karst in Kabui bay. In the eastern shore of Waigeo island, there is Insou Duwer (also called Fish Lagoon) karst. It is located near Yen-Papir village. If visitors explore karst in Misool island, they will be able to see more formations. Yapap and Harfat Peak are now visited by tourists. But there are more that haven't been surveyed for their beautiful view.
Batanta has got a lot of karst formations that have not been explored for their landscape views.

Silhouette of Misool Karst during sunrise time

Wawiyai Karst

As a tourist guide, I organize tour for visitors who are interested in seeing karsts of Raja Ampat. However, I like to combine other activities in the tour including swimming and snorkeling as well as rainforest hiking and birdwatching tour. By doing so, visitors will be able to see more of Raja Ampat, not only its wonderful landscape but also its flora and fauna, its people and their culture.

Piaynemo Karst

There are several two species of paradise birds in Waigeo, i.e. Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson Bird of Paradise. Visitors who want to take the burdwatching tour need to bring at least a pair of binoculars, and camera with superzoom lens such as Nikon P1000, Canon SX60HS or D-SLR Camera with 600 mm lens.
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp: +6281332245180 or email: peace4wp@gmail.com if you want to take a tour in Raja Ampat.

Also read:

• Birding in Minahasa Peninsula
• Birding in North Sulawesi

Wawiyai Viewpoint in Raja Ampat

There is a place in Raja Ampat which tourists can visit to see the beautiful panoramic view of karst islets. Its name is Wawiyai. It is relatively a new viewpoint that was opened in late 2018. Two other viewpoints that have been famous in the same region are Wayag and Piaynemo. Last week, I went to Wawiyai with four tourists from Australia, Germany and France. We climbed its steep stairs and slopes to see the surrounding landscape.

Wawiyai Karst

When we were at the top of Wawiyai karst, we could see a lot of small islets that were surrounded by the greenish-blue sea. The weather was sunny and hot. Some birds were flying and hopping among the branches of small trees in the lower slopes of the karst. They were Olive-backed Sunbird. From a distant, I heard the call of a Beach Kingfisher. I tried to find where it was. Suddenly I saw it flying across the sea and landed on the branch of a small tree at a big limestone karst across from us. It was far from us. I immediately lengthened the legs of my tripod and then aimed the scope to the bird. After adjusting its scale of magnification, position, and sharpness, I could see the kingfisher through the spotting scope. Everyone got the opportunity to see the bird.
Taking pictures of the Beach Kingfisher was impossible because I did not bring my camera. Actually, my camera could not reach it. My spotting scope could reach it but it still looked so small in the scope. I used to take picture of this beautiful bird during my previous trip.

Beach Kingfisher

Wawiyai Karst in Raja Ampat

Suddenly, the weather changed. More clouds formed in the sky. We decided to walk down the slope and returned to the jetty at the foot of the limestone karst. As soon as we arrived the rain started to fall. We stayed at the shelter for a while. We bought some coconuts and drank their water. It was very delicious.
When the rain stopped, we got into our boat and returned to our guesthouse.
This trip to Wawiyai viewpoint is part of a 3-day/ 2-night hiking, birding, snorkeling and sightseeing tour to Raja Ampat.
If you are interested in visiting Wawiyai karst and explore the natural beauty of Raja Ampat and want me to be your guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring)
by e-mail.com : peace4wp@gmail.com
by whatsapp: +6281332245180

Wilson's and Red Birds of Paradise in Waigeo

I have just completed a trip to Raja Ampat island with 4 European tourists. We went hiking in the forest to see Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) and Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Dyphyllodes respublica).
To watch the paradise birds, we had to wake up at 04.30 and went hiking for around one hour to the dancing site of the birds. Male birds began to call their female birds when the sun rose in the east. We watched them from 06.00 to around 09.00. After that we returned to the guesthouse where we stayed. The bungalows were constructed on the water allowing us to see fish that were swimming over coral reef.

Red Bird of Paradise

During the 3 days/ 2 nights trip, we were able to watch them and other tropical birds such as Spice Imperial Pigeon, Hooded Butcherbird, Torresian Crow, Olive-backed Sunbird, Eclectus Parrot, Pacific Swallow, Helmetted Friarbird, Brahminy Kite, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Lesser Frigatebird, White-bellied Sea Eagle and etc.

Wilson's Bird of Paradise

In addition to birds, we also explore karst islets in Kabui bay using a long wooden boat. There is a viewpoint among the karst which tourists can visit to see the beautiful scenery of Waigeo, Gam and its karst formations.

