FESTIVAL ROON

From 27 to 29 July 2023, The Local Government of Wondama regency in Indonesia are going to conduct Festival Roon. This cultural event could be seen by visitors during the above dates. Traveling to Roon island is easy. Visitors need to fly to Manokwari city. After that they can take fast passenger ferry from Anggrem harbor directly to Yende village in Roon island or by an overnight passenger ship to Wasior town. The trip to Yende can be done by motorized boat from Wasior with a duration of approximately 1 hour. Visitors can stay in villagers' houses during the festival. There are also hotels and lodges in Wasior for visitors who plan to explore the beautiful sites of Wondama regency both above and under the water.

The Wondiboy mountains behind Wasior town are important destination for birdwatching and wildlife watching. Its tropical rainforest is the habitat of birds of paradise, tree kangaroo, wallaby, snake, monitor lizard, bandicoot and a lot more.  There are hundreds of big and small islands in Wondama regency. They are surrounded by pristine coral reef which is the natural  habitat of various species of marine creatures. Visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, freediving, recreational fishing and sightseeing in this beautiful regency. For more info about natural and cultural attractions of Wondama regency, please, visit: https://wondamatourism.com

Windesi, a Beautiful Tourist Destination

Windesi is a district in Wondama regency. It has got a lot of beautiful places which visitors can visit to see wonderful nature, white sandy beaches and pristine coral reef. 

District Windesi

Mariponi Waters as seen from Kamadiri hill in District Windesi

Natural Attractions

The front waters of Windesi are called Mariponi (meaning the front waters that are calm). There are islands in the region that are surrounded by white sand beaches and below surface of the sea, pristine coral reef thrives to provide homes to various species of marine creatures. 

Visitors who like swimming, snorkeling and freediving, need to bring their own snorkeling device such as mask, snorkel and swim fins. They can take pictures of the beautiful underwater world of Windesi if they bring waterproof camera such as Nikon W300 and Olympus TG-6. 

For visitors who are interested in exploring the rainforest of Windesi, they can ask some villagers to accompany them. Paradise birds such as Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Birds of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird can be found in the forest of Windesi. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, and etc.

A Little Story from World War II

During World War II or the Pacific War in 1942 to 1944, the Imperial Japanese Forces stationed their troops, ships and other equipment in Windesi. As of today, there are still shipwrecks or planewrecks in and around Windesi area. 

Accommodation

There is a house next to the house of head of District Windesi where visitors can go to stay during their holiday in Windesi. The current head of District Windesi is Moses Windesi 0821 2950 6668. His house can be reached on foot from ship harbor. Further inland, visitors will be able to see Wamesa Tengah village. For accommodation in the village, visitors can contact its village chief Ekber Karim 0812 4037 9341. Please, use Google Translate to convert your message into Indonesian language so that they could understand your points. 

Guesthouse for visitors in District Windesi of Wondama regency

How to get there?

Fast passenger boat Express Bahari goes from Manokwari city to Windesi and other coastal villages in Wondama regency several times a week. Visitors need to go to Anggrem harbour of Manokwari city to catch the boat for traveling to Windesi. The ticket price is around 15 US dollars. 

Ferry ship KMP Napan Wainama also visits District Windesi. It is a roro vessel. Visitors need to go to ferry harbor of Manokwari city to get info about the schedule of the boat. It travels to Windesi and other coastal villages and town of Wondama regency several times a week. The ticket price from Manokwari to Windesi is around 10 US dollars per person or even less. 

Contacts:

Visitors who are interested in traveling to District Windesi, and need more info, please, contact: 

Tourist Guide Association (HPI) of Wondama regency

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

Visitors can also make direct contact with local people in Windesi village and Wamesa Tengah Village (before sending WA or text message, please, use Google Translate to convert your language into Indonesian language)

• Yaru Karubui +62813 4401 8389
• Samuel Windesi +6281248818763
• Hans Sawasamariay +62812 4777 6258
• Herman Paduay +62821 9766 1786

Traveling to Roswar Island

Roswar is a beautiful tropical island in Wondama regency of West Papua. Visitors who go there can enjoy swimming at warm stream that flows into the sea. The coastal area is surrounded by pristine coral reef that has become the natural habitat of a lot of species of marine creatures including lobster, parrotfish, butterflyfish, anamonefish and a lot more. 

Hot stream in Roswar island of Wondama regency

Visitors who like snorkeling need to bring their own snorkeling devices including mask, snorkel, and swim fins. 

