Explore Sorong City

Sorong is the capital city of Papua Barat Daya (South West Papua) Province of Indonesia. It is the main gate for visitors who travel to Raja Ampat islands and Tambrauw mountains. For visitors who have extra 1 or 2 days in this city, they can explore the nature of the city or the streets and alleyways of Sorong and meet its people. The first place that I highly recommend to visit is Dom island. It is just around 10 minutes by water taxi. There are old houses and buildings in Doom. Doom is a small island with quite crowded population. 

Explore Sorong City and Its Surrounding

Doom used to be the administrative center of the Dutch. When Indonesia officially took over the control of West Papua on 1 May 1963, the administrative center was relocated to main Sorong city. 

Visitors could see old Dutch buildings mixed with houses of peoples in Doom island. There are fishermen's boats, water taxi and other marine vehicles which visitors could see in Doom. 

In addition to Doom, visitors can visit traditional markets that exist in Sorong to see various kinds of goods that people buy and sell in the market. 

For anyone who wants to have a good look Sorong city from a high point, the recommended site is Malanu hill. Visitors need to walk to reach the viewpoint. 

Birding in the forest near Sorong city

Another interesting place which tourists can visit is mangrove forest. It is the habitat of various species of birds including Olive-backed Sunbird, Sacred Kingfisher, Brown-backed Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, and White-breasted Woodswallow. To enjoy birdwatching, visitors need to bring binoculars or cameras with telephoto lens. 

Visitors who like singing can visit karaoke parlours and sing with friends or accompanied by special attendants that are provided by the karaoke parlours. There is also cafe at the top of a hotel where visitors can enjoy having tea or coffee while looking at the cityscape or the night's sky of the city. 

Visitors who are interested in culture can go to places like the Christ the King Cathedral of Sorong city to see its unique architectural design that is inspired by the bower structure of Vogelkop Bowerbird. Male Vogelkop Bowerbird decorates his bower with flowers, moss and other colorful articles to attract his female mating partner.

Cathedral Church Christ the King in Sorong city

If you are interested in exploring Sorong city and want me to organize your tour and guide you, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Birding and Snorkeling in Raja Ampat

I have organized numerous birding, wildlife-watching, snorkeling and sightseeing trips in Raja Ampat, Sorong and Tambrauw for visitors who are interested in seeing the biodiversity of rainforest and coral reef ecosystem of these regencies. 

Eclectus Parrot

Near Sorong city, visitors could watch Willie Wagtail, Olive-backed Sunbird, Orange-fronted Sunbird, Sacred Kingfisher, Brown-backed Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, and White-breasted Woodswallow.  Sometimes introduced species from other islands in Indonesia could be seen in the sub-urban area of Sorong. They are the birds that escaped from cages of city dwellers. Some of them include Spotted Dove, Scaly-breasted Munia, and etc. 

When we go deeper into the forest of Sorong regency, we will be able to watch more interesting birds including Golden Myna, Yellow-faced Myna, Boyer's Cuckooshrike, Lowland Peltop, Black-sided Robin, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Helmetted Friarbird and a lot more.

Rainbow Bee-eater

I always combine the rainforest birding tour in Raja Ampat with sightseeing and snorkeling tour. The birds that can be seen in this island include White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Red-cheeked Parrot, Shining Flycatcher, Blyth's Hornbill, Eclectus Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra and a lot more. For snorkeling, marine creatures that can be seen include Christmas Tree Worm, Anemone, Sea Urchin, and various kinds of reef fish. Visitors should bring their own snorkeling gear.  There are hotels, beach resort and homestays in Sorong and Raja Ampat. I could arrange your accommodation during the tour. 

Anemonefish

The entry point for taking this tour is Sorong city. You could fly from your country to Jakarta or Denpasar Bali and then continue your flight to Sorong city. I could meet you at the airport or hotel of Sorong and then organize your trip around this region.

Flight Route to Sorong City

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

Also read:

• Raja Ampat Snorkeling Trip

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Birdwatching in the Forest of Sansapor

Sansapor is a small coastal town in Tambrauw regency. It is a great destination for visitors who like to explore tropical rainforest to watch birds and other animals. Birds such as Blyth's Hornbill, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Hooded Butcherbird, Mimic Meliphaga, Black-capped Lory, Eclectus Parrot, Western-crowned Pigeon and a lot more can be watched in Sansapor. The same forest is also the habitat of snakes, soa-soa monitor lizard and colourful butterflies. 

Palm Cockatoo

Golden Myna

Visitors who are interested in watching birds and wildlife in Sansapor need at least 4 to 6 days of their holiday in Tambrauw regency. Between April and September, the sea of Sansapor is quite calm, it is a favorable time to enjoy snorkeling. Coral reef of Sansapor is the natural habitat of anemonefish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, butterflyfish, and etc.

