Sulawesi Birding

Day 1: Arrival Makassar – Transfer to Malino
After meeting at the airport in the early afternoon, we will drive to Malino for two nights.
Accommodation: Villa Tengah Sawah

Day 2: Malino Lompobattang Mountains
On this day we will find out about some very local endemics, called Lompobattang Flycatcher, and hope also we can see the Hylocitrea in this area too, a much-wanted family endemic to the island. Other birds we could find include the Red-eared Fruit-dove, also Lompobattang leaf-warbler, the Sulawesi myzemola, the Sulawesi jungle flycatcher, the Sulawesi serpent-eagle, the Sulawesi pygmy woodpecker, Sulfur-bellied Whistler, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Black-ringed White-eye, Little-pied flycatcher, Pied Bushchat, Sulawesi hanging parrot.
Accommodation: Villa Tengah Sawah

Day 3: Malino – Ramang ramang
After breakfast, we will drive to Ramang-ramang, takes about 4 – 5 hours.
Accommodation: Ecolodge Ramang-Ramang

Day 4: Ramang-ramang
Our target in this area includes a morning visit to Karaenta Park for the Black-headed Kingfisher, Black-ringed White-eye, and Sulawesi Flycatcher. In the afternoon we will take a traditional boat along the river to see Sulawesi Hawk Eagle and Sulawesi serpent Eagle.
Accommodation: Ecolodge Ramang-ramang.

Day 5: Ramang-ramang – Airport – Palu – Lore Lindu
This morning we will take a flight to palu and then head for Lore Lindu National Park. Birding starts en route with Savannah Nightjar on the day roost and we are likely to connect with the Pale-headed Munia and White-shouldered Triller here. The superb montane forests of Lore Lindu may well provide us with some of the best and most enjoyable birdwatching of the trip. If we have time on this first afternoon birding in the National Park, we make stops at various altitudes which should produce the first specialities and endemics. Accommodation: Mama Sendi

Day 6 & Day 7 : Lore Lindu National Park
This park has a well deserves reputation for montane specialities. our main targets here are the Sulawesi endemic of the Purple-Beared Bee-Eater, Great Shortwing, Malia, Geomalia, Sulawesi bush-warbler (Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler), Cerulean cuckoo shrikes, Sulawesi Cicadabirds, Black-fronted White-eye, black Sunbird, Black-naped Monarch and the Citrine Flycatcher, Island Flycatcher, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Mountain serin, Sulawesi myzomela, Ivory-backed wood-swallow, Ornate lorikeet, Small-sparrow hawk, Maroon-backed Whistler, Heinrich nightjar, Speckled boobook, Cinabar Boobook, Sulawesi scops owl, Sulawesi pygmy woodpecker, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Spotted kestrel, lemon-bellied white-eye, Sulawesi Triller, Sulawesi cicadabird, Sulawesi serpent eagle, Hylocitrea, Geomalia, Golden-mantled and Yellow-breasted Racquet-tails, Red-eared Fruit-Dove, Maroon-backed Whistler, White-eared Myza, and Streak-headed Dark-eye, Sombre Pigeon, Diabolical (Satanic) Nightjars roosting during the day at regular stakeouts along there. Accommodation: Mama Sendi

Day 8: Morning birding – Later afternoon drive to Palu
On the last day of birding in Lore Lindu, the late afternoon, we shall return to Palu for another night in a very good hotel. Accommodation: Swiss BelHotel Palu.

Day 9: Palu to Manado via Makassar - Tomohon
Today is a traveling day for all of us, in the morning from Palu to Makassar then connecting flight to Manado. Upon arrival at Manado airport we will drive to Tomohon.
Accommodation: Villa Emita

