Visiting Sansapor in New Guinea

Sansapor was one of the landing points of US forces in Netherlands New Guinea in their fight against Japanese forces during World War II. From June to August 1944, US troops landed and constructed airfields in the area including in Middleburg island, in Amsterdam island, and in Mar village of the mainland New Guinea. The picture below shows the two islands which are now called Pulau Dua. In Malay or Indonesian language, Pulau means Island and Dua means Two.

Dua islands (formerly called Amsterdam and Middleburg islands near Sausapor town of Tambrauw regency - West Papua

From 18 to 21 May 2015, I made an exploratory trip to Sausapor (as it is called now) and its surrounding areas. My goal was to assess whether the town and its nearby villages could be promoted as destination of foreign tourists. Sausapor has developed from a small village in 1940s into a small coastal town of Tambrauw regency.
My trip to Sausapor was also part of an initial visitation for the annual traditional event of Turtle Calling Ritual that will be conducted on 25 June 2015 at Jamoersba beach of the region. So, if you read this post and are interested in attending the event to watch leatherback turtles land on the beach to lay eggs, do fly to Sorong city before 23 June 2015. I will try to arrange transfer for you to Sausapor town.

US tank wrecks in the jungle of Werbes near Sansapor of New Guinea

During my land tour in the region, I was able to visit the former airfield of Mar that has been reconstructed by the local government of Tambrauw regency for civilian purposes.
I also had a chance to explore the tropical rainforest near Werbes village where local people said that there are still some tank wrecks left by US troops in two adjacent locations of the jungle. In total there were around ten of them. They became a silent evidence of US presence in the region 71 years ago.
Sausapor and its surrounding environment is a suitable destination for tourists who are interested in hiking, camping, snorkeling, birdwatching and wildlife watching.

How to get to Sansapor?

• First contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by sending text message to my cell phone: 006281332245180
• Second, fly to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia) and then take a domestic flight to Sorong city. From Sorong city, you can continue your trip by passenger ship MV. Sunlia or by  MV. Ave Maria from Pelabuhan Rakyat (meaning People's harbor) to Sausapor. The ship usually leaves at night at 22.00 and arrives in Sansapor or Sausapor at 04.00.
• From the town, you can explore its forest, rivers, beach, and the nearby islands?

Sausapor and other villages in Tambrauw regency are not a touristic region. You might find yourself as the only tourist in town or village. So, next time when you plan to have a summer holiday, consider Sansapor as your destination :-) this article was written by Charles Roring, email: peace4wp@gmail.com

Watching Leatherback Turtle in Tambrauw regency of West Papua

Leatherback turtle

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)  is one of the largest turtles in the world. This endangered animal is facing extinction due to continuous hunting for its eggs, suffocation from drifting plastic bag that it considers as jelly fish and other natural predators in its early age.
To raise awareness about the importance of protecting turtles, I offer turtle watching trips to the beach where turtles usually land to lay eggs. This will be a very long trip to a remote region in the coastal area between Manokwari and Sorong city. The name of the beach is Jen Womom. There are also other turtles such as Hawksbill, Green Turtle and Olive Ridley.

How to get there?

• First fly from your country to Jakarta city.
• After getting Visa On Arrival, continue your trip to Sorong city by flying with Garuda, or Sriwijaya Air, or Express Air
• Make sure that you arrive in Sorong city. I will meet you at the airport or at the hotel where you stay and organize your trip to Jen Womom beach.

Other Activities
In addition to watching turtles, we could enjoy snorkeling, swimming, and island hopping in the regency to see coral reef, tropical fish, colorful birds, butterflies, and unique plants of rainforest.
I suggest that visitors bring their own snorkeling gear such as mask, snorkel and flippers.
For birdwatching, a good pair of binoculars and a spotting scope will be useful.
Other important devices that visitors need are camera for land tours and underwater camera for water sport activities.
Torch or flash light will be needed at night. 

Tambrauw regency has got a lot of tourist attraction. Some of them are wave surfing, trekking, and birdwatching.

If you are interested in visiting Tambrauw regency, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or cell phone: 006281332245180

Related post:
Tourist attractions in Tambrauw

Trekking and Watching Tree Kangaroo in Arfak Mountains

I went trekking to Arfak mountains last week. I visited a a hamlet located deep in the jungle with a population of only three families. It took around 9 hours walking up and down steep slopes of the mountain range to reach the hamlet whose surrounding environment was still in pristine condition.

