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Arfak Birding with Hans Mandacan









Our Birding Tour West Papua will begin in the town of Manokwari, situated on the north-eastern tip of New Guinea’s Bird’s Head, or “Vogelkop”, Peninsula. From here we will travel straight through for five nights in the nearby Arfak Mountains, where we will search for a fabulous series of birds, renowned in birders’ circles as the “Vogelkop endemics”. The second leg of our birding adventure takes us to Sorong, on the opposite side of the Bird’s Head Peninsula, for a relaxed afternoon’s birding outside the town. Then we will spend three days in the spectacular Raja Ampat Islands off Sarong on Waigeo, one of this archipelago’s four major islands. On our return journey to Sorong we will stop for a few hours on a tiny atoll in Dampier Strait for birding, searching for regional island specialties.
Please note that the detailed itinerary below cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads or birding sites, and the discretion of the guides and other factors.

Itinerary (12 days/11 nights)

Days 1 – 5. Arfak Mountains

After arriving in the morning in Manokwari on the north-eastern tip of the famous Vogelkop Peninsula, on an overnight flight from Jakarta or another international airport in Indonesia, we will travel immediately to the Arfak Mountains, where we will arrive around midday and will be based for five nights.

Arguably Papua’s premier birding region, the Arfaks support nine endemic bird species (and a further 11 species with restricted ranges), of which the most famous must be the Vogelkop Bowerbird – the world’s greatest avian architect. Males of this amazing species build a roofed house-like construction at the base of a sapling tree, inside and in front of which they place colorful berries, flowers, and insect parts to attract females. You will also see the exciting Western Parotia, the males of which perform a bizarre side-step dance on the floor of their display courts, while their flank plumes are spread to form a circular skirt, with their six wiry antenna-like nape feathers directed forwards. Two other endemic birds-of-paradise are commonly seen here at higher altitudes (almost 2,000 m) – the little-known Arfak Astrapia and Long-tailed Paradigalla (rediscovered in 1989), as well as the more widespread Black Sicklebill with its 80 cm-long tail. Lower down, the Magnificent Bird-of-paradise may be seen on his court, displaying, in sequence, his iridescent carmine back, dark green breast shield, and sulphur-yellow cape, before jerkily dancing up and down a vertical sapling, while quivering his cocked sickle-shaped central tail feathers. Up to seven species of birding along cyclop-riverrobins may be seen on the mountain trails, among many other families, as well as the Spotted Jewel-babbler, and, if you are lucky, a Feline or a Mountain Owlet-nightjar.

Other wonderful birds, most of them endemic or range-restricted, which we hope to find in the Arfaks include Superb Bird-of-paradise, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Red-collared Myzomela, Rufous-sided Honeyeater, Vogelkop Melidectes, Arfak Honeyeater, Northern Variable Pitohui, Vogelkop Scrubwren, Papuan Parrotfinch, Papuan Boobook, Wattled Brushturkey, White-striped Forest Rail, Trumpet Manucode, Papuan Black Myzomela, Vogelkop Whistler, Papuan Eagle, Papuan Lorikeet, Papuan Treecreeper, Papuan Logrunner, Papuan Sittella, and Smoky Robin, among, as always, so many others.

Overnight: community guest house

Day 6. Arfak Mountains, transfer to Manokwari

We will be spending yet another day birding in the Arfak Mountains, searching for any specialties of this magnificent area we may have missed so far. In the late afternoon we will drive back to Manokwari.

Overnight: Manokwari Hotel

Day 7. Transfer to Sorong, birding the Sorong area

Today we will take a morning flight from Manokwari to Sarong on the far north-western edge of the Vogelkop Peninsula. After arrival and lunch we will spend the afternoon birding the lowlands and foothills surrounding Sorong, covered with excitingly bird-rich selectively-logged and primary rain forests.

Our major targets here are three range-restricted species, which do not occur on Waigeo Island, namely Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher (restricted to West Papua and the north-eastern coast of Papua New Guinea), Red-billed Brushturkey (restricted to the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua), and Black Lory (endemic to West Papua).

We will also keep our eyes open for other interesting birds in this area, including

three bird-of-paradise species, namely Magnificent Rifle bird and King and Lesser Birds-of-paradise, the endemic Moluccan King Parrot, Red-bellied and Hooded Pittas, Black Cicada bird, and, on a night outing, hopefully Large-tailed and Papuan Night jars, Papuan Frog mouth, and Papuan Boo book.

Overnight: Sorong hotel

Days 8 – 10. Waigeo Island

In the morning of Day 8 we will transfer by speedboat from Sorong to Waigeo Island across the Indonesian Dampier Strait (sometimes also known as Augusta’s Strait). During the three-hour ride we will look out for pelagic species like Pomarine Skua, Lesser Frigatebird, Bulwer’s Petrel, Streaked and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, and Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel.

