Wasur National Park

Wasur National Park forms part of the largest wetland in Papua and has been the least disturbed human activity.

About 70% of the total area of the Park consists of savanna vegetation, while the remaining vegetation is in the form of swamp forest, monsoon forest, coastal forest, bamboo forest, grassy plains and large stretches of sago swamp forest. The dominant plant species in the forest area include api-api (Avicennia sp.), tancang (Bruguiera sp.), ketapang (Terminalia sp.), and cajuput (Melaleuca sp.).

Species of animal commonly seen include the wallaby (Macropus agilis), pesquets parrot (Psittrichus fulgidus), southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius sclaterii), blue-crowned pigeon (Goura cristata), greater bird of paradise (Paradisea apoda novaeguineae), king bird of paradise (Cicinnurus regius rex), red bird of paradise (Paradisea rubra), freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae), and saltwater crocodile (C. porosus).

The high value of its biological diversity has led to the Park being dubbed the "Serengeti of Papua".

The Park's wetland forms a very productive ecosystem, providing life support and protection for various species of fish, lobster and crab of high economic value.

The vast open wetland, in particular Rawa Biru Lake, has attracted various species of water fowl including migrant birds as well as wallabies and cassowaries to approach and even dwell on the Lake. The Lake is sometimes called "tanah air" (the Motherland), due to the multitude of various animals that crowd around the Lake. This is a superb place to watch animals.

Interesting locations/attractions:

Rawa Biru Lake, Maar, Kakania, Dikbob, Rawa Panjang, Pilmul: watching animals, the lake, horse riding, kayaking/canoeing along the rivers, and sites of cultural interest.
Yanggandur, Soa, Ukra, Onggaya: the savanna, animal observation, kayaking/canoeing along the rivers, fishing, and cultural tourism.

Best time of year to visit: July to November.

How to reach the Park: from Jayapura to Merauke by plane, 1.5 hours; then from Merauke to the Park by car, 1-2 hours via the main Jayapura-Merauke road.


Office: Jl. Raya Mandala, Gang Spadem Nr. 2
PO Box 109, Merauke 99611, West Papua
Tel. : +62-971-322495 or 325406
Fax. : +62-971-325407

Declared Minister of Forestry SK.No.448/Menhut-VI/90,
a total area of 413,810 hectares
Location Regency of Merauke (Province of West Papua)

Temperature 22° - 30° C
Rainfall 2,400 mm/year (on average)
Altitude 0 - 90 m asl.
Geographical location 140°29' - 141°00' E; 8°04' - 9°07'

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Lorentz National Park

Lorentz National Park represents the most complete ecosystem for biodiversity in either Southeast Asia or the Pacific. It is also one of only three tropical areas in the world that has a glacier. Stretching from snow-covered peaks (5,030 m asl) down to coastal waters and mangrove forest and bordering upon the Arafura Sea, this astonishing ecological spectrum ranges from alpine to lowland and wetland vegetation areas.

As well as very high biological diversity, the Park also has other unique features such as the glaciers on Puncak Jaya and a river that disappears under the ground for several kilometres in the Baliem valley.

There are 34 vegetation types that make up the forest area of the Park, including swamp forest, riparian forest, sago forest, peat forest, coastal forest, coral reef, slope/flat land rain forest, hillside rain forest, montane forest, grassy plains, and moss-covered areas.
Among the species of plant that grow in this Park are nipah (Nypa fruticans), bakau (Rhizophora apiculata), Pandanus julianettii, Colocasia esculenta, Podocarpus pilgeri, and Nauclea coadunata.

There are about 630 species of bird (some 70% of the total number of bird species in Papua), 123 species of mammal, and various other animal species. Some of the more interesting species of bird are two species of cassowary, 31 dove and pigeon species, 31 species of cockatoo, 13 species of kingfisher, 29 species of sunbird and 20 endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world, including the snow quail (Anurophasis monorthonyx) and the long-tailed bird of paradise (Paradigalla caruneulata). The mammal species include the long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii bruijnii), short-beaked echidna(Tachyglossus aculeatus), and four species of cuscus as well as wallabies, forest cats and tree kangaroos.

Lorentz National Park has also been declared by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, and by ASEAN countries as an ASEAN Natural Heritage Site.

The Park's high biological diversity is matched by its marvellous cultural diversity. It is estimated that the some of these cultures have existed in this area for more than 30,000 years. This is the home of tribes such as the Nduga, Dani Barat, Amungme, Sempan, and Asmat. It is quite possible that there are still other communities living in very isolated areas who have never had contact with the modern world at all.

The Asmat are well-known for their skill at chiselling wood into fine statues. According to their belief, the tribe is identical to the forest or trees. The trunk of a tree symbolizes the body of human being; the branches are the arms, and the fruit symbolizes the human head. Their ancestors-spirits, they believe, dwell in the trees. As such, the Asmat accord great respect to trees. Rivers, mountains and other natural features are similarly honoured.

