Mansinam

Mansinam island

Mansinam is a small island close to Manokwari city of West Papua that is good for snorkeling and free diving. The island has got coral reef sites which tourists can swim over to see butterflyfish, damselfish, grouper, moorish idol, anemonefish, parrotfish, sea star, urchin, and even turtles. To enjoy snorkeling and freediving, visitors need to bring their own snorkeling mask, snorkel and fins. Don't forget to bring an underwater camera if you have such as GoPro action camera or Nikon W300
There are unique vegetation in the coastal area of Mansinam. There are kersen (also called Singapore cherry) trees, cattapa, pandanus and beach hibiscus. In addition to snorkeling and freediving, visitors can explore the island by hiking to its highest point where there is the statue of Jesus. German missionaries Carl Wilhelm Ottow, his wife Wilhelmine Auguste Ottow, and J.G. Geissler for the first time began introducing Christianity to the indigenous Papuan people on 5 February 1855. That's why Mansinam is called the island of civilization. Every year, on that date, thousands of people from all corners of the world gather on the island to celebrate the event. They also conduct cultural street parade on the streets of Manokwari city the next day.

Other Tourist Attractions in Manokwari

King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius)

Besides guiding tourists to Mansinam, I also guide tourists to Susnguakti forest of Arfak mountains for visitors who want to watch Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise and Cuscus Possum. Usually, the duration is 3 days/ 2 nights. Hiking and birding are carried out in the mornings, and in the afternoons whereas night walks to find cuscus possum, Papua Dragon Tree Lizard are conducted between 20:30 and 23:00 local time. There is a base camp that is provided for tourists. Mattrasses, pillows, tents, cooking and eating utensils are available too. So, tourists do not need to carry those heavy things to enjoy hiking and wildlife watching in the Susnguakti forest.
As a tour guide, I organize tours to several different places in West Papua such as eastern region in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat, Klabolo forest of Sorong regency, Tambrauw mountains, and Susnguakti forest of Manokwari. The activities are multi-sports. They involve hiking, riverwalk, birding, swimming, snorkeling and freediving.
Booking
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +81332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com to book your adventure tours in Manokwari or other parts of West Papua.

Snorkeling in Raja Ampat and Birding in Sorong

Marine Life in Raja Ampat islands

I often organize snorkeling and birding tour in Raja Ampat and Sorong forest. Visitors who come to West Papua like to enjoy swimming and snorkeling as well as hiking and birding in the forest. Raja Ampat is a must see destination for visitors who wants to see pristine coral reef, with various species of fish such as Butterflyfish, Anemonefish, Moorish Idol, Boxfish, Grouper, and etc. To enjoy snorkeling, visitors need to bring their own snorkel, masks, and fins. A good underwater camera will greatly enhance the swimming and snorkeling experience. Because coral reef is fragile, visitors must maintain their buoyancy to be always on the surface of the sea. Experienced swimmers often practice free diving to see fish and other marine creatures closer. However, for beginning snorkelers, I highly suggest that they use life-jackets that are usually available in every homestay.

Rainbow Bee-eater

I usually organize the tours into 3 days/ 2 nights hiking and camping in Sorong forest + 3 days hiking and snorkeling in Raja Ampat islands. For Sorong ridge forest, the target birds are Helmetted Friarbird, Olive-backed Sunbird, Coconut Lorikeet, Brahminy Kite, Rainbow Bee-eater and Yellow-faced Myna. For Raja Ampat forest, visitors can watch Red Bird of Paradise, Eclectus Parrot, Torresian Crow, Hooded Butcherbird, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Spangled Drongo, Beach Kingfisher, and Willie Wagtail. There are several devices that visitors need to bring in order to enjoy birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong. The ones that I highly recommend are binoculars, spotting scope, head torch, sport-shoes or hiking boots. A field guide book: Birds of New Guinea written by Thane K Pratt and Bruce Beehler will greatly enhance the birding knowledge and identification skill of birdwatchers.

In addition to birds, visitors who go hiking and birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong forests will also see various kinds of tropical vegetation such as large iron-wood tree, jackfruit, or even wild terrestrial orchid flowers.
To share the cost of traveling, I suggest that visitors come in a group of 2 to 4 people.

Getting to Sorong and Raja Ampat

To go to Sorong city and Raja Ampat, you need to fly from your country to Jakarta city - the capital of Indonesia. Depending on where you live, you can take such airlines as Air Asia, KLM, or Lufthansa.

When you arrive in Jakarta, you can take a domestic flight to Sorong city. Several Indonesian airlines provide regular flight service to Sorong. Some of them are Garuda, Batik, Sriwijaya, Nam Air and Lion.

I will meet you at the airport and organize your trip both to the ridge forest of Sorong and to Raja Ampat islands.

Booking

 If you are interested in taking the tours that I offer, please, contact me by whatsapp: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com
Also read:
Snorkeling Raja Ampat
What is Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat Snorkeling and Birding Tour