Local Photography Tour Companies and Guides

Sultan Birding is the Wildlife Photography and Birding Tour Companies in Indonesia offer different photography tours and trips catering for the beginner to the photography expert. Contact Sultan Birding, a local Wildlife Photography and Birding Tour Companies and Guides to enquire directly about your next photography journey and birdwatching trip to Indonesia including Sulawesi, West Papua for Birds of Paradise, Halmahera, Flores and Bali. Bird photography offered can either be photography specific.

Bird of Paradise Tour : Waigeo, Arfak, Nimbokrang and Fakfak

Northern Cassowary from Malagufuk, Image by Monal
West Papua has around 386 endemic species, 117 of these being non-passerines and 269 passerines. West Papua and Papua is blessed with a great abundance of forest in extremely challenging terrain, and this has thus far enabled many of the island ecosystems to remain relatively intact. The big pluses offered by West Papua include essentially a new bird fauna, particularly for songbirds, for example, the wonderful birds of paradise, bowerbirds, fruit-doves, pigeons, parrots, and kingfishers. West Papua is best considered a specialty destination, to be savored after gaining a seasoned grasp of birding in the tropical world. Whether a resident or a visitor, you will find bird-watching in West Papua a challenge, albeit an exciting one. Thus, it pays to plan and be prepared. Birding in West Papua can produce amazing rewards but also offers up no shortage of hazards and frustrations. The resident novice or newly 
arriving visitors to West Papua will soon discover that although birds of the open country are
Western Parotia from Arfak, Image by Monal

conspicuous and easy to study, the forest-dwelling species typically are often less common, more selective, and difficult to observe. This phenomenon is common in tropical humid forest environments around the world. Patience and repeated effort provide the only antidote to the frustrations created by those rare species that defy locating on one’s first few field trips.  In nearly all West Papua habitats, bird activity is greatest at dawn and shortly thereafter. It pays to be afield early. By 10 a.m. it is usually quiet, especially in the lowlands, unless rain brings cooler conditions.  Hunting has been continuous for thousands of years, but at low-impact largely sustainable levels until very recently, when modern technology and the vastly increased human population pressure have tipped the balance. It is often asked why West Papua and Papua birds are so shy in many areas, and the response usually involves reference to hunting pressures, although this seems a tad glib and doubtless other factors are operating.

Summary West Papua birding: Waigeo - Arfak - Nimbokrang - Biak
Day 1: Sorong - Waigeo
Day 2: Waigeo
Day 3: Waigeo
Day 4: Waigeo - Sorong
Day 5: Sorong – Manokwari - Arfak
Day 6: Arfak
Day 7: Arfak
Day 8: Arfak - Manokwari
Day 9: Manokwari – Jayapura - Nimbokrang
Day 10: Nimbokrang
Day 11: Nimbokrang
Day 12: Nimbokrang - Jayapura
Day 13: Jayapura - Biak
Day 14: Biak
Day 15: Biak – Next destination

Summary West Papua birding: Nimbokrang - Arfak - Malagufuk - Waigeo
Day 1: Jayapura - Nimbokrang
Day 2: Nimbokrang
Day 3: Nimbokrang - Jayapura
Day 4: Jayapura – Manokwari - Arfak
Day 5: Arfak
Day 6: Arfak
Day 7: Arfak - Manokwari
Day 8: Manokwari – Sorong - Malagufuk
Day 9: Malagufuk
Day 10: Malagufuk - Sorong
Day 11: Sorong - Waigeo
Day 12: Waigeo
Day 13: Waigeo
Day 14: Waigeo - Sorong
Day 15: Sorong – Next destination

