Guided Birding Walk and Sightseeing Tour in Manado City of North Sulawesi

Manado is the capital of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It has got suburban areas that are still interesting for visitors who want to enjoy birdwatching. Tropical birds that could be watched during the walking tour include: Sooty-headed Bulbul, Glossy Swiftlet, White-nest Swiftlet, Sahul Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pale Blue Monarch, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Pale Blue Monarch, Barred Rail, Sulawesi Crow and etc. 

Sooty-headed Bulbul

In addition to birds, we could also butterflies, dragonflies and beetles in the farmland areas outside of Manado city. Some of them include: Celebes-banded Swallowtail (Papilio gigon), The Clipper (Parthenos sylvia), Blanchard's Wood Nymph (Ideopsis vitrea), Common Birwing (Troides helena), Brown Pansy (Junonia hedonia), Pale Blue Tit (Hypolycaena sipylus), Manado Yellow Tiger (Parantica menadensis) and etc.

Dragonflies usually sit on the tip of grass blades or leaves of creeping plants that grow near water. Some that can be seen during the tour are Manado Grasshawk (Neurothemis manadensis), Green Skimmer (Orthetrum serapia), 

Butterflywatching in the Suburb of Manado city

Manado city is the destination for tourists who want to enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling and swimming in Bunaken islands and Lembeh Straight. 

Most of scuba divers cannot fly back to their countries immediately after taking the dive tour. They usually need to stay for 1 day in a hotel in Manado city. This guided birding walk that is added with city tour allows them spend time doing activities that are more interesting than just spending all day in the room of a hotel.

Extended Tour

This birdwatching tour in the suburb of Manado city can be extended to 1 more week to explore birding sites in Minahasa highland and Tangkoko Nature Reserve. 

If you are interested in taking this birdwatching tour in Manado or even throughout North Sulawesi Province, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Also read:

• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Sonder Bird
• Tangkoko Birding
• Tangkoko Bird List
• Tour Around the Farmland of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sulawesi's Minahasa Peninsula

Bird Photography Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Mount Mahawu and Sonder's Farm Forest of North Sulawesi

A Trip Report by Charles Roring

Manado city - Temboan Hill - Tangkoko Nature Reserve

In late April 2025, I guided a Dutch photographer on 1 week bird photography tour across Minahasa Peninsula of North Sulawesi of Indonesia. I met my client at Sam Ratulangi Airport of Manado city and then continued our trip by car to Tangkoko Nature Reserve. It took around 2 hours to reach it. For the next 4 days 3 night s exploring the forest of Tangkoko, the coastal area of Batu Putih village, Temboan Hill, the man-made lake. There we watched and photographed a lot of species of birds. It was th first place that we stopped to watch and take pictures of birds. 

Lilac Kingfisher

Temboan Hill at the edge of Tangkoko Nature Reserve

For photographer, Temboan Hill is the most recommended site to visit. A D-SLR camera with 600 mm lens is the recommended device. There, we saw and photographed Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Gray-cheeked Imperial Pigeon, Sahul Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Minahasa Racquet-tail, Black-billed Koel, Sulawesi Cicadabird, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo. We spent several days walking inside the rainforest of Tangkoko which was the habitat of kingfishers. There were Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher. Ashy Woodpecker, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Blue-backed Parrot, White-necked Myna could also be seen there. We tried to find Great-billed Kingfisher along the riverside but we were not so lucky. We saw the bird but it was impossible to take picture of the kingfisher. He was sitting on a big branch of a tree behind twigs and leaves. We could only see other birds such as Barred Rail, Little Egret and Nankeen Night Heron. The parking lot of Tangkoko was a good site for observing Sulawesi Bear Cuscus. We saw some interesting birds there too including Speckled Boobook, Brahminy Kite and White-bellied Sea Eagle.

At night, we saw and photographed Sulawesi Scops Owl. It was sitting on the branch of a tree near the birding lodge where we stayed. In the morning we saw Isabelline Bush-hen was swimming in a "little water pond" in the middle of the unpaved road that connected our birding lodge with the main road.

There was a man-made lake located between Temboan Hill and Batu Putih village where the birding lodges and homestays were. Oriental Darter, Purple-winged Roller, Slender-billed Crow, Little Grebe, Little Heron, White-breasted Waterhen were seen there.