Day 10: Gunung Mahawu Tomohon
Gunung Mahawu is a forested Volcano (1490 meters above sea level), Inside the crater is a steaming, emerald-green lake ringed with yellow sulphur deposits. From the summit you can see neighbouring Mount Lokon with its ever-present plume of smoke. On the clear day you can also see both the Sulawesi sea on the west and to the Maluku sea to the east, Gunung Mahawu is located near the village of Rurukan where Sir Alfred Wallace lived for a while. Now Gunung Mahawu is one of the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Asia by BirdLife International. In this birding place we have some interesting Sulawesi endemic species, it is one of the easiest and most reliable sites in Sulawesi for the Scaly-breasted kingfisher- Actenoides princeps but please note this star bird of Sulawesi is very skittish and always hides so to spot them still need luck. Key species at Gunung Mahawu and Tomohon includes ; The Sulawesi Pitta, Scaly-breasted kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi babbler, Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler, Sulawesi jungle Flycatcher, the ultrarare Rufous-throated Flycatcher, Pale-blue Monarch (split from Black-naped Monarch), Isabeline-bush hen, Barred rail, White-browed Crake, Sulawesi Myzomela, Island Flycatcher, Citrine Flycatcher, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Black-fronted White-eye, Mountain white-eye, Streak-headed Dark-eye, Mountain Tailorbird, Sulfur-bellied Whistler, Crimson sunbird, Black Sunbird, Olive-back sunbird, Sooty-headed bulbul, Hair crested drongo, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi pygmy Woodpecker, Grey wagtail, Yellow wagtail, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted munia, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, Brown-cuckoo dove, superb-fruit dove, Sulawesi black-Pigeon, Sulawesi-hanging parrot, Black Eagle, Black Kite, Osprey, Spotted Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon. During our stay here also, we have a great chance of finding Purple swamphen, White-browed crake, White-breasted waterhen, Common Moorhen, Javan pond heron on the Lake Tondano. Accommodation: Villa Emita

Day 11: Tomohon – Tangkoko Nature Reserve
Early morning breakfast, drive to Tangkoko, birding along the road, Lunch will be at Tangkoko Hill, afternoon birding at “Temboan Hill”, Night birding for Sulawesi scops owl near the Tangkoko Hill Cottages

Days 12 & 13: Tangkoko Nature Reserve
This reserve on the eastern tip of the Minahassa Peninsula, is one of Sulawesi’s flagship parks, the excellent lowland jungle and mangrove forest providing superb birding site, The reserve is especially famous for kingfishers, having no less than eight resident species, of which four are endemic but remember that Tangkoko also has much more to offer than its kingfisher though and with the assistance of the skilled our local team, we will be search for Lilac cheeked kingfisher, Green-backed kingfisher, Sulawesi-dwarf kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Rudy kingfisher, Common kingfisher, Blue-eared kingfisher, collared kingfisher, Red-Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi dwarf Hornbill, Ochre-bellied boobook, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Bay Coucal, Lesser coucal, Sulawesi-Hawk eagle, Sulawesi serpent eagle, Black eagle, Black kite, Sulawesi cicada bird, Rusty-breasted cuckko, Sulawesi triller, Purple-winged roller, Ashy woodpecker, Sulawesi pygmy woodpecker, Sulawesi hanging parrot, Ornate lorikeet, Golden-mantled Racquetail, Blue-backed parrot, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi Black Pigeon, Stephan’s Dove, Brown-cuckoo dove, Philipine Scrubfowl, Barred rail, Isabeline Bush hen. During our boat trip to the mangrove we may find other species; White-rumped cuckoo-Shrike, Common kingfisher, Great-billed kingfisher, Pink-necked green Pigeon, Osprey, Great Frigatebirds, Lesser frigatebirds, Pasific reef egret, common dollar bird, Striated heron, Little tern, Sacred and Collared kingfisher, White-bellied Sea eagle, Brahminy kite and Purple heron. After spending much of the day birding but we have time also to see interesting mammals such as Black-macaca nigra, Tarsier spectrum, and bear cuscus in Tangkoko Park. Here also there will be a one-afternoon boat trip to the mangrove to see the great-billed kingfisher. Accommodation: Tangkoko Hill Cottage

Day 13: Tangkoko Park
Breakfast at 5 AM, departure at 5.30 into Tangkoko Park for a whole day trip, Lunch will be inside the park, afternoon birding and in the evening to see the Tarsier, dinner at Tangkoko Hill, and 28 Sept 2023: Morning birding around camping ground, lunch at Tangkoko Hill and 2 PM depart for the mangrove boat trip to see the Great-billed Kingfisher. Accommodation: Tangkoko Hill Cottages

Day 14: Tangkoko – Manado
Last morning, birding along the main road, back to Tangkoko Hill for check-out, drive to Manado, and Lunch will be at the local restaurant near the airport, then we drive to Grand Luley Resort, at 2.30 PM, depart to Gunung Tumpa for afternoon birding.