Summary West Papua birding: Arfak - Malagufuk - Waigeo - Fakfak
Day 1: Manokwari - Arfak
Day 2: Arfak
Day 3: Arfak
Day 4: Arfak – Manokwari - Sorong
Day 5: Sorong - Malagufuk
Day 6: Malagufuk
Day 7: Malagufuk – Sorong - Waigeo
Day 8: Waigeo
Day 9: Waigeo
Day 10: Waigeo - sorong
Day 11: Sorong – Fakfak
Day 12: Fakfak
Day 13: Fakfak
Day 14: Fakfak – Sorong
Day 15: Sorong – Next destination


Bird of Paradise Tour Sample Itinerary for 2023
Day 1:Arrival Sorong – Waigeo Island
The tours begin with your arrival in Sorong and then will be transferred directly to Waigeo island with a fast and comfortable express boat. On Waigeo island you will stay 3 nights in a comfortable resort with great views both from the beach to the forest. This island located in the Raja Ampat archipelago arguably boasts the most wanted birds on the tour. The display sites of both Red Bird-of-paradise and the awe-inspiring Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise will be visited during our days on the island. To make it even better, these sites are easy to reach after short 10-30 minute walks.

Day 2: Waigeo Island
Just a few of many species that we might encounter include Blyth’s Hornbill, Eclectus Parrot, Emperor Fairywren, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, and Papuan Drongo. 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 15 to 20 minutes to drive to the stop point and we continue to walk around 5 to 10 minutes to the hide. The afternoon schedule will be the following.

Day 3:Waigeo Island
In addition to the aforementioned ‘BoP’s, the lowlands of this island offer a huge list of birds, including the localized Raja Ampat Pitohui, the incredible Western Crowned Pigeon, Great-billed and Moluccan King- Parrots, Claret-breasted, Orange-bellied, and Dwarf Fruit-Doves, Palm Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Yellow-faced Myna, Papuan Pitta, elusive White-eared Catbird, 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 20 minutes to the stop point and walk for 30 minutes to the hide. You can enjoy the bird playing until lunchtime and we go back. The afternoon schedule will be the following.

Day 4: Waigeo Island – Sorong
We still have one more chance to do birding in the morning before sailing to Sorong. We can start birding earlier in the morning around the village until before lunch.   After returning to Sorong with the express boat, we shall have another afternoon birding into the lowland forests in Sorong with a slew of different lowland forest specialties. Some truly breathtaking birds are possibilities for this afternoon’s excursion: Blue-black Kingfisher will be a major target this afternoon before we depart for the Arfaks tomorrow morning.

Day 5: Sorong – Manokwari – Arfak
After a flight to Manokwari, and a drive with 4WD for around 2 hours, we will arrive at what is arguably the premier birding site on this side of New Guinea, the Arfak Mountains, situated on the northeast of the Bird’s Head (Vogelkop) Peninsula. This part of the island has a rich set of endemics all its own, plus a huge variety of widespread forest species. Tree nights will be spent in a guesthouse at an elevation of 5250ft/1600m, and we will do birding in a range of elevations above and below here.

Days 6-7: Arfak Mountain
With so much to see here, we will spend two full days birding the various forests, gardens, and other secondary habitats that flank the mountains and hold many of the tour’s standout birds. We will visit the display grounds of Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise, Western Parotia, and the bower of the Vogelkop Bowerbird, one of the great architects of the bird world, with an extraordinarily large and decorative bower that far outshines the dour bird itself! While these may arguably be the most famous targets in the mountains, the list of other birds is both extensive and tantalizing, and includes the likes of Vogelkop Superb BoP, Black-billed Sicklebill, Glossy Mantled Manucode, Green-backed Robin, Crinkle-collared Manucode and Spotted Jewel-Babbler. If we are extremely lucky we might catch up with Masked Bowerbird, Vulturine Parrot, or the New Guinea Harpy Eagle.

Day 8: Arfak – Manokwari
After another full day in the Arfaks chasing the last of the best birds of the mountains, we return to Manokwari where we overnight in a comfortable city hotel.