Bird Photography Trip in the forest of Mount Mahawu

Tangkoko - Manado city - Tomohon - Lake Linow

We continued our trip to Tomohon town which was around 2 hours ride from Tangkoko. There were several birding sites that we visited during our 3 days/2 nights in Tomohon. Lake Linow was the first site that we went to after arriving in Minahasa highland. For water birds, we went to Lake Linow. 

We saw and photographed Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Javan Pond Heron, White-breasted Waterhen, Barn Swallow. We saw terns sitting on the other side of the lake. It was difficult to identify them, too far. We could not spent much time at the lake. Heavy rain started to cover the lake area and its surroundings. 

Lake Linow in Minahasa highland

Tomohon town - Mount Mahawu

In Mount Mahawu, we saw and photographed the famous Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Sultan's Cuckoo-dove, Warbling White-eye, Turquoise Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher and etc. Going to Mount Mahawu too early in the morning was not always a good idea. When we arrived there was strong wind, and the whole forest was covered by fog. In addition to Mount Mahawu, we also visited a restaurant that was surrounded by flower garden. Sulawesi Myzomela, Sahul Sunbird and Yellow-sided Flowerpecker were the birds that we saw there.

Sonder's Farm Forest

We also went to Sonder's farm forest, around 30 minutes drive from Tomohon town. We saw Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Sulawesi Myzomela, Black-crowned White-eye, Warbling White-eye, Black Sunbird, Yellow-billed Malkoha. On my previous trip to that site in one morning I saw Black Kite, Sulawesi Goshawk, Black-naped Oriole and White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Black-faced Munia, White-breasted Woodswallow. Sonder's farm forest was not a pristine forest but has got good open areas to watch and photograph birds. Actually there were several more birding sites in Subdistrict Sonder that we had not visited during this trip.

In our last day in Tomohon, we visited Mount Mahawu again in the afternoon. We saw the Sultan's Cuckoo-dove, and a lot of small birds that I have mentioned above. There was Superb Fruit-dove but he flew when we walked closer to photograph him. We left Tomohon for Manado city at around 10:00 a.m. Arriving at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, I said thank you, good bye to my client. 

This short trip report is written by Charles Roring from birdingsulawesi.com

Also read:

• Wildlife Watching and Photography Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

• Birding in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland

• Birds in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

Nature Tour Around Manado City

As a tourist guide, I offer nature tours around North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. The outskirts of Manado city consist of hills and farmlands. They are attractive for visitors who want to see beautiful nature, watch birds and butterflies as well as see wonderful view of the landscape or seascape around Manado city. Here are some of them:

Pasal Beach in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia

• Makatete Hills - located in the south of Manado city, this place can be reached by car or motorcycle. From Sam Ratulangi International Airport, it takes around 50 minutes to reach it when the traffic is not congested. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful view of Manado city while having a cup of tea or coffee with some fried bananas at the café that is built on the hill.

Makatete Hills are located in the south of Manado city

• Another site near Manado city that offers magnificent view of the sea and Bunaken islands is Mount Tumpa. Visitors could see Bunaken, Siladen, Manado Tua, Mantehage and Nain. In addition to enjoying the beautiful view of the seascape of Manado city, visitors could enjoy watching birds and butterflies of North Sulawesi in Mount Tumpa. There are such birds as Zebra Dove, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Red Jungle Fowl, Green Imperial Pigeon, Pale Blue Monarch, Slender-billed Crow, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Finch-billed Myna and etc. 

Tunan Waterfall

• Tunan Waterfall - This natural tourist attraction is located near Sam Ratulangi International Airport. It takes around half and hour to reach the waterfall. Visitors who want to visit this place need to wear rubber boots or sandals that have grips so that they could walk along the slippery concrete path. Green plants grow along both sides of the path. Various kinds of butterflies could be seen around the waterfall. 

Farmland in Talawaan village near Manado city

• Talawaan Farmland is the land area around Talawaan village. Local people grow various kinds of crops including papaya, avocado, coconut, corn, jackfruit and etc. Visitors could walk along the road to see the green crops,  as well as watch birds and butterflies around the area. Birds such as Green Imperial Pigeon, Collared Kingfisher, Ivory-backed Woodswallow, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Slender-billed Crow, Finch-billed Myna, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove could be watched in this area. 

