WIldlife-watching sulawesi
Asia’s answer to Madagascar, Sulawesi’s complex geography, sitting at the crossroads of Asia & Australasia & deep isolation have led to an incredible number of unique forms. The largest island of Wallacea, a region defined by west meeting east, Sulawesi hold’s some of the most exciting wildlife-watching in Indonesia. Iconic species such as Babirusa, Tarsiers, Maleo & it’s endemic macaques mingle with a stunning variety of birds, reptiles & secretive mammal species. You could spend a lifetime trying to see all that Sulawesi has to offer, from lowland jungle’s along black volcanic sand beaches, high mossy mountains in a world of their own to strange limestone landscapes, the island feels as unique as the creatures that inhabit it. Sulawesi’s wildlife can also be rather confiding, a rarity in Indonesia, often leading to wonderful & intimate observations.
Where We Visit
northern sulawesi
The northern arm of Sulawesi, including the provinces of North Sulawesi & Gorontalo, is Sulawesi's most visited area, wildlife-watching included. Some of Sulawesi's most iconic wildlife can be successfully found here, a land of volcanoes they shape the lush lowland forests & smouldering highlands giving way to black sand beaches, hot springs & thermal sands where the iconic Maleo buries it's eggs.
Sites:
Tangkoko Nature Reserve- One of Indonesia's best wildlife-watching destinations is easily accessible from Manado & features great accommodation & even better guides, the rare coastal rainforest here is packed full of endemic species which often offer crippling close encounters. Famous for it's Black-crested Macaques & Tarsiers, the area is also great for Bear Cuscus, Hornbills & a plethora of stunning birds & reptiles. For any wildlife enthusiasts first touch down in Sulawesi this is a great place to start.
Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park- A huge swathe of lowland forest & one of Sulawesi's most important protected areas, this national park is incredibly rich in wildlife. Well known by birders as the place to see Maleo & many other rare endemic birds, there is much more to see here, whilst still recovering from swine-flu, Babirusa & Sulawesi Warty Pig can occasionally be seen at salt licks here, the forest holds good populations of Tarsiers, Bear Cuscus, Small Cuscus, many rodents, squirrels & bats, the Gorontalo Macaque which is nearly unique to the park's forests & is perhaps one of the better sites to search for the mystical Sulawesi Giant Civet. Otherwise butterflies, reptiles & a whole manner of endemic biodiversity proliferate.
Gunung Ambang- One of the most forested montane regions of North Sulawesi, this mountain has barely been surveyed for mammals & likely holds many rare rodents & bats, the mossy forest with orchids & pitcher plants is wonderful to explore & the area is well known among birders as a great place to see some of Sulawesi's endemic montane birds.
Nantu Forest- remote & difficult to access, Nantu is a treasure of Sulawesi, fording the river into the forest guarded by forest rangers, you find a forest full of life. Famous for it's Babirusa, the have been hit hard by the swine-flu pandemic & hopefully their populations will recover soon, otherwise the rarely seen Heck's Macaque & many rare birds frequent the forest, including Blue-eyed Rail & Sulawesi Ground Dove. This remains one of the best places to see Anoa, the enigmatic & impressive dwarf forest buffalo. Salt licks have hides where rare wildlife come out of the forest, patience is rewarded & can result in mind-bending views.
Northern Islands- The Sangir islands, flowing north from Sulawesi's tip have some very special wildlife, none are regularly visited & each of the larger islands hosts it's own unique species. Gorgeous Siau with its glowing volcanoes & stunning beaches has it's own tarsier, one of the rarest primates in the world & the Sangihe Squirrel. Larger Sangihe, slightly more north also has a tarsier plus the squirrel & the Talaud Bear Cuscus, also endemic to the islands. Nearer to the Philippines than the rest of Indonesia, well forested Talaud is a better place to search for the Cuscus plus is a better place to search for endemic bats & rodents. Otherwise the islands have a rich reptile life with rare snakes such as Sangihe Pit Viper & Pacific Ground Boa & is well known in the birding community for it's many stunning endemic bird species, some of which are exceedingly rare, but we have the guides to find them.
Rainforest exploration here is sublime, with many of the creatures you can see being unique to Sulawesi, easily combined with diving, volcano trekking & island hopping it is a great start for eco-tours in Sulawesi. For serious wildlife-watchers the area is quintessential for unlocking the islands spectacular diversity.
Central sulawesi
From some of the islands highest peaks to it's most diverse islands, Central Sulawesi has much to offer the wildlife enthusiast. Featuring the best location to come to grips with Sulawesi's unique montane fauna, great lowland forest & easily accessible islands full of their own spectacular endemics all within stunning landscapes, this is an incredible region for wildlife.
Sites:
Lore Lindu National Park- Protecting an area of forest from the lowlands to summits, Lore Lindu is one of Sulawesi's most important protected areas. Whilst lower regions are good for birds, the endemic Tonkean Macaque & local Tarsier forms, it is the highlands that most attract visitors. This area is the single most important site for the islands montane bird fauna & is also full of small endemic mammals, some of which are barely known, the Pygmy Tarsier, one of the world's smallest primates is found in it's higher reaches as is the mountain Bear Cuscus. It is not a bad area to look for Sulawesi Giant Civet. Otherwise the mossy forests here are full of endemic butterflies, orchids & pitcher plants. For anyone wanting to see a true representation of Sulawesi's diversity, a visit here is essential.
Togian Islands- Known more for diving/snorkeling & beautiful coral island landscapes, the Togians also have their own unique biodiversity. Featuring a few endemic birds, they also hold many species from the mainland including good populations of hornbills. It is now the best location in the world to see Babirusa, of which the Togian variety is it's own unique species. The islands also have their own Tarsier species plus cuscus & Tonkean Macaque can be found here. Many of the locations here for wildlife have active conservation initiatives making a visit a positive impact for the rare creatures found here.
