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Tuesday, March 30, 2021

HPI Sorong Mulai Melayani Wisatawan Asing di Tahun 2021

Himpunan Pramuwisata Indonesia Cabang Kabupaten Sorong mulai melayani wisatawan asing ke Kampung Malagufuk Lembah Klasow tahun ini. Wisatawan asing tersebut adalah 1 keluarga dari Inggris berjumlah empat orang (bapak, ibu dan 2 anak). Mereka tinggal dan bekerja di Jakarta dan telah menjalani tes yang menyatakan bahwa mereka dalam keadaan sehat serta bebas Covid-19.

wisatawan asing di Papua Barat
Wisatawan Inggris di hutan Lembah Klasouw Sorong

Perjalanan wisata tersebut ditangani langsung oleh Ketua DPC HPI Kabupaten Sorong Maichel Mobalen dan para anggota lainnya dari tanggal 28 - 30 Maret 2021, bekerja sama dengan bidang promosi pariwisata DPD HPI Papua Barat Charles Roring.

Selama berada di hutan, mereka mengamati burung-burung tropis Papua seperti Cendrawasih Kuning Kecil, Kasuari, Kakaktua, Taun-taun dan lain-lain. 

Aktivitas pengamatan burung dan satwa liar tersebut berlangsung lancar dan aman. Warga kampung yang sudah terbiasa menerima kunjungan wisatawan domestik dan manca-negara di daerahnya merasa senang karena mereka bisa menerima lagi kedatangan wisatawan asing. 

Kunjungan wisatawan ke Tanah Papua telah membantu masyarakat untuk mendapatkan lapangan kerja. Para pemuda bekerja sebagai pemandu di hutan sedangkan ibu-ibu menyiapkan makanan untuk para wisatawan. Bahan makanan juga dibeli dari para petani di kampung.

 Setelah menyelesaikan perjalanan wisata di hutan Sorong, mereka melanjutkan perjalanan wisata selanjutnya ke Raja Ampat. Ditulis oleh Charles Roring DPD HPI Papua Barat

Monday, March 15, 2021

Wildlife Watching in Wondama Regency

Tropical rainforest of Wondama regency is the natural habitat of a lot of species of plants and animals. There are mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. There are also various kinds of plants that are used by the indigenous people to build houses, boats; to make fishing and household tools or hunting equipment. Certain plants such as sago, sweet potatoes and breadfruit tree provide food for local people. Rainforest has got herbs which are important ingredients for making traditional medicines.

Plants and animals in the forest and coral reef of Wondama regency
Some wildlife in Wondama regency

When we travel to Wondama regency, we can visit its rainforest environments from the mangrove forest in tidal area to the lowland and hill forest along the coastal region, and even to higher montane or cloud forest in Wondiboy nature reserve. 

We can explore the forest to watch cuscus possum, soa-soa monitor lizards, bandicoot, snakes, beautiful butterflies, and hundreds of species of birds. 

wildlife watching and birdwatching tour in Wondama regency
Rainforest in Wondama regency

Birds that can be watched in rainforest of Wondama include Magnificent Riflebird, Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Red Myzomela, Lowland Peltop, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, Eclectus Parrot, Double-eyed Fig-parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Black-capped Lory, New Guinea Vulturine Parrot, Blyth's Hornbill, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Oriental Dollarbird, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, and a lot more. 

The building complex of local government of Wondama regency in Rasiei area has got various kinds of flower plants. They attract insects especially colorful butterflies to get the nectar. Some of them include Common Green Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera priamus), Great Eggfly butterfly, Cruiser Butterfly and a lot more. Butterfly watchers can visit this place to watch butterflies in the mornings and in the afternoons.

coastal view of Wondama bay in West Papua province
Mangrove and hill forest in Wondama regency

Nocturnal birds such as Large-tailed Nightjar and Papuan Frogmouth can be watched when visitors, accompanied by local guide, do night walk in the jungle. Sometimes, birdwatchers may see birds that sleep on the lower branches of trees and shrub plants. They include Papuan Pitta, Hooded Pitta, Spot-winged Monarch, and etc. The chance to find cuscus possum, snake is higher especially during moonless nights. 

There are a lot of islands in the waters of Wondama regency. Pristine coral reef surround these islands. It is the natural habitat of various species of marine plants and animals. Coral reef is considered as the tropical rainforest of the sea. Visitors need to bring their own snorkeling device in order to see the wealth of bio-diversity of the coral reef.

Wildlife Watching Equipment

Visitors who travel to Indonesia for taking wildlife watching tours in Wondama regency and other parts of West Papua need to bring certain equipment such as binoculars, green light laser pointer, field guide books for birds, mammals, and insects of New Guinea. Flashlight, and camera are also needed. During rainy season, bringing  rain poncho, and plastic bags to cover our body and the above equipment is highly recommended.

How to get to Wondama Regency

It is easy to travel to Wondama. First, visitors need to take international flight from their country to Jakarta - the capital of Indonesia. After that they can take domestic flight to Manokwari city. Official local guides from HPI of West Papua province in Manokwari can meet visitors at the airport and organize their trip to Wondama by passenger boats or by a small turboprop plane.

For further info, please, contact us by sending email message to: dpdhpiwestpapua@gmail.com


by C.R.-DPDHPIPB