Waigeo, where we will be based for three nights, is the largest island in the Raja Ampat Islands, an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals, located off the northwest tip of the Bird’s Head Peninsula. These islands are the home of three endemics, comprising the exquisite Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise with its bright cerulean-blue, bare crown, crises-crossed with fine black lines, the crimson-plumed Red Bird-of-paradise, and the recently re-discovered Waigeo Brush turkey (unfortunately a very tough bird, which may not easily be found). Other birding highlights on these islands include Western Crowned Pigeon (one of the trio of New Guinea crowned pigeons – the world’s largest pigeons), Pheasant Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, and Great-billed Parrot.

During our time on Waigeo we also hope to encounter, among a multitude of others, Blyth’s Hornbill, New Guinea Friarbird, Southern Variable and Raja Ampat Pitohuis, Hooded and Black Butcher birds, Marbled Frogmouth, Dusky Megapode, Pygmy and Gurney’s Eagles, Red-necked Crake, New Guinea Bronze wing, Mustached Treeswift, Moluccan King Parrot, Brown-headed Crow, and Glossy-mantled Manucode.

Overnight: Waigeo Island

Day 11. Transfer to Dampier Strait atoll and to Sorong

On our transfer back to Sorong we will make a serious birding stop on one of the tiny atolls in the Dampier Strait. We’ll have lunch there and then enjoy our afternoon search for a number of regional small island specialties, including the prasinorrhous subspecies of White-ribbed Fruit Dove, Olive Honeyeater, Island Whistler, Rufous Fantail, and Lemon-bellied White-eye.

Other species we might be able to find here include Dusky Megapode, Beach Kingfisher, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Varied Honeyeater, and Metallic Starling. If we are lucky we also might encounter Violet-necked Lory, Great-billed Parrot, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Great-billed Heron, Island Monarch, and Moluccan Starling.

Toward evening we will continue to Sorong for our farewell dinner and a good night’s rest.

Overnight: Sorong hotel

Day 12. Departure

After breakfast we will transfer to Sorong airport for the first morning flight to Jakarta or to other international airports in Indonesia for our flights home. Further info, call: +62812-4762-870-8.

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  • Five Reasons to contact us if you want to experience Papua:

    1. We are Papuan Guides from Yali and other tribes and speak English fluently
    2. We offer only personalized treks with small groups
    3. We are the company! So no additional cost for middlemen or travel agents
    4. We are committed to Eco Tourism: Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos
    5. Your satisfaction is guaranteed
  • Content

