Sunday, April 1, 2018

Rainforest Wildlife Watching Tour in Manokwari

This King Bird of Paradise was photographed in Susnguakti forest in the south of Manokwari city, Indonesia.
King Bird of Paradise in Susnguakti forest
of Manokwari
I have just completed a 3-day/ 2-night wildlife watching tour in Susnguakti forest of Manokwari with a Ducth couple. During the tour, we did morning, afternoon, and night walks in the forest to see its animals and plants. From all day walks, we saw Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Birds of Paradise, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Great Cuckoo Dove, Hooded Butcherbird, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, and a brown bird which is perhaps a helmetted friarbird.
We also saw cruiser butterfly, birdwing butterfly Ornithoptera priamus and Swallow-tailed Blue Mountain Butterfly Papilio ulysses.
In the last day before we left our jungle base-camp, our local guide brought a bandicoot that had been caught by a trap. I covered her body, head and front legs and asked a local guide to release the lasso node that was tying her left rear leg. Slowly, she left us and ran into the bush again.

Night Walks in Susnguakti Forest

Night walk tour in Susnguakti forest can be done to watch marsupial animals and nocturnal reptile of New Guinea.
Papua Dragon Lizard
From 2 night walks that we did, we saw glowing mushrooms, very big ground skink lizards (whose length was approximately between 35 and 40 cm), and a Papua dragon lizard, a pygmy toad, cuscus possum and a venomous snake locally called Ular Putih. Susnguakti forest is as a touris destination is suitable for visitors who are physically fit. Before taking a rainforest tour in this place, I highly recommend that visitors take a regular jogging exercise at least three months before the tour.
What to bring
  • To watch birds and wild animals in this tropical rainforest, visitors need to wear a good pair of hiking shoes and socks, wear dark color clothing such as dark green or dark gray t-shirts and pants. 
  • Binoculars, and camera with telephoto lens of up to 600 mm are highly recommended. 
  • For night walk, a hand torch or a head torch will be needed. Don't forget to also bring a rain poncho.

How to get to Manokwari city?

  • If you are interested in visiting Susnguakti forest for wildlife watching need to take an international flight from their country to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. 
  • After that, they could take a domestic flight provided by Garuda, Sriwijaya, and Batik Air to Manokwari city. I could meet you at the airport and organize your tour to Susnguakti forest.
Booking
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp: +6281332245180.

Merchandise

Please, support this blog by buying art drawings and illustrations of wild animals and plants in the form of prints on various products as follows:

Watercolour Sketch of Bird

Watercolour Sketch of Bird
Fruit Dove from Tropical Rainforest

Vector Art Drawing in Inkscape

Vector Art Drawing in Inkscape
Swimming with Whaleshark

Vector art illustration in Inkscape

Vector art illustration in Inkscape
Baby leatherback turtle was reaching for the sea

Drawing of Paradise Bird

Drawing of Paradise Bird
Lesser Birds of Paradise art print on classic T-shirt

Digital Drawing in Autodesk Sketchbook

Digital Drawing in Autodesk Sketchbook
A Couple of Red Bird of Paradise