Tree Kangaroo in the jungle of Arfak mountains

At an elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level inside pristine rainforest, the mountain range of Arfak mountains is an ideal place for nature lovers who are interested in watching tree kangaroo. So far there are two species that have been photographed by the tourists but the villagers said there are three species in the jungle. To take picture of the kangaroo, visitors need to bring D-SLR camera with telephoto lenses or a bridge camera with super telephoto capabilities such as Nikon P600, Nikon P900 or Canon SX60hs.

Wild Life
Tree kangaroo is not the only animal that we can see in this pristine forest of Arfak range. There are also other animals such as cuscus possum, and various species of birds of paradise and wild pigs.
If you are interested in trekking Arfak mountains of Manokwari regency of West Papua, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send text message to my cell phone: 006281332245180.

Trip report:
Trekking and watching Tree Kangaroo in Manokwari

Koroway Tribe in South Papua

I have just completed my trip to southern region of Papua. I visited the indigenous people of Koroway tribe who lived in the wetland.

Here I was sitting in the tree house of Koroway tribe

The people of Korowai or Koroway build their traditional houses on high poles or in tall trees. Those who live in the jungle still wear traditional costume (very minimum clothing or almost naked). They hunt wild animals such as boars, kangaroo, casowary bird, cuscus and soa-soa using bows and arrows, and spears as their traditional weapons. They also like to catch fish in the river using sharp pointed arrow or fish traps.

a Koroway man and his children

Most of their dwellings are located near a river and sago trees. They processed the pith from the trunk of sago tree to make flour. It is their main staple food.

The traditional tree house of Koroway that was constructed in high trees

The indigenous people of Koroway tribe is considered to be the only human being who still live in trees. The trip to Koroway is suitable for nature lovers, naturists or anyone who want to know how to survive in the jungle.

some girls of Koroway with their grandmother

If you visit the Koroway tribe, you can learn how to survive in the jungle with the Koroway way such as how to make fire using very simple tools, how to find sago worms and cook them, how to use bow and arrow to shoot a target, how to catch fish and how to expel mosquito while sleeping naked in the jungle. Because, I was a guest I had to adapt with their lifestyle. I also hope that visitors or solo traveler who goes to Koroway land does the same thing.
When swimming in the river, ask the local people for the safe spot. This is important so that you will not become the target of crocodiles.

Visitors from all corners of the world go to Koroway land to see their tree houses or experience their traditional lifestyle. If you are interested in visiting Koroway tribe and need me to be your private guide, please contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. You need at least 2 weeks to do the trip.

Snorkeling in Mansinam Island

Do you plan to go to Manokwari? Don't forget to visit the nearby Mansinam island. It takes only around ten minutes by "water taxi"  from Ketapang Boat Station to Mansinam.

White sandy beach near Doreri Guesthouse of Mansinam Island

Coral Reef Environment and Shipwrecks

Bring your snorkeling gear if you want to see the rich marine environment of the coral reef that thrive along the coast of the island. Surgeon fish, damsel fish, butterfly fish, parrotfish, anemone fish, are some of the tropical fish that you could see when you enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving in the island.
Table coral, mushroom coral and leather coral can be seen thriving in the waters around mansinam.There are  several shipwrecks on the bottom of the sea which can be seen by scuba divers.

Make sure that you do not stand on the coral and tease the marine animals.

Accommodation in Mansinam Island

If you want to spend several days exploring Mansinam island, you could stay at Doreri Guesthouse that is located on the southeastern side of the island just a minute walk to the beach.

Doreri Guesthouse in Mansinam Island

The standard rates
Overnight stay Rp. 550,000 approximately 37 Euros
Pick up service from the airport Rp. 150,000 or approx. 12 US dollars
Boat rent Rp. 500,000 per day
Bicycle rent Rp. 75,000 per day or approx. 6 US dollars
Snorkeling mask Rp. 50,000 or approx. 4 US dollars
If you want to travel in Manokwari city and its surrounding areas, you could also rent motorcycle or car from Doreri Guesthouse with the following rates:
Motorcycle Rp. 100,000 per day

Car Rp. 500,000 per day

Jogging and Nature Walk

Early in the morning, you could begin your day by jogging or walking along the concrete road that circles the island. Most part of Mansinam is still covered with tropical rainforest.

Birdwatching

If you are an avid birders, bring your telephoto camera to take pictures of kingfishers, frigate birds and other water birds that live in the island.

Butterfly and Insect Watching

Butterflies, Beetles,grasshoppers and other tropical Insects can easily be spotted in the branches and twigs of flower plants and shrubs throughout the island.

If you are interested in visiting and staying in Mansinam island, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.
This article is written by Charles Roring