Adventure Birding 'n Outdoors in New Guinea's Wild West
Panoramic view of Lake Sentani near the town of the same name in the northern lowlands. Copyright ©
Like Wijaya
Explore northern lowlands
Outdoors break │ 5 days/4 nights
We begin our exploration of West Papua's northern lowlands with two relaxed half a day's excursions highlighting
the historic importance of Lake Sentani, near the town of the same name and in the shadow of the imposing Cyclops Mountains. Next
morning we set out to our secluded Muaib jungle camp in pristine alluvial lowland forest for a three days' exploration of its rich
and colorful biota. Showcasing a forest wallaby, two large-bodied marsupial cuscuses, a man-sized flightless cassowary, two
megapodes, a delightful crowned pigeon, and a whopping eight species of bird-of-paradise, this place has everything to make for an
exciting first introduction to New Guinea's exquisite terrestrial wildlife.
When?
Possible year-round, but most certainly best from June to November.
Scheduled departures
Please inquire for details on our upcoming departures.
Physical effort
Reasonable physical fitness and good agility are required for this tour which plies some challenging terrain.
Tour summary
Day 1 Sentani and Lake Sentani.
Day 2 Sentani and northern lowlands.
Day 3 Northern lowlands.
Day 4 Northern lowlands and Sentani.
Day 5 Sentani.
Tour description
Day 1 │ Sentani and Lake Sentani
Morning arrival at Jayapura's Sentani Airport on overnight domestic flight from Jakarta or alternative gateway. We will be there
to welcome you at the airport, and we shall soon set out together on the 20 minutes' drive by chartered vehicle to the
little-known rock paintings of nearby Lake Sentani and immerse ourselves in the rich history of this scenic area, which may well
have been linked by trade to mainland Southeast Asia as early as 5,000 years ago.
The Sentani area gained archeological fame due to the large number of prehistoric bronze artifacts that have been recovered there,
all of which date from the first few centuries since the beginning of date count and therefore are being associated with the
height of an Asian plume trade. Most bronzes are now in museums of course, but some are still held as heirlooms in traditional
ownership. After lunch in town, we shall visit one of Sentani's tribal chiefs, called Ondoapi in this cultural area, for
a firsthand dekko at his bronze collection.
We shall end the day with a relaxed excursion through grasslands, patchy woodlands and sago-groves on the shores of Lake Sentani,
enjoying magnificent views of the precipitous Cyclops Mountains to the north.
Dinner and overnight in our partnering Sentani hotel.
Day 2 │ Sentani and northern lowlands
We shall enjoy a nocturnal breakfast in our Sentani hotel and set out on the one hour's drive by chartered 4WD-vehicle to our
drop-off point west of the Cyclops Mountains.
After arrival here around dawn, we shall hike all day toward our secluded Muaib jungle camp at c. 5 m elevation in pristine
alluvial primary forest, enjoying a packed lunch en route. Along the walk wacko hornbills, majestic cockatoos and noisy lories may
fly overhead as we familiarize ourselves with some of the more conspicuous forest birds.
Following dinner at camp, a nocturnal foray in the vicinity could bring us up close with a weird-looking frogmouth, a pleasantly
confiding forest wallaby, the White-striped Dorcopsis, or cuddly arboreal marsupials like the Common Spotted Cuscus and
Black-spotted Cuscus.
Overnight in tented camp.
Day 3 │ Northern lowlands
Wake up to a true day in paradise as we shall be spending most of this morning at known display sites of consecutively the
Twelve-wired, Lesser and King Bird-of-paradise. Moreover, while sitting quietly in the forest, admiring the full array of display
postures of these most magnificent of feathered life forms, we also stand an excellent chance of seeing other hot stuff like
Northern Cassowary or one of the megapodes casually walking by.
After lunch back at camp, we shall hike all afternoon through riverine forest where it should not take long before we feast our
eyes on a party of delightful Victoria Crowned Pigeons as they lift off with clapping wing beats from the forest floor to alight
in nearby emergent trees.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight in tented camp.
Day 4 │ Northern lowlands and Sentani
Following breakfast and a final morning excursion, we shall have an earlier than usual lunch at camp and hike back to our pick-up
point where vehicles stand by to transport us to Sentani.
Dinner and overnight in Sentani hotel.
Day 5 │ Sentani
We shall enjoy breakfast in our Sentani hotel and transfer you to Sentani Airport to check you in for the first morning flight to
Jakarta or alternative destination.
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