Ecotourism Attractions of Wondama Regency

Wondama regency in West Papua province of Indonesia is a very important destination for anyone who is interested in seeing the wealth of biodiversity of rainforest and coral reef of New Guinea. 

Wondama is a regency in West Papua province

Tropical Forest

Nature lovers who travel to Wondama are able to visit a lot of places to watch wildlife in the forest or see colorful fish and unique corals and marine creatures. While walking in the forest, visitors will be able to see such birds as Eclectus Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Black-capped Lory, Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Blyth's Hornbill, Grey Crow, Lowland Peltop, Red Myzomela, and a lot of other birds in the forest.  

The rainforest of Wondama is also the natural habitat of soa-soa monitor lizard, snakes, wild boar, cuscus possum, butterfly, beetle, and etc.

Marine Life 

 As a maritime regency, Wondama has got a lot of islands and coastal areas. Pristine coral reef ecosystem thrive in Wondama. We can enjoy swimming and snorkeling over it to see various species of tropical fish and marine creatures. Anemonefish, moorish idol, sweetlips, grouper, butterflyfish, have got unique shapes and colours that attract the attention of snorkelers. Bringing waterproof underwater camera will be useful for taking pictures of these beautiful fish. Sea star, sea cucumber, christmas tree worm can also be seen in Wondama's waters.

Wondama has got plenty of beautiful places
for visitors to see

Dutch Influence

During early 1900s, the Dutch built the first teachers training school in Aitumieri hill in Wondama Bay to provide education for the indigenous Papuan people. The buildings of the school could still be seen by visitors who go to the hill. 

The People of Wondama and their Livelihood

The people of Wondama live as farmers, and fishermen. They also depend on the natural resources from the sea and the forest to get their food, and materials for their working tools, kitchen equipment and wooden boats and house constructions. The staple food of the indigenous people in Wondama is sago flour which they cook to make papeda. Papeda is eaten with fish soup and vegetables. Sago paste can also be baked so it can last for longer period of time. People bring them when they want to travel to other towns, remote villages or islands. This baked sago is hard and will become soft when dipped in hot tea or coffee. So, it can be eaten like biscuits.

How to get there?

1. You need to take international flight from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia), or Denpasar Bali (a tourism hub in Indonesia).
2. Take a domestic flight to Manokwari city. Airlines such as Batik, Sriwijaya Air and Lion Air provide regular daily flight service between Manokwari and major cities in Indonesia.
3. We could meet you at a hotel or at the airport of Manokwari and organize your trip by passenger boat or by small passenger plane to Wondama.

Flight Route from Jakarta and Denpasar to Manokwari city and then to Wondama regency

If you are interested in spending your holiday time in Wondama and want us to organize your tour and guide you, you could contact:

The Indonesian Tourist Guide Association of Wondama regency

• Rio Suabey
• Eky Sawaki: +62 812 4893 1154
• Amsal Tinoring: +6282197937120

Or

Department of Culture and Tourism

Wondama Bay Regency

Address:

Jalan Raya Rasiei Kompleks Perkantoran

RASIEI, TELUK WONDAMA

West Papua Province, Indonesia

E-mail: disparbudtelukwondama.info@gmail.com

This article was written by Charles Roring +6281332245180.

Yoga Exercise at Sea

There is a Yoga Club in Wondama regency of Indonesia. Its name is Yogis Wondama. Visitors who take their vacation to Wondama town can exercise with members of this club. Yoga can harmonize our physical, mental and spiritual condition so that we will always above positive energy when we face challenges in our life. Yoga can calm the mind and strengthen the body of the person who exercises regularly.

In addition to practicing yoga, visitors can explore the tropical rainforest of Wondama Bay to see its unique plants and animals. There are orchid flowers, giant tropical trees, various bamboo plants, hibiscus flowers, a lot of species of birds, insects, and reptiles.

