The lake Habbema Trek
One of the world’s classic birding treks, from the high alpine lake and marshes down through pine, moss and rain forest into the Baliem Valley. Truly amazing birds-see below-and a people and culture from another age. Not tobe missed, and, as there is a road up to lake Habbema, the birds can be enjoyed on a (mostly) downhill trail.
Key species
Blue-breasted Quails
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Snow Mountain and Blue-breasted Quails, Swinhoe’s Snipe, Orange-billed Lorikeet, Painted Tiger-parrot, Lorentz’s Whistler, Sooty Honeyeater, Snow Mountain Munia, Archbold’s Bowerbird, Macgregor’s Bird-of-paradise, Brown Sicklebill, Splendid Astrapia, King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise.
Getting there
To get to Lake Habbema, charter a jeep ($30) for the 90-min drive up a new road.
General information
The requisite surat jalan should be obtained, eg at Jayapura/Sentani, before flying into Wamena. When you arrive in Wamena, the police check your passport and permit. The desk clerk at the hotel/losmen will ask for these, and will usually be able to send someone to the police station (which is just behind Pasar Nayak) to take care of this for you. Make sure that your permit is endorsed for Lake Habbema, if necessary.
The trek runs up the Ibele Valley, from the village of the same name to Lake Habbema. It can be done in either direction and, although there is some satisfaction in walking up through the different habitats found with increasing altitude, and out into the alpine zone, it is hard not to resist taking the new road to “the top” at Lake Habbema and enjoying the birding while walking downhill.
There are no “official” places to stay or eat on the trail. It is possible to manage without a tent-by staying in the rather dilapidated “post”-but it is helpful to have one available. Food has to be carried in, as only sweet potatoes and eggs, are available in the villages.
The first day is spent birding the alpine grasslands and marshes around Lake Habbema (3,000 m), with a spectacular panorama across to the rugged, snow-capped peaks of the Snow (Jayawijaya) Mountains, Pos IV, a hut by the lake, is dilapidated and leaky. From the lake it is about a 2-hr walk over the pass (3,200 m) to Pos III, located in moss forest and the place to stay for the first night. The trail down the Ibele valley is not too steep, but can be very muddy and slippery.
Walking times (at an average birding pace) between places to stay are listed below.
How long you take is entirely up to you.
Habbema to Pos III 1.5-2 hrs
Pos III to Yaubagema 3 hrs
Yaubagema to Dyela 3 hrs
Dyela to Ibele 5 hrs
Ibele to Beneme 2.5 hrs
Alternatively,
Dyela to Depolo 3 hrs,
Depolo to Beneme 5 hrs
At Beneme the cultivation starts. You can catch a bus (or truck) back to Wamena from either Ibele or Beneme (1.5 or 1 hr).
Rain is a possibility at any time but there is said to be drier period from March-May, with July also relatively dry. The temperature is generally pleasant during the day but it can be cold at night, particularly at the higher altitudes.
taken from Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore
