Fakfak, Klasow Valley, Waigeo
Overview
Upcoming Bird Photography Trips in West Papua in 2024 and 2025
West Papua is the Indonesian part of the mysterious enormous island that’s home to the most beautiful and weird creatures on earth. In the vast unspoiled forests live the incredible Birds-of-Paradise, on the wish list of every birder and nature lover. But also an enormous amount of endemic kingfishers, bowerbirds, fruit-doves, frogmouths, parrots, and honey-eaters are awaiting you. The infrastructure and security have improved a lot, so visiting the area is no longer an exhausting and risky expedition (although not an easy ride either). Visiting West Papua is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and on the wish list of every serious bird Photographer.
Itinerary
Papua Birds Photo Trip
Fakfak, Klasow Valley, Malagufuk, Arfak Mountains, Waigeo
17 days / 16 nights
Day 1: Sorong Airport – Fakfak
Sorong Airport to catch the Wings Air flight to Fakfak at 10 AM. Arrive in Fakfak, first, we will transfer to the hotel which takes about a 1.5-hour drive from the new airport of Fakfak to the Grand Papua Hotel for check-in and lunch. Afternoon trip to Cagar Alam Fakfak Barat to Photograph the southern cassowary. Night at Grand Papua Hotel
Day 2: Fakfak Nature Reserve – Magnificent Riflebird
Early morning breakfast at 4 am. We have to leave the hotel at 4.30 am, to drive about 25 minutes to the site. We will photograph the Magnificent Riflebird from the hide. On the same day, we can also photograph the Papuan Pitta from the hide as well. Night at Grand Papua Hotel
Day 3: Fakfak Nature Reserve – Sorong – Klabili Village
Early morning breakfast at 4 am. We have to leave the hotel at 4.30 am, to drive about 25 minutes to the site. Around 10 am we check out from the hotel and then to the airport for a flight to Sorong, Continue to Klabili Village
Day 4: Klasow Valley
After early morning breakfast, then the morning trip, we will walk for 30 minutes to reach the spot of the twelve-wired Bird of Paradise. For the afternoon trip, we will try to photograph the Lesser Bird of Paradise. Or might also try to photograph Papuan Pitta from the hide. Night at Klabili Guesthouse.
Day 5: Klasow Valley – Malagufuk
Morning photo trip for Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Blue Black Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, and King Bird of Paradise. Lunch at Klabili Guesthouse then after lunch we will drive 30 minutes to reach the gateway to Malagufuk.
Day 6: Malagufuk Eco Village
Early morning breakfast at 4 am, then we will start to walk at 5 am to the spot of Lesser Bird of Paradise it takes a 1.5-hour walk. From this spot we can continue walking toward the spot of the lesser bird of paradise it takes another 30 minutes to walk. We can also try to see the red-breasted paradise kingfisher.
Day 7: Malagufuk Eco Village
Day 8: Malagufuk Eco Village - Sorong
Day 9: Sorong – Manokwari – Maibri Birding Ecolodge Arfak
Early breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the airport for a Lion Air flight to Manokwari takes about 40 minutes, Arrive at Manokwari Airport then by 4WD to Maibri Village in Arfak, which takes about two hours drive. Lunch will served at Maibri Birding Ecolodge then we will do an afternoon trip for Superb Bird of Paradise.
Day 10: Maibri Birding Ecolodge Arfak
Morning and afternoon, we will focus on photographs of the Western Parotia Bird of Paradise but other clients can also go to the hide (Pondok Burung) of the Superb Bird of Paradise or even to the hide of the Magnificent Bird of Paradise. Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner at Maibri Birding Ecolodge.
Day 11: Maibri Birding Ecolodge Arfak
Morning and Afternoon, we will focus on photographs of the Vogelkop Bowerbird or even the Masked Bowerbird (this is hard to find).
Day 12
Morning bird photo trip, Late afternoon drive to Manokwari for overnight stay
Day 13 Manokwari - Sorong – Waigeo
Breakfast at the hotel then at 7 am departure to the airport for a Lion Air flight to Sorong and then at 2 pm by express public boat to Waigeo.
Day 14
Waigeo, Wilson’s Bird of Paradise
We need to wake up 30 minutes early at 4.30 for breakfast. At 05.00 am we visit the hide of Wilson’s Bird of Paradise until lunch. From our resort, it takes around 25 minutes to drive to the stop point and we continue to walk for around 20 minutes to the hide. The afternoon schedule will be following. Just a few of the many species that we might encounter include Blyth’s Hornbill, Eclectus Parrot, Emperor Fairywren, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, and Papuan Drongo.
Day 15: Waigeo, Red Bird of Paradise
In addition to the aforementioned ‘BoPs, the lowlands of this island offer a huge list of birds, including the localized Raja Ampat Pitohui, Great-billed and Moluccan King- Parrots, Claret-breasted, Orange-bellied and Dwarf Fruit-Doves, Palm Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Yellow-faced Myna, Papuan Pitta, Brown-headed Crow, New Guinea Friarbird, and Golden Monarch and the Waigeo Cuscus. Our morning will start just like yesterday and after all preparation, we step up to the Red Bird of Paradise hide. From the resort, we will drive around 30 minutes to the stop point and walk for 15 minutes to the hide. You can enjoy the bird playing until 8 or 9 am and we go back to the resort for lunch. The afternoon schedule will be following.
Day 16: Waigeo – Sorong
After breakfast, we will transfer by car to the Harbor of Waisai for a comfortable public boat to depart at 9 am back to Sorong. From Sorong Harbor, you will transfer to your hotel in Sorong, Lunch at the hotel. The afternoon trip starts at 3 pm to the mangrove for Little Kingfisher. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Night at Swiss Belhotel Sorong.
Day 17: Sorong – Jakarta. End
Date & Price
Tour Code | Travel Date | Travel Time | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Fakfak, Klasow Valley, Arfak, Waigeo | 2024-03-27 - 2024-03-27 | 17 day |