Birding and Wildlife Watching Tour in Lowland Rainforest of Manokwari

Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus)

Lowland Rainforest of Manokwari
There is a beautiful birding site in northwest area of Manokwari regency. The lowland tropical rainforest that covers the region is the natural habitat of a lot of species of birds including Willie Wagtail, Little-ringed Plover, Little Egret, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Dollarbird, Eclectus Parrot, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Papuan Blyth's Hornbill, Moluccan King Parrot, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Great Cuckoo Dove, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Brahminy Kite, Rainbow Bee-eater and a lot more.
I have organized numerous birding and wildlife watching tours to this forest for visitors who come from Europe, Australia, North America and China.
Birding Along the River

Birding in Lowland Forest of Manokwari

The easiest way to enjoy birding in this lowland area is by walking along the banks of the river. The ground is mostly flat and suitable for women or birdwatchers who want an easy birding walk.
On the average, the birding tour lasts between 3 to 5 days.
The longer the number of days we stay in the jungle, the deeper will be our walk into the forest.
It is not only birds that visitors can see in the lowland forest of Manokwari but also other animals such as butterflies, beetles, cicada, freshwater fish. Fruitbats like to eat breadfruits whose trees grow along both sides of the river.
Birding Gear

Blyth's hornbill

Visitors are highly recommended to bring their own binoculars 10x42 or 12x50 mm and spotting scope 20-60x60. A field guide book such as "Birds of New Guinea" written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler will needed to identify birds that we see in trees.  Taking pictures of birds are highly encouraged. A bridge camera Canon SX60 HS or Nikon Coolpix P900 is an affordable choice for taking pictures of birds in distant trees.
Camping

Campsite 1 Manokwari lowland forest

As a tourist guide, I provide camping gear, cooking and eating utensils for visitors who are interested in taking this birding tour. So, they don't need to carry these heavy things in their luggage. We may stay in only one campsite during the whole time of the tour but mostly we move our tents deeper into the jungle every day and return to main road in the last day of the tour. Local villagers will work as porters and cooks. Because, this tour is conducted in the jungle, the food that we eat will be the simple ones.

Hiking and Birding in Lowland Forest of Manokwari

Lowland Forest of Manokwari

Lowland Forest of Manokwari
Birdwatching is an interesting activity. In Manokwari, there are several places that I usually visit to run birding tours. One of them is Menyumfoka river. Tropical rainforest that covers both sides of the river is the natural habitat of a lot of species of birds that live in lowland area. During my last riverwalk in the area, I saw Papuan hornbills (Rhyticeros plicatus), Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Brahminy Kite, Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon), Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), and Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus rotatus). Big trees such as ironwood tree, strangler ficus tree and kayu-perahu tree can be seen in the lowland forest.

Eclectus Parrots in Lowland Forest of Manokwari

Birding along the river
To watch birds, I use a pair of binoculars. I also have got a spotting scope and a tripod. I like birding along the bank of a river because I could see birds easily. Huge clearing area created by a river enables birdwatchers to spot birds in distant trees and in the sky.
Birding Camera
I use an old Fujifilm HS50EXR. It has got 42x optical zoom that is equivalent too 1,000 mm. It is a very good camera for birdwatching. Unfortunately, Fujifilm discontinued the development of such camera.
As a tourist guide, I offer hiking and birding tours to lowland forest and montane forest of Manokwari.

Butterfly in Lowland Forest of Manokwari

Other Animals
The Lowland Forest of Manokwari is also the habitat of deers, wallaby, wild pigs, snakes, and a lot of colorful butterflies and beetles.
I made some pictures of mantis and butterfly and I went hiking in the area yesterday.

Camping
The average duration of the hiking and birding tour in the lowland forest of Manokwari is 3 days/ 2 nights. I provide tents, and sleeping bags for tourists so that they don't need to bring camping gear from their country.

Booking a rainforest hiking and birding tour
For customized Please, send text message (by whatsapp is also ok) to my cell phone: +6281332245180. You could also contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Things to bring:

• Clothing such as t-shirts and shorts for tropical climate. You could also bring swimsuit if you want to swim in the fresh water river.
• Watershoes
• Flip-flop
• Torch/ flashlight
• Binoculars/ spotting scope + tripod
• A camera with telephoto lens 
• Anti-insect lotion
• If you like fishing, you could also bring your fishing rod.

Coral Reef in Manokwari

Snorkeling and Staying in Mansinam Island
Most of the visitors who come to Manokwari also want to enjoy swimming and snorkeling.  I recommend that they go and stay in Mansinam island which is only 15 minutes by water taxi.
Accommodation
There is a guesthouse in the island. Its name is Doreri Guesthouse. The beachfront of the guesthouse is covered by coral reef. Parrotfish, pink anemonefish, damselfish, moorish idol, butterflyfish, boxfish and a lot of other species of tropical fish can be seen in the area.

Doreri Guesthouse in Mansinam island

Bedroom in Doreri Guesthouse of Mansinam Island

Bring your own snorkeling gear such as mask, snorkel and fins if you want to see the coral reef environment of the island.
Rates:
500,000 rupiahs per room per night for 2 people (including breakfast)
700,000 rupiahs per room per nigt for 2 people (including breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Visitors who stay in the island can also enjoy hiking, butterfly watching around the island.
Booking:
Just send email to me (Charles Roring): peace4wp@gmail.com or whatsapp message to +6281332245180 and I will help in arranging your stay in Mansinam island.