    • Baliem-Dani
      • 3 Days Adventure-Papua
      • 3 days Dani trekking
      • 4 days trekking in Baliem
      • 4D/3N Baliem Valley Hiking
      • 6 Days Baliem valley Treks
      • 7 Days southern Dani treks
      • 8 days Baliem Gorge Treks
      • 8 days Baliem valley
      • 8 Days Yali remote treks
      • Baliem mini treks
      • Baliem Treks
      • Baliem Valley Excursion
      • Baliem valley Festival-2021
      • Baliem Valley Festival-2021
      • Baliem valley gorge treks
      • Baliem valley tour Program
      • Baliem valley trekking
      • Baliem valley Trekking
      • Baliem valley Treks
      • Cultural tour in Baliem valley
      • Dani tribe adventure, Papua
      • Dani tribe Treks
      • Five days in Dani tribe
      • Hagen Festival-2021
      • Hagen show 7th-20th August 2021
      • Indigenous Melanesians
      • Info Baliem Valley Festival 2021
      • Jiwika-Wamena Mummy
      • Mt.Wilhem Treks
      • Papua Honeymoon Tour
      • Papua Orchid Bilum
      • Papua Photography adventure
      • Papua private guide
      • Papua: Trekking to the Dani
      • Raja Ampat Tour
      • Remote & authentic cultural tour
      • The Dani Tribe, Papua
      • Trek Trikora Peak
      • Wamena-Papua
      • Baliem mini adventure
    • Korowai
      • #Korowai
      • 10 days Korowai Tribe
      • 13 days Dani & Korowai Tribe adventure
      • 15 days Korowai-Asmat Adventure
      • 8 Days with Korowai-Asmat
      • 9 days Korowai Adventure
      • 9 days Korowai Tribe
      • Asmat Annual Festival
      • Asmat tribe-Papua
      • Indigenous Tribe, The Korowai
      • Into the wild: Korowai
      • Korowai Batu-Southern Papua
      • Korowai tour, Papua
      • Korowai Tree House Tribe
      • Korowai tribe, New Guinea
      • Korowai-Rock
      • Momuna upper Korowai tribe
      • Papua, Korowai tribe
      • Remote Korowai Trip
      • Untouched Korowai Adventure
      • West Papua’s Ancient Tribes
    • Raja 4
      • 10 Days Raja Ampat Trip
      • 15 days BoP Photography
      • 3 Days Raja Ampat
      • 4 days Raja Ampat Trip
      • 5 days Manokwari Tour
      • Baliem-Raja ampat tour
      • Bunaken tour packages
      • Fak Fak Tourism
      • Fallen Paradise Islands
      • Honeymoon-Raja Ampat
      • Kei islands
      • King Ampat
      • Nabire Sharks
      • Nabire Sharks trip Papua
      • Ngurtafur beach-Kei kecil
      • Raja ampat 3 Nights tour
      • Raja ampat adventure
      • Raja ampat Explore
      • Raja ampat Private Tour
      • Raja ampat Tour
      • Raja Ampat Trip
      • Snorkeling Raja Ampat
      • Soa Beach to Nabire Whale sharks
      • Whale shark-Nabire Papua
      • Whale Sharks Tour Papua
    • Our Treks
      • #PapuanBestFoods
      • 10 days to Mamberamo-Fuyu
      • 12 days upper land Yali
      • 15 days trip into deep Papua
      • 16 Days Lani Tribe Trip
      • 2 days Jayapura Tour
      • 3 days tour in Baliem valley
      • 4 Nights Komodo Trip
      • 4D/3N Favorite Jayapura Baliem Valley
      • 5 days trekking to Dani region
      • 7 Days Tour Sepik-PNG
      • 7D/6N itinerary in Baliem valley
      • 8 days cultural tour & festival
      • Adventure in Yali tribe
      • Bromo-Batur Volcano Trip
      • Carstensz Pyramid Expedition
      • Cartensz Peak Expedition-Papua
      • Dani Culture Fetival-2021
      • Explore Yali Tribe
      • Festival Budaya Lembah Baliem
      • Habema-Mount Trikora Peak
      • Hagen Festival & Treks
      • Hagen Festival-2022
      • Into the wild: Yali country
      • Karimui Show Village, 2021
      • Key Islands Tour
      • lake Sentani festival-2021
      • Mamberamo-Fuyu Tribe
        • Mamberamo Expedition
      • Mandala Peak Expedition,Papua
      • Megalithic Site-Doyo Lama
      • Mount Hagen Show
      • Mt.Bromo Tour-3D/2N
      • Mt.Trikora Treks
      • Orangutan-Pangkalan Bun
      • Orangutans Adventure
      • Paniai Tribe tour
      • Papua adventure programs
      • Papua cuisines Filming
      • Papua optional tour programs
      • Papua tour programs
      • Planned Itinerary to Korowai
      • Puncak Jaya Papua
      • Puncak Jaya-7th Summit
      • Puncak Mandala
      • Sepik Highlands Tour
      • Southern Baliem Valley Trekking
      • Stone Burnt Party, Papua
      • Treks – Mount Wilhelm
      • Trikora Peak hikes
      • Tumbuna Festival Tour, May 2021
      • Yali lowland Treks
      • Yali Pocket Dictionary-Papua
      • Yali tribe treks
      • Yoboi village-Tourism Spot
      • The Yali tribe tour, Papua
      • lake Sentani Festival-June 2021
    • Birds
      • #Papua Birds Photography
      • 10 days Nimbokrang-Arfak Birding
      • 11 Days Seram Birding
      • 6 kinds of Paradise bird
      • 6 Nights-7 Days Mt. Hagen Birds Watching
      • Arfak Birding with Hans Mandacan
      • Arfak Birds Tour Highlight
      • Arfak bow birds photography
      • Arfak Endemic Birds
      • Arfak Foot hills birding
      • Arfak foothills birding
      • Aru island Apoda BoP
      • Biak Numfor island Birding
      • Biak-Supiori Wildlife Trip
      • Black Sicklebill-Arfak
      • Lorentz Park Birding
      • Nimbokrang-For Birders
      • Papua birds Photography
      • Papua Butterflies
      • PNG 7 Days birding
      • PNG Festivals 2021
      • Pondok 3-Yabogima birding-Lorentz Park
      • Seram islands Birding-Wallace
      • Snow Mountain-Lorentz Park
      • Solomon Island Birds watching
      • Sulawesi & Wallace Birding
      • Wallace Bird watching
      • Yapen Island Birding
    • Contact
    • West-Papua Environmental
  • Links

    • Melanesians Partners
    • newguineabirdingtrip
    • Papua Tribes

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