Lorentz was only designated as a National Park in 1997. It currently has very limited facilities for visitors, and not all potential attractions have yet been identified or developed.

Best time of year to visit: August to December.

How to reach the Park: from Timika, head for the northern part of the Park by the local air service; and to the southern part by sea to the Sawa Erma Port, then follow the trails to various locations.

Declared : Minister of Forestry SK No. 154/Kpts-II/97,
a total area of 2,450,000 hectares
Location : Regencies; Paniai, Fak-fak, Merauke
(Province of Papua/Irian Jaya)

Temperature 29° - 32° C (low-land)
Rainfall 3,700 - 10,000 mm/year
Altitude 0 - 5,000 m asl.
Geographical location 136°56' - 139°09' E; 3°41' - 5°30' S


Office: Jl. Raya Abepura, Kotaraja, PO Box 1217
Jayapura 99351, Papua/Irian Jaya
Tel. : +62-967-581596
Fax. : +62-967-585529

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Teluk Cendrawasih National Park

Teluk Cendrawasih National Park combines coral reef ecosystems, coastal ecosystems, mangrove ecosystems and an island terrestrial tropical forest ecosystem, altogether covering a total area of 1,453,500 hectares.

The Park area includes the largest marine national park in Indonesia, consisting of land and coastal areas (0.9%), islands (3.8%), coral reefs (5.5%), and marine waters (89.8%).

Some 46 species of plant have been recorded on the islands, dominated by bakau (Bruguiera sp.), api-api (Avicennia sp.), nipah (Nypa fruticans), sago (Metroxylon sago), cemara laut (Casuarina equisetifolia), and ketapang (Terminalia catappa).

One hundred and fifty species of coral have been recorded in the Park, consisting of 15 families and distributed on the shores of 18 large and small islands. The percentage of live coral coverage varies from between 30-40% to 64-65%.

In general, the coral reef ecosystem is divided into two zones: the reef flat zone and the reef slope zone. Among the species of coral that can be seen are colonies of blue coral (Heliopora coerulea), black coral (Antipathes sp.), Leptoseris sp., Mycedium elephantotus, and soft corals.

The Park is famed for its wealth of fish species. About 209 species inhabit this Park, among them butterfly fish, angelfish, damselfish, parrotfish, rabbitfish and anemone fish. Species of mollusc include cowries (Cypraea spp.), strombidae (Lambis spp.), cone shell (Conus spp.), trumpet triton (Charonia tritonis), and great clam (Tridacna gigas).

There are four species of turtle that are quite often seen in this Park. They are the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), common green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Pacific ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), and leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Dugong (Dugong dugon), coconut crab (Birgus latro), blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), dolphin, and shark are other frequent visitors to these waters.

There is a natural cave with ancient remains, thermal springs containing sulphur without salt on Mioswaar island, and an underwater cave with a depth of 100 feet in Tanjung Mangguar. Remains from the 18th century can still be found in several places, such as Wendesi, Wasior, and Yomber. Many Christians visit the church in Yende village (Roon Island) to have a look at a bible which dates from 1898.

Interesting locations/attractions:

Rumberpon Island: observing birds and deer, marine tours, diving and snorkelling. The wreck of a sunken military aircraft lies on the sea bed.
Nusrowi Island: diving and snorkelling, marine tours, and animal observation.
Mioswaar Island: thermal springs, waterfalls, diving and snorkelling, animal observation, and sites of cultural interest.
Yoop Island and Windesi waters: whale and dolphin watching.
Roon Island: bird watching, diving and snorkelling, waterfalls, cultural interest, and an old church.
Best time of year to visit: May to October.

How to reach the Park: from Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Ujung Pandang, Jayapura, Honolulu and Darwin by direct flight to Biak; from Biak to Manokwari or Nabire by plane.
From Jakarta, Surabaya, Ujung Pandang and Jayapura by plane directly to Manokwari or Nabire. From Manokwari to the Park (Rumberpon Island) by longboat, 5.5 hours, or from Manokwari to Ransiki subdistrict by car, about 3 hours, then a 2.5-hour trip by motor boat.

Designated Minister of Forestry SK.No. 448 / Menhut-VI/90,
a total area of 1,453,500 hectares
Location Regencies: Manokwari and Paniai
(Province of West Papua)

Temperature 21° - 33° C
Rainfall 1,200 - 3,700 mm/year
Humidity 82 - 83%
Wind speed 3.5 - 9.0 knot and 22 - 23 knot

Office: Jl. Trikora Wosi Rendani, PO Box 229
Manokwari 98312, West Papua
Tel. : +62-986-212212
Fax. : +62-986-212437
E-mail: btnc@manokwari.wasantara.net.id

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