Minahasa Highland Tour

Birds in Minahasa Highland

Collared Kingfisher

Extended Tour to Tomohon and other places of Minahasa Highland

There are still a lot of interesting places that we could see if we extend our tour to Minahasa highland such as Tomohon town, Subdistrict Sonder, Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow, Pine Forest, Tincep Village, Langowan, and etc. 

If you are interested in taking a land tour around Manado city and up to Minahasa highland, and want me (Charles Roring) to organize your trip, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Related Posts:

• Minahasa Highland Tour
• Birding in Mount Mahawu and Lake Linow of Tomohon Municipality
• Sightseeing and Birdwatching Tour in the Ricefield of Sonder

Birding and Sightseeing Tour from Manado City

Birding and sightseeing tour can be arranged from Manado city. Its durations is usually from 1 to 3 days depending on the time which the participants have. For visitors who are interested in a short birdwatching tour, its itinerary can be described as follows:

Birds at the outskirts of Manado city

Sooty-headed Bulbul

• In the morning, we will meet you at your hotel in Manado city. We will organize your tour to a forest at the outskirt of Manado city. There, we will walk along the roadside to look for such birds as Barred Rail, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Zebra Dove, Ivory-backed Woodswallow, Finch-billed Myna, Green Imperial Pigeon, Collared Kingfisher, Black-naped Fruit Dove and etc. 

Collared Kingfisher

• At around 09:30, when the activity of birds in trees has reduced significantly, we will do sightseeing tour to State Museum of Manado to see the historical and cultural background of peoples of North Sulawesi province of Indonesia.
• Lunch at around 12:00. Back to your hotel for rest. At 15:00, we will continue our trip to a hill outside Manado city. We will see the landscape view and look for birds such as the Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulaweei Cuckoo-dove, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Gray-rumped Treeswift and etc.

Zebra Dove

Other attractions in Manado city include the traditional markets of Karombasan, Bersehati as well as the Malalayang Beach, Mount Tumpa, and Manado Town Square Mall (modern shopping center).

Flight routes to Manado city

Manado is the capital city of the Province of North Sulawesi in the Republic of Indonesia. It can be reached by plane from major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar and Sorong. The airlines that fly to Manado include Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air and TransNusa. There is a direct flight that connects Manado city and Singapore served by Scoot Air.

Manado city by the beach

Manado city view from the parking lot of Mantos (Manado Town Square)

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding and sightseeing tour in Manado city, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Tangkoko Birding

• Wildlife Watching and Photography Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

Birding Tour from Manado City (3 Days/ 2 Nights)

Manado City

Manado city is the capital of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It is the destination for visitors who want to go scuba diving in Bunaken, Siladen and Lembeh Strait. It is also the main gate for visitors who want to go to Tangkoko. 

Birding tour organized from Manado city to Minahasa highland

As a tourist guide, I offer birdwatching and sightseeing tour that starts from Manado city. The tour is suitable for anyone who is a beginner in birdwatching or has just taken-up birding as a hobby for 1 or 2 years. It is also good for birders who wants to visit North Sulawesi for the first time.

Turquoise Flycatcher

The duration of the tour is from 1 to 2 days for areas around the outskirts of Manado city and up to 1 week if the tour includes the highland of Minahasa and Tangkoko Nature Reserve. Here is the program for a 4-day/ 3-night birding and sightseeing tour. 

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

• Day 1. We will meet you at the airport or a hotel in Manado city. We will organize your transfer to Tomohon town in the highland of Minahasa. Check into homestay. Rest. After lunch, We will start our birding activity by visiting Lake Linow which is located outside of Tomohon town. Birds that we could see in this place include Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, White-breasted Waterhen, Sunda Teal, Barn Swallow and etc. Back to Tomohon town, return to hotel. Dinner. Rest. 

Birds in Lake Linow of Minahasa Highland

• Day 2. We will wake up very early in the morning at around 05:30. We will go by car to Mount Mahawu. We will have early breakfast and then go hiking up to slope to look for Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Red Jungle Fowl, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Turquoise Flycatcher, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulawesi Myzomela, and etc. We will enjoy birding until around 09:00. After that we will return to Tomohon and visit traditional market. Lunch at 12:00. Back to homestay for rest. At 15:00, we will do birding at Pine Forest to look for Gray-rumped Treeswift, Black-naped Oriole, Collared Kingfisher and Barred Rail. Back to Tomohon before dark. Dinner at 19:00. Back to homestay, rest.