Underwater picture from Sausapor

After spending a few days in Sansapor, visitors can continue their trip to Fef town in Tambrauw regency where they can watch Lesser Birds of paradise, Emperor Fairywren, Sacred Kingfisher, Yellow-faced Myna, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Long-billed Cuckoo, and etc.

During the Pacific War, the American forces built military base in Amsterdam and Middleburg islands as well as the airtrips in Sansapor to fight the Imperial Japanese Forces in the region. Now the Sansapor town is a peaceful town and is a suitable destination for visitors who like to spend their holiday in tropical beach of West Papua.

Accommodation

There is a beach resort that visitors can choose to stay during their birdwatching and snorkeling trip in Sansapor.

Beach Resort in Sansapor

If you are interested in traveling to Sansapor and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Wildlife Watching in Susnguakti Forest of Manokwari

There are a lot of places in West Papua province of Indonesia where visitors can go to watch Birds of Paradise, possum, monitor lizard and butterflies. 

One of them is Susnguakti forest in Manokwari regency. Visitors usually spend 3 days/ 2 nights in a basecamp that is built for visitors. 

Lesser Birds of Paradise in Susnguakti forest of Manokwari

During the day, they can walk in the jungle to find such birds as Common Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Black-billed Fruit Dove, Eclectus Parrot, Golden Cuckooshrike, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Blyth's Hornbill, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, and Lesser Birds of Paradise. 

Butterflies such as Silky Owl Butterfly, Cruiser Butterfly, and Blue Mountain Swallowtail butterfly can also be watched in the forest. 

Cuscus Possum in Susnguakti forest

Staying in the forest of Susnguakti, visitors can do night walk to watch Cuscus Possum, Papuan Forest Dragon and various kinds of insects. 

Visitors need to bring binoculars, flashlight and camera for the wildlife watching tour in Susnguakti forest of Manokwari.

For further info, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Birdwatching in Wondama Regency of Indonesia

Wondama is the name of a regency in West Papua province of Indonesia. It is a great destination for visitors who are interested in birdwatching and wildlife watching. The capital of Wondama is Rasiei which is an integrated part of Wasior town. 

Golden Myna

There are several birding sites that are good for visitors. The nortern tip of Wondama peninsula, Wondiboy mountains and Naikere forest is the most recommended destination for visitors. There are a lot of birds that visitors can watch there. Here are some of them:

• Lesser Birds of Paradise
• King Bird of Paradise
• Magnificent Riflebird
• Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise
• Magnificent Riflebird
• Glossy-mantled Manucode
• Lowland Peltop
• Black-capped Lorry
• Eclectus Parrot
• New Guinea Vulturine Parrot
• Red-cheeked Parrot
• Large Fig Parrot 

• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
• Palm Cockatoo
• Blyth's Hornbill

• Yellow-billed Kingfisher
• Common Paradise Kingfisher
• Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
• Sacred Kingfisher
• Azure Kingfisher
• Spangled Drongo
• Hooded Butcherbird
• Black Butcherbird
• White-bellied Sea Eagle
• Pinon Imperial Pigeon
• Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon
• Beautiful Fruit Dove
• Red Myzomella
• White-bellied Sea Eagle
• Brahminy Kite
• Lesser Frigatebird
• Willie Wagtail
• Common Tern
• Pacific Swallow
• Hooded Pitta
• Moustached Treeswift
• Red-bellied Pitta
• Brown Cuckoo Dove
• Great Cuckoo Dove
• Golden Myna
• Yellow-faced Myna
• White-bellied Cuckooshrike
• Rufous Owl
• Sooty Owl
• Papuan Frogmouth
• and a lot more

Eclectus Parrot

Birdwatching trip to Wondama regency can be done all year round. Visitors need to bring binoculars, spotting scope and sound recording of bird calls from New Guinea. 

It is easy to reach Wasior town of Wondama regency. First, visitors need to fly from their country to Jakarta or Denpasar or other major cities in Indonesia. There are regular daily flights which connect these cities with Manokwari city (the capital of West Papua province). From Manokwari city, visitors can go by passenger ferry to Wasior town or by small single turboprop airplane, Cessna Caravan 208, operated by Susi Air. 

Location of Wondama regency

For accommodation, there are hotels, lodges or Inns and guesthouses in Wasior town. However, for birding purposea, visitors need to stay in simple homestays on the villages which are closer to the forest. 

If you are interested in taking birdwatching tour to Wondama regency of Indonesia, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.