Ecotourism in Kwau village of Arfak Mountains

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Responsible ecotourism is an alternative job creation solution which I am now promoting for the villages in Arfak Mountains. Arfak Mountains are still covered with tropical rainforest. Inside the forest, there are a lot of species of animals such as kuskus, soa-soa, tree kangaroo, snakes, birds and insects. I promote eco-tourism for this region because I see that day by day the area of the forest is shrinking due to deforestation. People cut the trees to take the logs, and to make way for palm oil plantation. In my opinion, mono-culture palm oil plantation will bring environmental and cultural disaster if it is not wisely regulated by the government. The local indigenous Papuan have to give up their lands in very cheap price for the plantation because they don't have jobs. If tourists come to the mountains and give some financial contribution to the villagers, I believe that they will not easily surrender their lands to the palm oil companies.

Transportation to Kwau village

One of the villages that I am promoting right now is Kwau village. To reach it, we can go by 4WD car. If we go by public transportation, we will pay 80,000 rupiahs/ person (go only) but if we go by a rent car the price will be 1 million rupiahs (go only). The rent car can carry up to 4 passengers with a lot more luggage can be stored at the back of the car. It takes around two and a half hour to reach the Kwau village by car. From the place of your stay in Manokwari city, the capital of West Papua province, go to Wosi market where the terminal of public transportation is and catch a car to Kwau village in Arfak mountains.

Where tourists can stay

At a hill near Kwau village, Hans Mandacan - one of the villagers has built a house for foreign tourists. It is a nice concrete house which can accommodate up to ten tourists or even more. The price range from Rp. 50,000/room to Rp. 100,000/room. Cheaper price can be arranged if tourists stay for more than one week.

Eco-tourism Activities in Kwau village of Arfak Mountains

• Studying Herbal Medicine

Kwau village is located some two kilometers off the main road. It makes it a little more isolated to the outer world. For hundreds of years, the villagers have to supply their own needs based on what are available in nature. From staple food such as sweet potatoes and caladium or cassava to kuskus and bird meat, the indigenous people get them from the forest. Besides food and drink, the indigenous people also rely on plants to cure diseases which they suffer. The chief of the village, Samuel Mandacan, is an expert in traditional herbal medicine. He can explain to tourists the medicinal merit of the plants in healing diseases such as malaria, high fever, intestinal worm and skin diseases, and etc. Samuel Mandacan can even check your health and recommend herbal medicine for you if you feel that you are suffering from a certain disease.

Also read:

Herbal Remedy for Malaria

Herbal Remedy for Papilla Mamae

• Bird Watching

When I was there on 24 and 25 September 2010, I made a little tour around the forest and river area. I saw various species of birds that have beautiful colors. Depending on the species of birds which you want to watch, the walking distances from the tourist house are various. I explained them as follows:

magnificent birds of paradise

There are still a lot of species of birds which you can see in Kwau village if you are willing to spend more time in the forest accompanied by me and local villager. Birds play very important role in forest ecosystem. Besides being an integral part of food chain, birds are the most effective seed dispersers in the rainforest. For example, bird of paradise after eating fruits will fly up to kilometers away and drop the seeds which they ate when they defecate. These seeds will grow in the area and form green vegetation that his important for the other wild animals living in the forest.

• Forest and River Ecosystem

The best time to see or explore the river ecosystem is at night. During this time, various kinds of animals come out. From insects to frogs and from kuskus to snakes. I like doing night walk along the river using flashlight. Usually frogs come out at 8 p.m. Frogs are sensitive to climate change. The global warming that we experience right now directly affect these amphibious animals. When river banks become drier, the population of frogs have to move closer to the water to adapt with the weather. They live on dry land but they need water to survive too. Snakes and soa-soa (a very big lizard usually live in trees) can also be seen if we really search them on trees. For this purpose binoculars are important.

• Nocturnal Animals

To see kuskus, tourists can ask a local villager who is an expert in calling the animal. Kuskus is a nocturnal animal meaning that it only comes out at night. The man will imitate the voice of the kuskus to call it to come down of the tree where he is hiding. When we hope that the kuskus will come, sometimes its predator - snake - is the one that comes instead. Besides kuskus, tourists can also see tree kangaroo if they are willing to walk further down the slope.

What you have to bring when traveling to Kwau village in Arfak Mountains

Kwau village is located some 1600 meters above sea level. This makes it as a cool area. The following are some of the things which tourists should bring when traveling to Arfak mountains

• warm clothing

• soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, detergent

• sleeping bats or sheets (if you want to stay in the forest)

• small tent for camping (if you want to stay in the forest waiting for lesser bird of paradise)

• flash light,

• candles

• mosquito repellent lotion

• toilet paper

• hiking shoes

• first aid kit

• foods and drinks

• Costs for traveling to Kwau village in Arfak Mountains

  1. Rented car from Manokwari to Kwau village Rp. 1 million rupiahs ( go only)

  2. Public transport Manokwari to Kwau village Rp. 80,000/ person (go only) - highly recommended for budget travellers

  3. Accommodation in tourist house that belongs to Hans Mandacan range from Rp. 50,000/room/night

  4. A cook to help you cook food Rp. 50,000 - 100,000/day depending on the number of people she has to cook for. Just give her the raw materials of the food and she will cook for you.

  5. Local Papuan guide to bring you around the forest Rp. 100,000/day

  6. Tourist contribution to the village treasure Rp. 50,000 per person (the money goes to land rights, church and school).

Personally, as a tourist guide who promotes this Kwau village, I have a good relationship with the local indigenous people living there. If there are budget travelers who want a more affordable price for the tourism services, I can talk to the villagers about it but please, inform me at least one month before your arrival in Manokwari city. by Charles Roring

Also read:

Where is Manokwari How can I get there?