Natural Attractions in West Papua

West Papua is a very important destination for anyone who is interested in everything about coral reef and rainforest. Every year, before the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of international visitors went to this region to see the beauty of its marine life and watch the exotic courtship dance of birds of paradise.

There were visitors who were traveling solo or in very small groups of 3 to 4 people and relied on local guide like me to accompany each of them to see tropical reef fish and wildlife in the rainforest. But there were also visitors who came in big groups to enjoy scuba diving using the service of big companies that provide liveaboard scuba diving cruise boats to remote islands in Raja Ampat, Cendrawasih Bay and Triton bay.

As the largest tropical island in the world, New Guinea can be considered as one of the epicenters of biodiversity. The indigenous people depend on the wealth of plants and animals both at sea and in the forest for their survival. They get timber for house construction, herbs for their traditional medicine and animals as their source of protein. Sago trees are cut and processed to produce starch and coconut fruits are grated, squeezed to produce coconut milk. This milk could be boiled to make cooking oil.

A German tourist was  enjoying snorkeling in Raja Ampat

 

European visitors were watching birds of paradise in Susnguakti forest of Manokwari

A European Tourist was watching King Bird of Paradise in Susnguakti forest of Manokwari

A British visitor was making chilli sauce when taking a multiple day camping tour in the jungle of Manokwari

Coral reef and tropical rainforest absorb CO2 gas that we emit every day from our farming, household, industrial, and transportation activities. They are also the largest deposit of plants and animals on earth. They have to be protected because science and technology that we develop to improve living standards often need natural resources from these coral reef and rainforest.

Ecotourism is a strategic scheme that I and my friends try to develop in West Papua to generate alternative income for local people and at the same time preserve our nature. We offer multiple day tours to rainforest and coral reef for visitors to enjoy hiking, sightseeing, wildlife watching, snorkeling and other related activities that are environmentally friendly.

Visitors who are interested in taking this tour need to take international flight from their country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia). After that, they can continue their trip to Manokwari city by plane. Airlines such as Batik Air, Sriwijaya Air and Lion Air provide regular flight service between Manokwari and other major cities in Indonesia. 

There are hotels, lodges, inns, restaurants, shops and supermarkets in Manokwari city to cater the needs of visitors before and after their trip to remote coral reed and mountainous areas. When visitors spend a few days in the jungle, tents, sleeping bags and other camping equipment will be needed. In Susnguakti forest of Manokwari, we have prepared them for visitors. In Mount Soyti of Arfak range, comfortable guesthouses are available. For traveling to other remote forests, beaches or islands, we can arrange an accommodation inba homestay in a village or we use camping equipment.

I can meet visitors at the airport or hotel in Manokwari and organize their tours to remote places in West Papua.

Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.