Day 9: Manokwari – Jayapura – Nimbokrang
After taking a morning flight to Sentani, we head for Nimbokrang, and the lowland forests of the north for a three-night stay. In the afternoon we may stake out a clearing that is an excellent site for raptors, pigeons, and the bounty of parrots that grace the Papuan lowlands

Day 10-11: Nimbokrang
This lowland site may be hot and sweaty, but it is loaded with special birds – a major theme on this tour! King Bird-of-paradise, Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Hook-billed, Shovel-billed, and Blue-black Kingfishers are just some of the birds on offer, though all of these species require a combination of luck and effort.

Day 12: Nimbokrang
After a long day in the lowland jungles of Nimbokrang, we return to Sentani for an overnight stay of hot water and a little luxury.

Day 13: Jayapura – Biak
In the morning we will take a flight from Jayapura to Biak Island. After birding around biak to Biak Paradise Kingfisher and other biak endemic.

Day 14: Biak Birding trip
Our Ultimate birding tour starts on the isolated island of Biak in Geelvink Bay, where the old Dutch colonial capital, Bosnik, was located. Much of the original forest which once covered this limestone island has been logged, but all of the nine endemic species can still be found in disturbed forest, including Biak Red Lory, Geelvink Pygmy Parrot, Biak Coucal, Biak Scops Owl, the beautiful Biak Paradise Kingfisher, Biak Black Flycatcher, and Long-tailed Starling, and if we are fortunate Biak Scrubfowl and the rare Biak Monarch.

Day 15: Biak – Jakarta.
After breakfast, transfer our to the airport for your next destination. End of the trip

Location:Sorong, Waigeo Island, Manokwari/Arfak Mountain, Nimbokrang and Biak
Group Size: 6 – 8 Pax
Duration: 15 Days / 14 Nights
Arrival In: Sorong Airport, Papua Barat of Indonesia
Depart From: Biak Airport,  Papua of Indonesia

What is included? :
Accommodations during the trip, Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), Mineral water, Car transport for the group to all sites in the itinerary (4WD in Arfak), Express Boat (VIP Ticket) to get to Waigeo, English Speaking Bird Guide, Entrances to Parks and Reserves, Local guides/Landowner / local park ranger

What is not included?: 
Domestic flight tickets, All personal expenses that are not mentioned on the items above, Tips for optional luggage porters in city hotels, Camera/luggage porters in the jungle, Alcoholic beverages, Visa fees (payable on arrival in Indonesia), Departure tax when leaving Indonesia, Travel insurance, excursions not included in the tour itinerary, extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, room service, telephone calls, Tips to drivers, local guides, and lodge staff, Personal items; medical fees; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included, Any kind of expenditures incurred due to flight cancellation/delays or due to other causes beyond our control.

Payment Terms and Condition
We require a minimum of 50% deposit payment to confirm your booking, we cannot guarantee your booking until this has been received. Bookings will be held for 7 days to allow the client time to send a deposit payment. We reserve the right to release the booking if the deposit is not received within 7 days of the booking being made. Changes of dates to bookings after the deposit has been made can be done but will be subject to availability. Cancelation: Deposit payment No Refund, No show – full payment charge. Full Payment, The full payment will be required at least 30 days prior to your date of arrival. The invoice amount has to be paid in full, net of all transfer costs and bank charges.

LIABILITY
Sultan Birding Tours act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motor coach, boat, or airplane, and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. Sultan Birding Tours Indonesia can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. Baggage is at the owner’s risk entirely. The airlines concerned and their agents and affiliates are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their aircraft.

Magnificent bird-of-paradise, Image by Mohamad Naliko (Monal)

Wilson's bird-of-paradise, Image by Mohamad Naliko (Monal)


Red bird-of-paradise, Image by Mohamad Naliko (Monal)

Birdwatching trip in North Sulawesi October 2022 by Sultan Birding Tours

 Birdwatching trip in North Sulawesi October 2022 by Sultan Birding Tours