Trekking in Syugrar river of Tambrauw Forest

I have just returned from the jungle of Tambrauw mountains after organizing a tour for 6 Polish visitors who wanted to see tropical rainforest. They spent 2 weeks of their vacation period scuba diving in Raja Ampat and walking in the jungle of Tambrauw. While in Raja Ampat, they stayed in comfortable bungalows of Kri Eco Resort. In the contrary, when they went into the jungle, they had to stay in dome tents battered by heavy rain.
We went trekking and camping at the bank of Syugrar river (approx. 4 hours by 4WD car).

Polish tourists were trekking in Syugrar river

During the tour, we saw various species of birds including lesser birds of paradise, sulphur crested cockatoo, blyth's hornbill, deer, wild pigs, cuscus possum, beetles, butterflies, and a lot of species of plants. We built tents and stayed in the jungle for 4 days/ 3 nights. We did day and night walks in the jungle. As a tour guide, I provided several dome tents for them.

We also had a riverwalk where we explored the forest by walking through Syugrar river. Its current was not so strong so we could walk against it.

If you are visiting West Papua (Sorong town and Raja Ampat) and want to combine your trip with jungle tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Birdwatching in Tambrauw regency of West Papua
• Birding in Tambrauw forest
• Rainforest tour in Tambrauw Mountains
• Birding and Wildlife Watching Tour in Tambrauw Mountains

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Sulphur crested Cockatoo in lowland forest of Manokwari

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) lives in Australia, New Guina and a lot of small islands in the Pacific region. I often see the birds when I guide tourists on a hiking, camping and birding trip in lowland forest of Manokwari. They make nosy screeching sounds in the forest if they play together in a tree.
Cockatoes create nests by making holes in large trees high above the ground.
To watch these birds, we need to bring binoculars such as the 10x42 or 12x50 mm and if possible a good spotting scope.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo eats tropical fruits including papaya, banana, and other fruits in the jungle. They play great roles in spreading the seeds of fruits which they eat to all parts of the forest.
Birding and Wildlide Watching in Lowland Forest of Manokwari

Sulphur crested cockatoo in Manokwari

I have organized a lot of birding tours for European, American and Australian visitors to the forest of Manokwari where visitors could watch various species of birds including Yellow Faced Myna, Golden Myna, Lowlsnd Peltop, and Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Eclectus parrot, Little-ringed Plover, and Little Egret, Brahminy Kite and Variable Goshawk, and Palm Cockatoo, Moustached Treeswift. There are other animals too such as beetles and butterflies, fruit bats, soa-soa lizard, snake, deer and forest pigs.
Camping

Camping in Manokwari Lowland Forest

A hiking, camping, birding and wildlife watching tour usually lasts for 3 to 5 days. Since there is no guesthouse in the forest, tourists will stay in tents by the river. As a tourist guide, I can provide tents, matrasses, sleeping bags, cooking and eating utensils so that visitors do not have to carry heavy things from their country.
However, I highly suggest that visitors bring flashlight/ torch, a good pair of binoculars and birding guide book Birds of New Guinea written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler. Don't forget to put your electronics inside ziploc bags or plastic containers when you go with me to the river area.
If you are interested in taking a birding tour in lowland forest of Manokwari, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send whatsapp/ text message to: +6281332245180.

Riverwalk Tour in Manokwari

Riverwalk Tour in Manokwari Lowland Forest

The lowland forest of New Guinea is a very rich environment. It is the one that exists in northwest region of Manokwari. To explore the forest, the best way is by walking along the sides of a river that passes through the forest. Recently I guided 3 French visitors on a 3-day/ 2-night riverwalk and birdwatching tour to the lowland forest of Manokwari. The name of the forest was Mesirrokow. It was the natural habitat of a lot of species of birds including Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Blyth's Hornbill, Yellow-faced Myna, Little-ringed Plover, Dollarbird, Brahminy Kite, and etc.
Other animals such as wallaby, wild pigs, deer, cuscus possum, and soa-soa lizard, as well as beetles and butterflies also live in the forest. The variety of the vegetation is very high including iron wood tree, pandanus tree, creeping plants, shrubs and grass.
Camping and Riverwalk

We built tents on higher ground near the river and then did the riverwalk tour every mornings and afternoons-before sunset time. When the weather is good, we can walk along the banks of the river easily.  One of the guests brought his Swarovski Spotting Scope and Leica binoculars. They greatly enhanced our birding experience. I personally carried my Visionking 10x42 mm binoculars. With these birding optics, we could watch Glossy-mantled Manucode (Manucode ater), Lowland Peltop (Peltops blainvillii), Pink-spotted Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus perlatus), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Variable Goshawk (Accipiter hiogaster).

Our Camping Site in Lowland Forest of Manokwari

We bring big size 8x6 meters waterproof plastic sheet as our roof tent, several dome tents, mattrasses, and pillows. We also bring cooking and eating utensils to serve our customers. Food such as noodles, canned fish, coffee, tea, and fruits are bought from the supermarket but we get most of our vegetables from the surrounding forest. Our guests said they really enjoyed the camping trip in open nature. In addition to camping, riverwalk and bird/ wildlife watching, they could enjoy swimming as much as they liked.
Preparations
Visitors need to bring a good pair of binoculars, a waterproof spotting scope is also needed. For riverwalk, please wear a good pair of watershoes, t-shirt and short pants. Some visitors apply sunblock lotion. I recommend anti-insect lotion.

How to get there?

• First, visitors need to fly from their country to Jakarta (the capital city of Indonesia)
• After that they could take a domestic flight to Manokwari city. Airlines such as Garuda, Sriwijaya, Batik and Lion/ Wings Air have got regular flights to Manokwari. 

Booking
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or whatsapp: +6281332245180.

Health Benefits of Regular Walking Exercises

I regularly do walking exercises. I usually start walking at 15.00 local time. I do not have specific walking duration or minimum walking distance that I have to reach. For me, I just want to enjoy my time doing a healthy sports.
Endurance - In the past I liked to jog. I could run around the soccerfield for 6 to 8 times. Now I reduce my jogging activity and replace it with walking exercise. The main reason is to prevent unnecessary burden on my knees.
I could feel the difference in my body endurance between regular exercise and not doing exercise for at least one month. I could get better endurance in my daily activities if I also did regular physical exercises. I will not easily be attacked by bacteria or virus.

Swiss tourusts were walking along the sides of Mesirrokow river