The beach and coral reef in Wondama Bay

The beaches in Wondama have got pristine coral reef that is teeming with beautiful marine life. Various species of fish such as anemonefish, parrotfish, wrasse, grouper, and butterflyfish can be seen while visitors enjoy swimming and snorkeling. 

It is important to bring snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel and swimming fins), camera, and binoculars if visitors want to see the wealth of biodiversity of coral reef and rainforest of Wondama regency. 

Wondama is an important destination for tourists who are nature lovers. And I highly recommend it for anyone who plans to visit West Papua province of Indonesia.  A tour package with customized itinerary and cost can be prepared for you.

Flight Route to Rasiei (the capital of Wondama regency)

Domestic flights to Manokwari city are offered by such airlines as Batik, Lion Air and Sriwijaya. Local guides in Manokwari city can meet and organize your trip to Wondama by a small Cessna caravan passenger plane or by a passenger boat. For more info, please, contact us by using form on the right side of this website or by sending message to DPC HPI TELUK WONDAMA

Eky Sawaki: +62 812 4893 1154

Amsal Tinoring: +6282197937120

Also read: 

• How to go to Wondama regency?
• Wondama - A Beautiful Destination for Nature Lovers

Traditional Extraction of Sago Starch in Wondama Bay

Sago the Staple Food of the Indigenous People in Wondama Bay which is an important tourist destination in West Papua province of Indonesia.

The indigenous people who live in the islands and along the coastal region have got staple food locally called sagu (English: sago). Actually sago is the staple food of the Papuan people who live in lowland regions where sago palm trees grow. 

How the sago starch was extracted from its pith using traditional tools

Traditionally sago starch is extracted from the pith inside the trunk of an adult sago tree which is ready to be harvested. Usually, a family who is going to harvest sago will prepare tools such as machete, axe, bucket, filter, and hoe pounder, or sago pith chopper to rasp the sago pith. 

Most of the families in Wondama regency have replaced the traditional hoe or pith chopper with grating machine.

The area around the sago tree will be cleared. The trunk will also be cleaned. After a simple prayer to praise God and ask for protection during the sago processing works, the tree is cut and felled. The trunk is cleaned from vines, spikes, and leaves. The trunk is split lengthwise. The pith can be rasped by using the traditional hoe pounder or by a grating machine. 

Girls from Rumberpon island were performing traditional dance to visitors

The rasped pith is then kneaded and washed with water where sago starch is removed from its coarse fiber. The water containing sago starch will pass through a screen and channeled to a settling container where the sago starch is collected and the excess water is removed.

Sago starch in the container made of leaves will be carried home. Some is sold in the market, and given to relatives. Some is used for family consumption. Sago starch as staple food is cooked to make papeda or baked to make bread and biscuits. Dried sago flour can be kept for longer period of time and transported to other villages and towns. 

Visitors who are interested in seeing and participating in the process of the extraction of sago starch can go to Wondama regency. They can try rasping the sago pith using traditional hoe pounder and kneading the rasped pith to extract the starch as well as working in the kitchen to make papeda, and any kind of cakes made of sago flour.

Ecotourism attractions in Wondama regency (its capital is Rasiei)

In addition to seeing the extraction of sago starch, visitors can also enjoy other ecotourism activities while traveling in Wondama regency. They can enjoy swimming, snorkeling to see the beautiful marine life or do hiking in the forest to see its unique plants and animals. Hiking and camping, birdwatching and wildlife watching along the sides of a river can also be organized. 

The Indonesian Tourist Guide Association of Wondama regency

• Rio Suabey: +62 821 9869 4761
• Eky Sawaki: +62 812 4893 1154
• Amsal Tinoring: +6282197937120

Or

Department of Culture and Tourism

Wondama Bay Regency

Address:

Jalan Raya Rasiei Kompleks Perkantoran

RASIEI, TELUK WONDAMA

West Papua Province, Indonesia

E-mail: disparbudtelukwondama.info@gmail.com

If you are interested in taking an ecotour to Wondama regency, you can contact us by sending email to wondamatourism@gmail.com or by using contact form on the right side of this website.