Black Kite

Crimson Sunbird

• Day 3. We will start at 05:00, our destination is Sonder's hill forest. It takes around 40 minutes ride from Tomohon to the hill. We will look for Crimson Sunbird, Black-faced Munia, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Superb Fruit Dove, Barred Rail, Black Kite, Pygmy Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Superb Fruit Dove, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Turquoise Flycatcher, Collared Kingfisher, Black Kite, Sulawesi Crow, White-breasted Woodswallow, Black-naped Oriole, and etc. A stop at the small forest of Tounelet will allow us to find Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sahul Sunbird, Black-crowned White-eye, Sulawesi Crow, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, and etc. 

We will continue to paddy field area in Talikuran to look for White-browed Crake, Cinnamon Bittern, Purple Heron, Isabeline Bush-hen, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Javan Pond Heron, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, White-breasted Woodswallow, Zebra Dove and Collared Kingfisher. 

We will have lunch in Sonder, take a rest and then continue birding at 15:00 to Tincep village where we will look for Green Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi Myna, and White-rumped Triller. Back to Tomohon. Dinner, rest. 

Barred Rail

• Day 4. You will wake up early in the morning. We will transfer you to Sam Ratulangi airport of Manado city. End of the trip. 

If you are interested in taking the birding tour, and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Manado City Tour

Manado is the capital city of the Province of North Sulawesi in Indonesia. It is a beautiful destination for visitors who like urban lifestyle as well as nature. There are a number of interesting places which tourists can visit when they enjoy their holiday in Manado. Some are described below:

Landscape of Manado city as seen from a hill

The Museum of North Sulawesi - This is a good start for visitors who want to know more about Manado and its surrounding regencies. Here, visitors can get informations that are related to history, culture, and other aspects of livelihood of peoples of North Sulawesi. 

Bersehati Market - this is a traditional market of Manado city. Visitors can see all kinds of products and services which are traded by city dwellers in the market. From agricultural produce such as fish, meat and chicken, vegetables, fruits, palm sugar; to electronics such as cell phone and portable loudspeakers can be found there.  Another traditional market which visitors can see in Manado is Pasar Karombasan.

Boat Harbor near Bersehati Market - this is the place which visitors can go if they want to visit the islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen, Mantehage and Nain as well as Sangihe, Siai and Talaud islands in the northern territory of the Province of North Sulawesi. The harbor is close to Soekarno bridge of Manado city. This is a good site for visitors who want to see activities of city dwellers, traders, local people and tourists who depend on sea transportation for their livelihood.

Bunaken Islands

Bunaken islands are great destination for visitors who like sightseeing, swimming, and snorkeling. They can easily be accessed from Manado city by motorized boats. There are a lot of tour companies that provide tour to the islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen, Mantehage, Nain and etc.

Tunan Waterfall - This is another tourist attractions in north Sulawesi that can be visited by tourists. Because the road in the area is quiet, visitors can do walking tour to watch birds and butterflies as well as enjoy the fresh air of the farmland of the area. Local people grow coconuts, clove trees on both side of the road.

Shopping Centers - Manado is a crowded city. It has got shopping centers such as Jumbo, Manado Town Square, Mega Mall, and Grand Kawanua City Walk. Visitors can go there if they want to buy clothing items, electronics or eat various kinds of Indonesian foods in the malls. 

Manado city by the beach

Manado city view by the beach

Minahasa Highland - For visitors who are more interested in seeing the beautiful landscape of Minahasa, they can visit such towns as Tomohon, Tondano, Sonder, Kawangkoan, and Langowan. There are forests for visitors to watch birds and butterflies as well as see the mountains, valley, waterfalls and farmlands of the highland. To visit most of the places in Minahasa highland, visitors need around 3 to 4 days. 

There are still a lot of interesting places that can be visited by tourists from Manado city. The information about them can be searched from the internet. 

If you are interested in taking a holiday in Minahasa and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

Tangkoko Birding