The coral reef of Raja Ampat is very beautiful. It is the habitat of hundreds of species of fish, and other marine animals. I enjoyed snorkeling and recreational freediving there. Because I brought Nikon W300, I was able to take some pictures of the coral reef.
The guesthouse where we stayed was located at the beach - above the water. It was a nice site to watch dolphins. This beautiful fish often pass by the guesthouse in a group of two to ten dolphins. 

Coral Reef in southern part of Waigeo island

Raja Ampat karst islets

Birdwatching near Sorong
Two of the tour participants from Australia had one extra day in Sorong. I guided them to a forest near the city to lowland birds such as Spangled Drongo, Yellow-faced Myna, Blyth's Hornbill, Dollarbird, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Rainbow Bee-eater, and a lot more.
If you are interested in taking a tour in Raja Ampat that combines sightseeing, hiking, birdwatching, snorkeling and karst climbing, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by text to my whatsapp: +6281332245180.

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Birding and Snorkeling Site in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

There is a good site for birding and snorkeling in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. Its name is Warduwer located in the south of the island. There are big trees at the beach that attract a lot of birds to visit for resting or eating their fruits. I like to visit this beach when I guide tourists. Birding at this beach is very easy. I highly recommend that birdwatchers bring 10×42 binoculars, an if possible, a spotting scope to enhance their birdwatching experience. Professional photographers bring D-SLR camera with 600 mm telephoto lens. Today, bridge camera iIn the mornings and in the afternoons, blyth's hornbill, eclectus parrots, spangled drongo, pied imperial pigeon, sulphur crested cockatoo, palm cockatoo, coconut lorikeet (also called rainbow lorikeet), and beach kingfisher, Eastern Osprey, Brahminy Kite, are often seen in the surrounding trees. Visitors who come to this beach can also see crested tern, plover, and lesser frigate bird, white bellied sea eagle and etc. The following collage picture is my promotional material that I make for travelers who plan to visit Raja Ampat. 

Raja Ampat beauty - birds and coral reef

After watching birds, tourists can enjoy snorkeling at the same beach to see a lof of kinds of fish, sea star and christmas tree worm in the pristine coral reef of the beach. Grouper, sweetlips, pink anemonefish, striped surgeonfish, black bar damsel, three spots dascyllus, parrotfish, and wrasse are some of the fish that can be seen at the coral reef of this beach. For taking pictures of the marine life, a good underwater camera should be used. I recommend Nikon W300 or Olympus Tough TG-5.
Soon a beach resort will be constructed here. The bungalows are being prepared. The resort will be completed in middle of this year ready to receive tourists who want to stay for a few days, a few weeks or more.

I offer tour for tourist who likes to enjoy snorkeling and birding in Raja Ampat. If you plan to take a holiday in Raja Ampat and want me to be your guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
Also see:
Snorkeling Video in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat Reef

Raja Ampat islands have been famous internationally because their marine biodiversity is the highest in the world. From my personal observations when I run snorkeling tours in the archipelago with foreign tourists, I could say that high density of fish and other marine animals can be seen in coral reef area whose sea current is strong. Such reefs are located in Yenbuba strait, Cape Kri, and in a small island near the entrance site of Kabui bay.

Beautiful Raja Ampat

When I organize the snorkeling tour, I also bring visitors to beaches that are calm but also have got high marine life such as South-West Mansuar, Cape Kri, Five Rocks, and Isanak beach in Waigeo island. Uninhabited islands often have got more coral reef in pristine condition.
Here, we could see tropical fish and other marine creatures including lobster, burrowing clam, sea star, sea urchin, christmas tree worm, and etc. Bigger fish such as trevally, parrotfish, black tip reef shark can be seen in drop off areas.
Swimming, snorkeling and freediving at this steep reef slope or wall may look  scarry but for experienced snorkelers and freedivers, this area is the place where more fish and better reef can be seen easily.
Coral reef is similar to tropical rainforest. It is the natural habitat of a lot of species of marine creatures from tiny pygmy seahorse to giant trevally. It is the source of food for a lot of people and it is an important natural resource for researches in marine science. Because of this important status, we need to preserve it forever.
Visitors who enjoy snorkeling and freediving over the coral reef must not stand on the corals.
I usually combine this coral reef snorkeling trip with hiking, birding and rainforest tour. My email is: peace4wp@gmail.com. You could also contact me by whatsapp message to my number: +6281332245180.