Watching Western Parotia in Arfak Mountains

Western Parotia (Parotia sefilata) is one of the thirty seven species of birds of paradise that live in New Guinea  It lives mostly in the bird's head region of West Papua. This bird does not have feather as colorful as the famous Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) but it has other characters that have attracted the attention of a lot of birdwatchers from around the world.

Male Western Parotia have display ground that he uses to attract female parotia with his skills in performing courtship dance. In the mornings and in the afternoons, he lands on the ground to clear it from any fallen leaves and twigs. He shouts loudly to call female Western Parotia. While waiting for them to come he will practice his dance skills.
During late February and March, male Western Parotia are more active. They are in mating season. Male parotias compete on another to win the hearts of female parotia. They will show their best performances to the female parotias. When they dance, they look like ballerinas.
Mupi Gunung 
There is a village located deep in the dense forest of Arfak mountains that I highly recommends for birdwatchers. Its name is Mupi Gunung. Various species of paradise birds thrive in the forest around the tiny village. There are only three families in Mupi Gunung village.
To reach it, visitors must walk for 9 hours through dense forest. Villagers have prepared a house for the visitors to who want to stay for several nights.

Besides watching Western Parotia, visitors can enjoy trekking in the forest to see tree kangaroo. Other animals that live in the jungle are wild pigs, deer, cuscus possum, soa-soa, blyth's hornbill, sulphur crested cockatoo, pinon imperial pigkeon, and a great variety of butterflies, beetles and other insects.

Warmarway located further south is another rainforest tour destination that is more affordable to visitors. Here tourists can enjoy snorkeling to see colorful fish such as parrotfish, surgeonfish, grouper, and moorish idol. While walking in the jungle, visitors may see Lesser Birds of Paradise, Birdwing butterflies, Cuscus possum, monitor lizard, and various other species of insects that make Arfak mountains as their natural habitat.

How to get there?

• Fly from your country to Jakarta city (the capital of Indonesia)
• Take a domestic flight to Manokwari city (check the website of Garuda Indonesia Airways, Sriwijaya Air, Express Air and Lion Air)
• When you have arrived in Manokwari, you could stay for one night at Swissbel hotel, Aston niu hotel or Mansinam beach hotel for making some preparation before going to Arfak range. I can arrange your trip to Mupi Gunung, getting travel permit from the polic, buying food, and getting a transport vehicle.

Please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com if you still need more information about rainforest tour in Arfak mountains. written by Charles Roring

Rainforest Tour in Arfak Mountains near Mupi Gunung

by Charles Roring

Tropical Rainforest in Mupi Gunung

As a private tour guide I frequently accompany tourists on various trekking and camping trips in the tropical rainforest of West Papua. The region is now under the administration of the Republic of Indonesia. The most popular destination is Arfak mountains.
There, visitors will be able to see pristine rainforest which is the natural habitat of birds, mammals, insects, and reptiles. Most of the visitors who go trekking in the Arfak range stay for at least 3 days/2 nights to 4 days/ 3 nights. They watch paradise birds, western parotia, and cuscus possum and tree kangaroo.

Mupi Gunung
There is a very small hamlet located deep inside the jungle of the range. Its name is Mupi Gunung. We need to walk up and down steep the slopes of the range through dense forest for full day to reach Mupi Gunung. From that base of trekking, we can explore the forest to see its wildlife. Tree kangaroo, cuscus possum, porcupine, lesser birds of paradise, wild pigs and deers live in the forest.
I highly recommend Mupi Gunung as your next destination for rainforest tour if you really want to see pristine rainforest ecosystem. You have to be physically fit and strong to do this tour.

Where is Mupi Gunung?
Mupi Gunung is a forest area located in Arfak mountains. It is in the south of Manokwari city - the capital of West Papua province.

Susnguakti Forest - The Alternative Trekking and Wildlife Watching Destination

Lesser Birds of Paradise

If you are looking for a nice place and more affordable location for rainforest tour, I will recommend Susnguakti forest. It is located further south of Manokwari. Here, the rainforest is in very good condition.
The animals are also the same. You can watch Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, and Cuscus Possum if you really want to see wild animals of Arfak mountains. Tree Kangaroo may be seen in higher elevation area of the range.
In Susnguakti forest you can do several activities such as

• Watching Paradise Birds and other tropical birds
• Do night walk to see cuscus possum, glowing mushroom
• Enjoying taking a bath in jungle stream whose water is fresh

How to get there?

• Take an international flight from your country to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
• After that fly from Jakarta city to Manokwari. Airlines that fly to Manokwari are Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya, Express Air and Lion Air
• When you have arrived in Manokwari, call me (Charles Roring) or send text message to my cell phone (+6281332245180). I will arrange your trekking trip to Susnguakti forest.

Tips

• Change your money to Indonesian Rupiahs when in Jakarta
• Bring watershoes or jungle boots if you want to go trekking in Arfak mountains
• You need insect repellent lotion
• Bring extra batteries and memories for your camera
• You need to do regular exercise for at least one or two months before taking this tour.

Please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 if you are interested.