Sulawesi Birding Trip
Explore Sulawesi, Halmahera, and West Papua with Rangga Trails, a specialist birding and wildlife expedition company based in North Sulawesi. Discover endemic birds, Birds-of-Paradise, and authentic wildlife experiences across eastern Indonesia.
Trip Overview
12 Days Across the Endemic Birdlife of Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of Indonesia's most fascinating birding destinations, an island where millions of years of isolation have created an extraordinary collection of birds found nowhere else on Earth.
This 12-day expedition takes you across some of the island's most productive birding regions, beginning around Makassar and Rammang-Rammang in South Sulawesi, continuing through the montane forests of Lore Lindu, and then heading north to the legendary forests of Tangkoko before finishing among the volcanic highlands around Tomohon.
Along the way, we search for some of Sulawesi's most distinctive birds, including Sulawesi Pitta, Sulawesi Hornbill, Black-headed Kingfisher, Great-billed Kingfisher, Hylocitrea, Great Shortwing, Scaly Kingfisher, Maleo, and several endemic owls and kingfishers. The itinerary also gives us opportunities to encounter Spectral Tarsier, Bear Cuscus, Celebes Crested Macaque, and potentially Moor Macaque.
This is an active birding journey built around early starts, forest walks, roadside birding, night sessions, and repeated visits to productive habitats. Rather than staying in one region, we follow Sulawesi's changing landscapes and birdlife from the southern lowlands to the central mountains and the forests of the north.
Trip Highlights
- Explore several of Sulawesi's most important birding regions
- Search for the endemic Sulawesi Pitta
- Look for the spectacular Sulawesi Hornbill and Knobbed Hornbill
- Search for three distinctive endemic kingfishers at Tangkoko
- Explore the montane forests of Lore Lindu National Park
- Look for the unusual Hylocitrea
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Makassar & Rammang-Rammang
Day 2: Karaenta Forest – Makassar – Palu – Lore Lindu
Day 3: Lore Lindu – Tambing Lake & Roadside Birding
Day 4: Lore Lindu – Anaso Track
Day 5: Lore Lindu – Donggala – Palu
Day 6: Donggala – Palu – Makassar – Manado – Tangkoko
Day 7: Birding Tangkoko
Day 8: Tangkoko – Temboan Hills
Day 9: Tangkoko – Kotamobagu
Day 10: Kotamobagu – Tambun – Tomohon
Day 11: Tomohon – Gunung Mahawu
Day 12: Tomohon – Airport
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Makassar & Rammang-Rammang
Your Sulawesi birding adventure begins in Makassar, where we collect you from the airport or your hotel. If time allows, the first afternoon is already dedicated to birding around Makassar or the spectacular limestone landscape of Rammang-Rammang.
Initial targets may include Piping Crow, White-rumped Cuckooshrike, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Pitta, Sulawesi Babbler, White-necked Myna, Sulawesi Malkoha, and Sulawesi Hornbill. With some luck, we may also encounter the endemic Moor Macaque.
After dark, we continue with night birding in search of Great Eared Nightjar, Sulawesi Scops Owl, Speckled Boobook, and Barn Owl.
Overnight: Dalton Hotel, Makassar
Day 2: Karaenta Forest – Makassar – Palu – Lore Lindu
An early start at around 04:00 takes us to Karaenta Forest, where we continue our search for Sulawesi specialties. Potential targets include Black-headed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Hornbill, Piping Crow, and Sulawesi Brown Flycatcher.
After morning birding, we return toward Makassar Airport for our domestic flight to Palu. From Palu, we continue by road toward the Lore Lindu area, with opportunities for roadside birding along the journey.
After dark, another night-birding session gives us a chance to search for Cinnabar Boobook and Speckled Boobook.
Overnight: Nasional Lodge or similar, Lore Lindu area
Day 3: Lore Lindu – Tambing Lake & Roadside Birding
Today we begin exploring one of Sulawesi's most important montane birding regions. Our birding takes us around Lake Tambing and the surrounding roads, where we search for Geomalia, Sulawesi Thrush, Purple-bearded Bee-eater, and other montane forest species.
Late in the evening, we visit nearby paddy fields looking for Eastern Grass Owl, followed by another night-birding session for Sulawesi Masked Owl and Speckled Boobook.
