Itinerary proposal:
TOUR START/ FINISH; RENDANI AIRPORT MANOKWARI
Day 1 : Arrive Manokwari with GA 690, drive to Arfak Mts with chartered 4WD. Walking around to the forest nearby. Overnight in the simple guest house in elevation 1400m.
Day 2 : Trekking in the morning to the higher elevation (1800m), birding. Lunch in the guest house. Afternoon, visit the lower elevation (1100m), birding walk in the village. Dinner in the guest house.
Day 3 : Trekking to the higher elevation (2200m), lunch in the forest, walk down. Dinner in the guest house.
Day 4 : Transfer back to Manokwari, have lunch in town, transfer to the airport for fly next destination on GA 691 (etd 14.35)
Ends of our services..
Price includes:
Transfer in out, hotel (This price is based on shared rooms. Single rooms will be charged at a slightly higher rate), meals in town & food supply, 4-wheel charter, local house, local guides, porter, donation to village, in town birding and Travel Permit.
Price excludes:
Insurance, domestic flights, flight cancellation, over luggage, camping equipment, any entrance & security fees, laundry and alcoholic drinks.
NOTE : Arguably Papua’s premier birding region, the Arfaks support 9 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 colourful berries and flowers, and insect parts, to attract females. You will also see the exciting Western Parotia (or Six-wired Bird of Paradise), 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, and 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, whilst quivering his cocked sickle-shaped central tail feathers. Up to seven species of robins may be seen on the mountain trail, also more species of birds and if you are lucky, a Feline or a Mountain Owlet-nightjar