Tompotika Peninsula- Near to the town of Luwuk, the Tompotika peninsula still holds a tract of pristine forest that is only starting to be explored, it holds much of the island's biodiversity including as few species found nowhere else, trekking here is going somewhere few have been before. The area also holds one of the most spectacular Maleo nesting grounds with a special viewing hide, plus excellent snorkeling/diving by the coast. If visiting the region, especially Peleng, this area is well worth its inclusion on your itinerary.
Peleng- Relatively unknown until recently, Peleng is becoming a fixture on many wildlife-watchers itinerary, apart from wonderful lakes, forests & beaches the island holds many unique species. The island's birdlife is stunning with the Helmeted Myna, Sula Pitta, Banggai Crow & Red-and-Black Thrush as stand-out endemics. The island again has it's own tarsier, a cuscus & many interesting rodents & bats. Herping here is also great with a few endemics & rarely seen species. Local guides are becoming wildlife-savvy here making sightings of once enigmatic species a far more realistic & intimate possibility.
If one were to travel through this area, the potential for wildlife-watching would be outstanding as would be the scenery & the sense of adventure. Culture & underwater sites complete the wealth of the region, one of the most diverse in all Indonesia.
West Sulawesi
Very seldom visited West Sulawesi is mainly known for the cultural heartland of Mamasa, nearby is the little-known Gunung Gandang Dewata, a relatively new national park surrounded by traditional villages & some of Indonesia's remotest mountains.
Sites:
Gunung Gandang Dewata National Park- This huge remote swathe of montane forest has very few visitors apart from local tourists summiting the mountain. Within it's confines lies an outstanding and little surveyed biodiversity, many species are only known from this area or other nearby mountains & are unique in their genus including a few mammals such as the Mamasa Water Rat, Edented Sulawesi Rat, Sulawesi Slender Root Rat & Sommer's Sulawesi Rat, The list of endemic rodents found in these mountains is huge & any serious mammal-watcher should consider this site. Otherwise it is possibly the best site to try and see Mountain Anoa, this enigmatic creature has been seen by trekkers quite a few times deep in the park. Montane squirrels, Mountain Bear Cuscus, Sulawesi Giant Civet & many rare bats are also found here. Birdlife is little surveyed but should reflect Lore Lindu in species, plus it is a stronghold for the incredibly elusive, flightless Snoring Rail.
Visiting the core of the park takes time & is generally a week long trek from start to finish but the wealth of life to be found & possibly discovered here means it is time well spent in its beautiful mossy forest. Contact us for more details.
South sulawesi
Home of the Bugis & the Torajans plus hosting East Indonesia's largest city, South Sulawesi is a cultural melting pot. It is also home to some very unique landscapes & therefore lots of unique wildlife, accessible sites give easy access to Sulawesi's stunning biodiversity.
Sites:
Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park- Only an hour or so from Metro Makassar, the Maros of which this park is included, is the second largest karst landscape in the world. Hosting spectacular scenery, it also holds isolated patches of limestone forest full of wildlife. Moor Macaque & Makassar Tarsier are endemic to the area as are the beautiful Black-headed Kingfisher & Black-ringed White-eye. More widespread Sulawesi wildlife abounds with many birds, including Hornbills & other mammals including Sulawesi Small Cuscus & many endemic rodents & bats such as the Sulawesi Stripe-faced Fruit Bat, one of the world's most beautiful species. Sulawesi Giant Civet has also been recorded here but seeing one would require a great deal of luck. Otherwise the park is world-renowned for its butterfly abundance & diversity. A visit here is a must if passing through Makassar.
Lompobattang mountain- Near the hill town of Malino, 3 hours out of Makassar is this isolated Massif. Well-known to birders for hosting the Lompobattang Flycatcher & the Lompobattang Leaf Warbler, it is also one of the few places to record Sulawesi Woodcock, one of Indonesia's least known birds. Otherwise Mountain Bear Cuscus & Small Cuscus are found here as well as an undescribed tarsier species & many endemic rodents including the spectacular Meyer's Giant Rat. The lovely montane forest here is a joy to explore with decent accommodation nearby.
Selayar- The Gorgeous island of Selayar is known more for it's excllent reefs & beaches than the forest in it's interior but it does contain another endemic Tarsier & a good selection of birds including a few newly discovered endemics.
The Major transport hub of Eastern Indonesia, South Sulawesi leaves little excuse to be explored with an easily accessed excellent selection of Sulawesi's unique diversity & quite a few species only found in this area.
south-east Sulawesi
The South-east is mainly visited to access the famous Wakatobi islands & their world-class reefs, forests surrounding the capital Kendari still hold much biodiversity & add to that a vast national park nearby & whether you are looking to see some of Sulawesi's unique wildlife whilst here or you are a specialist looking for some of Sulawesi's lesser known creatures this province can be very worthwhile
Sites:
Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park- A RAMSAR wetland site and a land of swamps, rolling grassland's & lowland forest, this little visited area is full of wildlife, including most of Sulawesi's charismatic fauna & some specialtlies such as an unidentified tarsier & the Boeadi's Leaf-nosed Bat-only known from this park.
Buton- The island of Buton still has some good areas of forests and also has it's own endemic species of Macaque, Anoa sign is common here and it could be a good location to search for this mythical creature. Otherwise many of Sulawesi's charismatic species are found here.
On specialist tours we include other areas that are guides know are good for certain species & we are looking at trying to visit the very little visited karst mountains further north too, message us for more details.
Suggested itineraries
North Sulawesi Wildlife
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Sulawesi Wildlife Indepth
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