Had a wonderful birding experience in Sulawesi
My wife and I had a wonderful birding experience on this 14 day Sulawesi trip led by Sulawesi Jack with excellent local guides as well. Jack is brilliant at finding key birds and planning an itinerary designed to maximize opportunities to see the Sulawesi endemics. He has quite a personality and we really enjoyed traveling with him.
We started at Lore Lindu NP. Accommodations here were very basic, but well worth it as we encountered numerous endemics in the park--many that we did not see anywhere else on the island. I should note that accommodations and food were excellent during the remainder of the trip.
From there we flew South to Makasar. Although this was a one night stand, birding in the Karst habitat here was very rewarding.
We then flew to Manado in Northern Sulawesi where we spent three nights in wonderful Tangkoko NP. We had two full birding days in the park and it was amazing. Many new birds here (not to mention tarsiers, etc.) and because this area has been protected, they are much more forthcoming. So lots of great looks and photo opps with a host of endemics.
We then did a 6-hr long drive to Dumogabone NP. This and the return made for a lot of driving--but gave us the experience of the trip: spending a day watching the spectacular and rare Maleo. Many approached close to the hide we were in and we were able to observe them laying and burying eggs.
We wrapped up our trip in Tomohon birding the Mt Mahawu forest. We birded here two full days, but most of the birds here we had seen in the Lore Lindu habitat. If there is one thing I might change in the itinerary, it would be to spend one more day in Tangkoko and one less in Tomohon.








