About Wasur National Park
Wasur National Park is a large protected area in Sota District, Merauke Regency, South Papua, Indonesia, covering about 413,810 hectares. Often called the Serengeti of Papua, it consists of savanna, monsoon forest, swamp and coastal wetlands. Established as a national park in 1990 and designated a Ramsar Wetland of international importance in 2006, it is notable for its rich biodiversity and Trans-Fly ecoregion landscape.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a vast lowland landscape of open savanna, seasonal swamps, monsoon forests and wetlands near the Papua New Guinea border. The park offers wildlife viewing and birdwatching opportunities, with chances to see wallabies, deer, cassowaries and many waterbirds. Access is via dirt roads and tracks from Merauke, with guided tours to bird hides, wetlands like Rawa Biru, and viewpoints. Facilities are basic and the environment is natural and remote.
Key highlights
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One of Indonesia's largest wetlands and savanna ecosystems, known as the Serengeti of Papua
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Ramsar Wetland of International Importance designated in 2006
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Habitat for endemic wildlife including agile wallaby, southern cassowary and birds-of-paradise
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Important bird area with over 300 bird species including waterbirds and migratory species
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Rawa Biru (Blue Lake) freshwater wetland within the park
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Traditional lands of the Kanum, Marind, Marori and Yeinan indigenous groups
History of Wasur National Park
Originally designated as Wasur Wildlife Reserve in 1978, the area was declared Wasur National Park in 1990 with an area of 413,810 hectares. It was designated as a Ramsar site on 16 March 2006 (Ramsar Site No. 1624), recognizing its internationally important wetlands. It is part of the Trans-Fly savanna and grasslands ecoregion shared with southern Papua New Guinea.
Culture & Context
The park is the traditional territory of indigenous groups including the Kanum, Marind, Marori Mengey and Yeinan peoples, who maintain traditional hunting, fishing and sago cultivation practices. The landscape holds cultural importance for local communities and reflects traditional land management of savanna and wetland resources.