Those who are interested in fishing can go to Roswar too. They can hire local villagers who will use their boats to deeper waters where visitors can enjoy the recreational fishing activity. 

Marine Life in coral reef of Wondama regency

Wildlife watching can also be done in the forest of the island or along the mangrove forest of the coastal area. There is a road that connects the Capital District in Waprak village to Nordiwar village. This road is good for birdwatching and wildlife watching. 

How to get there?

Roswar island can be reached by passenger fastboat from Manokwari city. Visitors can take international flight from their countries to Jakarta or Denpasar Bali. After that, they can continue their trip by taking domestic flights to Manokwari city. Airlines such as Sriwijaya Air and Lion Air provides regular daily flights to Manokwari city. Arriving in Rendani airport of Manokwari, visitors can go to Anggrem harbor and buy ticket for trip to Roswar island. The fast ferry boat will bring passenger to the capital of District Roswar in Waprak village of Wondama regency. 

Flight Route from Jakarta and Denpasar to Manokwari city

Route of Fast Ferry from Manokwari to Roswar and then to Yende village and to Wasior town in Wondama regency

Accommodation

Villagers in Waprak village will be happy to receive guests who want to stay in Roswar island. Visitors need to meet Mr. Moses Waprak - the head of District Roswar. He could arrange accommodation in homestays of the villagers. There is a house that belongs to Barend Sumuai in Waprak village where visitors can stay during their holiday in Roswar island. 

For visitors who want to stay near the hot stream, please go to Syedi village and meet Boas Sumuai - the village chief. He will arrange an accommodation for visitors.

After spending several days or weeks in Roswar, visitors can continue their trip to Yende village in Roon island or to Wasior town to see more interesting places and meet friendly people of Wondama regency.

This article is written by Charles Roring

Wondama Cultural Week

Local government of Wondama regency are going to conduct Pekan Kebudayaan Daerah (meaning: The Week of Local Cultural Event) from 28 to 30 November 2022 in Masasoya Topai Park of Wasior town. There are a number of performances that will be presented during the event including: Nusantara Cultural Parade,  Traditional Dance, Contemporary Creative Dance, Balengan, Fluit and Drum, Folk Story, Cultural Exhibition.

Wondama Cultural Event

Wondama Cultural Event

For more info, please, contact Eky Sawaki +6281248931154

Wildlife Watching Tour in Wondiboy Mountains

The mountain range of Wondiboy is the natural habitat of a lot of species of plants and animals. In recent months, it has attracted the attention of foreign visitors who are interested in exploring its tropical rainforest. 

Some of the Many Tourist Attractions in Wondama Regency

The beautiful scenery of Wondama bay

The recommended starting point to go hiking up the slopes of Wondiboy mountains is Ramiki. It is a coastal village. There visitors can meet Mr. Echletus Sawaki who can organize hiking and camping trips to Wondiboy.

Visitors can spend 2 to 3 nights of their holiday period in the mountains to look for Birds of Paradise, Cuscus Possum, Monitor Lizard, and colourful insects. 

Local guides have built basecamp for visitors who want to stay for several days in the forest. Food materials and other logistical goods can be bought in Wasior town.

Camera with telephoto lens, laser pointer, sound recorder/ player, portable loudspeaker, and binoculars are usually brought by birdwatchers who want to explore the wealth and diversity of avifauna in the forest of Wondama.

Local villagers in a tent in Wondiboy mountains

After spending a few days exploring the natural beauty of the forest of Wondiboy, visitors can continue their holiday period in Wondama by traveling around the islands of the regency. The pristine coral reefs that surround the tropical islands in Cendrawasih National Park are the natural habitat of anemonefish, parrotfish, jackfish, butterflyfish and a lot of other marine creatures. They can be seen by visitors who bring their snorkeling devices (mask, snorkel and swim fins). An underwater camera such as Nikon W300 or Olympus TG-6 will allow visitors to take beautiful pictures of the marine life of Wondama regency. 

Coral Reef in Wondama

Flight routes to Wasior town

Wasior town in the main gate for visitors who plan to travel to Wondama regency. It can be reached by airplane or passenger ferry from Manokwari city. 

Flight routes to Wasior town in Wondama regency

If you are interested in traveling to Wondama, and need a guide to organize your trip and guide you, please contact:

The Indonesian Tourist Guide Association of Wondama regency

Eky Sawaki: +62 812 4893 1154

Amsal Tinoring: +6282197937120

Or

Department of Culture and Tourism of 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.