PAPUA:
Papua, Biak, Numfor, Arfak Mountains and Batanta+Salawati (Sorong)
23 days
Departs: 7 August 2013
Price: US$ 5200 (minimum 2 persons)
General information:
This is a 23 day long bird trip Papua (the outskirts of Foya mountains, Biak and Numfor). The price is low, because we have chosen to travel by cheap local transport, when there is an option. When we're out birding, there are no hotels. We stay in local houses where the accomodation is simple and rooms have to be shared. Toilets and washing facilities will be very basic, but available in every village we stay. Bring your own sleeping matress and mosquito net. Sleeping bags are not necessary - a sarong or blanket is enough.
The trekking will be moderate to tough (tough in Arfak Mountains). In Taja we will use motorbikes - with experienced drivers - to get closer to the birds.
Regarding the itinerary; we travel in a develloping country, where flight schedules change without notice and forces of nature are powerful. An openminded and flexible attitude towards sudden changes will be helpful.
Health:
As we travel off the beaten track, it will be far to doctors and hospitals. Please be prepared with your prescribed medicines from your local doctor. Be sure to take the enoculations that your doctor prescribes. Malaria vaccine is mandatory as Papua is infested with malaria.
The trip starts and ends in Denpasar, Bali.
Day1: Flight from Bali to Sentani on Papua (6 hours). We bird around Sentani and the lake, while we wait for our travel permit to be issued. Night in hotel in Sentani – if we don't find a nightbus to Taja.
Day 2: We start our 6 hour long journey to Taja in the outskirts in the Foya mountains by local bus or by chartered jeep. We'll settle with the local families in Taja and contact the local police that we have arrived.
Day 3-6: We bird around in the forests around Taja. Here we can see Pesquet's parrot, Variable and Hooded pitohui, lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise , Pale-billed sicklebill and Crinkle-collared manucode.
Day 7: We travel back to Sentani (about 6 hours). Birding Lake Sentani in the afternoon. Night at hotel.
Day 8: We take the morning flight from Sentani to Biak . Check in at the local hotel before we travel to the north of the island to see black-winged lory and Biak Paradise kingfisher. In the afternoon we'll treat ourselves to a swim in the Pacific Ocean . If the local fishermen have been lucky we'll buy some fresh tuna for dinner. Back to the hotel at night.
Day 9-10: We'll bird eastern and northern Biak to see Biak white-eye, Long-tailed and metallic starlings, Biak flycatcher and Emeperor fairy-wren. If we're really lucky we might even see the elusive Biak Monarch. Nights at hotel.
Day 11: We fly (30 min) or go by boat (approximately 8 hours) from Biak to Numfor. We bird alongside the airport and neighbouring villages.
Day 12-13: We'll go to the south of Numfor and bird for: Numfor paradise kingfisher, Yellow-eyed Cuckooshrike, Eclectus parrot, Red-cheeked parrot, Geelvink pygmy parrot, Yellow-bibbed and Claret-breasted fruit-doves and Torresian Imperial Pigeon. We'll stay with local families in houses on stilts on the water. One night we'll have a traditional barbeque (baropen) where a whole pig is barbequed under heated lava stones.
Day 14: We'll go to Manokwari by boat (approx. 4 hours) and start with reporting to the local police. We'll continue to Mokwam in the Arfak mountains by 4x4 Jeep. It's a tough travel, but it will have its reward when we meet Seth Wonggor, the local bird expert.
Day 15-17: We'll stay in Seth's guest house and follow him to his three hides. He built these for watching Magnificent Bird Of Paradise, Vogelkop Bowerbird and Western parotia. We also hope to see Long-tailed Paradigalla, Mountain peltops, Black-breasted boatbill among others. In the afternoon of day 18 we'll go back to Manokwari. Night 18 in hotel.
Day 18: A short flight from Manokwari to Sorong. We'll bird in the outskirts of the town and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 19: We'll go to Batanta by boat (3-4 hours) and bird around the village. We hope to see Red Bird of Paradise and Blue-breasted Pitta here. Night with local people.
Day 20-22: We'll wake up at 04.00 to climb the mountain before sunrise. We hope to see Wilsons Bird of Paradise this morning. They start playing just before sunrise. Night with local people. If we got Wilsons BOP already day 20 or 21, we could continue by boat to Salawati for another chance to see King Bird of Paradise – if we missed it in Foya mountains. In the afternoon back by boat to Sorong. Night at hotel.
Day 23: Flight from Sorong back to Denpasar, Bali via Biak .
The price includes:
An English-speaking guide (Mehd Halaouate) at all times and local guides. (Mehd is also fluent in Indonesian, French and Swedish.)
All domestic flights, including tax and transfers.
All local transport when we're out birding.
Local guides.
All accomodation and all meals when staying in local villages.
All hotel nights including breakfast.
The price does not include:
Air fare from your country to Denpasar, Bali.
Visa to Indonesia. (Please contact the Indonesian Embassy.)
Tipping guides and the local families we stay with.
Lunch and dinner whhile staying in hotels.
Drinks.
Note:
Accomodation in remote areas can be very basic and rooms have to be shared.
Contact:
Please contact Mehd Halaouate for further information.
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