Overnight: Nasional Lodge or similar
Day 4: Lore Lindu – Anaso Track
Today takes us onto the famous Anaso Track, one of the key birding areas within Lore Lindu National Park. We will hike along the trail while searching for Satanic Nightjar, Sombre Pigeon, Red-eared Fruit-Dove, Hylocitrea, Purple-bearded Bee-eater, White-eared Myza, and other highland species.
Night birding continues in the evening, targeting owl species that may have escaped us during previous sessions.
Overnight: Nasional Lodge or similar
Day 5: Lore Lindu – Donggala – Palu
We begin with another morning birding session around Tambing Lake and the surrounding roads, giving us another opportunity to search for Great Shortwing and other species that may have remained elusive.
We then descend toward Palu and continue to Kabonga, where we search for Sulawesi Hornbill, White-necked Myna, Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Pitta, and Sulawesi Nightjar.
Later, we continue to Donggala to look for birds at their roosting sites before returning to Palu after dinner.
Overnight: Sutanraja Hotel, Palu
Day 6: Donggala – Palu – Makassar – Manado – Tangkoko
Another early morning begins around 04:30, with an opportunity to look for a nocturnal primate before continuing our birding. We then explore the mangrove forest, searching for Great-billed Kingfisher, White-rumped Cuckooshrike, Sulawesi Roller, White-necked Myna, and Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle.
Around 09:00, we head to the airport for our flights via Makassar to Manado. From Manado, we continue overland to the Tangkoko area.
Overnight: Tangkoko Hill Villa or similar
Day 7: Birding Tangkoko
Today we explore the remarkable forests of Tangkoko. Our target list includes Green-backed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Red-backed Thrush, Pied Cuckooshrike, Tabon Scrubfowl, Ornate Lorikeet, Minahasa Racquet-tail, Sulawesi Racquet-tail, Azure-rumped Parrot, and Knobbed Hornbill.
The forest also provides excellent opportunities to search for Bear Cuscus, Spectral Tarsier, and Celebes Crested Macaque. After dark, we return to the forest for a night-birding session targeting Minahasa Masked Owl.
Overnight: Tangkoko Hill Villa or similar
Day 8: Tangkoko – Temboan Hills
We start early at around 05:00 and drive toward Temboan Hills, where the elevated viewpoint offers opportunities to watch birds moving through the surrounding landscape. We will search for Hanging Parrots, pigeons and doves, hornbills, mynas, and birds of prey.
Afterward, we return toward Batuputih Village and continue birding in the forest, with another opportunity to search for Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher and other species missed earlier.
Night birding continues after dark, targeting Minahasa Masked Owl and Ochre-bellied Boobook.
Day 9: Tangkoko – Kotamobagu
After breakfast, we leave Tangkoko and continue by road toward Kotamobagu, a journey of approximately seven to eight hours. Although this is primarily a travel day, birding opportunities will be taken along the route whenever conditions allow.
In the evening, we visit a suitable location for a chance to observe Sulawesi Masked Owl, potentially emerging from the canopy around a local church.
Overnight: Sutanraja Hotel, Kotamobagu
Day 10: Kotamobagu – Tambun – Tomohon
We leave early at approximately 04:00 for Tambun, part of Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park. The main target is the extraordinary Maleo, which we will search for around its nesting grounds. With luck, we may also encounter the elusive Blue-faced Rail.
Other possible species include Maroon-chinned Fruit-Dove, Black-billed Koel, Bay Coucal, and Sulawesi Malkoha.
Lunch will be served at the Park Ranger's house before we continue by road toward Tomohon, with further birding opportunities along the journey.
Overnight: Villa Emitta, Tomohon
Day 11: Tomohon – Gunung Mahawu
Our morning begins at approximately 05:30 as we head toward Gunung Mahawu to search for Scaly Kingfisher. We then continue to a hide where there will be another opportunity to search for Sulawesi Pitta.
Roadside birding later in the day may produce Sulawesi Myzomela, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Cuckoo-Dove, and Superb Fruit-Dove.
After lunch, we visit Lake Linow, a striking sulphurous volcanic lake, where we can enjoy the scenery while looking for waterbirds.
Overnight: Villa Emitta, Tomohon
Day 12: Tomohon – Airport
After breakfast, we return to Gunung Mahawu for one final birding session. This gives us another opportunity to search for Scaly Kingfisher and Sulawesi Pitta if they remained elusive earlier in the expedition.
After lunch, we transfer to the airport for your onward journey.
End of tour services.