Day 15: Manado – Next destination
After breakfast, transfer to Manado airport for your next destination. The end of the trip.

Keybirds in Tangkoko

Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher:

Unique forest Kingfisher, not easy to find, but if done (by our local guides) quite good to approach and often rewarding the clients with perfect views and photos. Male and female often sitting near each other, making it possible to see the subtle differences.

Sulawesi Dwarf-Kingfisher:

Tiny but splashy colored forest kingfisher. It has the size of a Tit, but once in sight the bright orange, purple and blue colors make it a favorite for many bird watchers.

Green-backed Kingfisher:

Endemic large and spectacular forest Kingfisher. Pairs often together resting on horizontal branches in the forest and with a bit of luck giving you perfect views and wonderful pictues.

White-necked Myna:

Peculiar endemic Myna with a very long tail and a big white breast-band. In the canopy of the forest and nearly impossible to see if you’re inside the forest. That’s why we go to a special place near the road with views of the forest edge, to scope these birds while they are gathering in dead branches in the early morning or late afternoon.

Knobbed Hornbill:

Absolutely spectacular huge Hornbill with black wings, a huge red-and-yellow casqued bill and bright blue throat colors. It’s endemic to the whole of Sulawesi, but Tangkoko is for sure one of the best places to see it.

Specialities

Other special bird species are: Philippine Megapode, White-faced Cuckoo-Dove, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Silver-tipped Imperial-Pigeon, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Nightjar, Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Sulawesi Scops-Owl, Ochre-bellied Boobook, Sulawesi Hornbill, Great-billed Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Purple-winged Roller, Ashy Woodpecker, Ornate Lorikeet, Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot, Pale-Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Babbler and Finch-billed Myna.

More nature

Biodiversity is very high in Tangkoko and birds are only a small part of what you can see. Of course it’s nearly impossible to miss Celebes Crested Macaque or Gursky’s Spectral Tarsier, but you’ve also got a good chance to see the marsupial Sulawesi Bear Cuscus. One of the most beautiful creatures is Blanchard’s Ghost, an enormous butterfly that flies through the forest like a ghost indeed. And if you don’t rush you will find more and more beautiful creatures hidden in the shadows of the deep forest.

Practical Info:

Minimum amount of days: 3 (2 nights).

Advised amount of days: 5 (4 nights).

Maximum amount of days: 6 (there is only one real entrance to the forest, so you walk in the same part every day).

Price Tangkoko 5 days 4 nights: US$ per person

Needed level of fitness: Average, there is some hiking involved to see the Kingfishers, accommodation is comfortable.

Logistics:

Nearest airport: Manado, connections to all Indonesian cities and Singapore.

Transport: From Manado to Tangkoko 1.5 hours with a private car and during the stay we walk, drive short distances with a private car and use a boat for a mangrove trip.

Accommodation:

Tangkoko Hill Cottages:
Cozy lodge with comfortable rooms, located on the edge of the park with a nice jungle garden and nice bird species.

Combinations and extensions:

Good destinations to combine with Tangkoko: Manado, Tomohon, Dumago Bone, Lore Lindu and Waigeo.

Practical Info:

Minimum amount of days: 3 (2 nights).

Advised amount of days: 5 (4 nights).

Maximum amount of days: 6 (there is only one real entrance to the forest, so you walk in the same part every day).

Price Tangkoko 5 days 4 nights: US$ per person

Needed level of fitness: Average, there is some hiking involved to see the Kingfishers, accommodation is comfortable.

Logistics:

Nearest airport: Manado, connections to all Indonesian cities and Singapore.

Transport: From Manado to Tangkoko 1.5 hours with a private car and during the stay we walk, drive short distances with a private car and use a boat for a mangrove trip.

Accommodation:

Tangkoko Hill Cottages:
Cozy lodge with comfortable rooms, located on the edge of the park with a nice jungle garden and nice bird species.

Combinations and extensions:

Good destinations to combine with Tangkoko: Manado, Tomohon, Dumago Bone, Lore Lindu and Waigeo.