Friday, 1 November 2013

Komodo Island

        Komodo is one of the 17,508 islands that compose the Republic of Indonesia. The island is particularly notable as the habitat of the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on Earth, which is named for the island. Komodo Island has a surface area of 390 square kilometres and a human population of over two thousand. Komodo Island is one of the seven wonders of the world.
     Komodo Island is located in the Nusa Tenggara islands. Nasonal park Komodo Island is located between the two islands of Sumbawa and Flores islands between the border of East Nusa Tenggara ( NTT ) and West Nusa Tenggara ( NTB ). The park consists of 3 major islands or island is a little big of Komodo Island, the island Rica, and Padar islands and several small islands with a land area of ​​603 km2.
        In 1910 the Dutch named the island the nickname of Komodo Island . This story begins with Lieutenant Steyn van Hens Broek who tries to prove statements about the presence of Dutch troops large animal resembling a dragon on the island. Steyn then kill the dragon and bring documentation to the Museum and Botanical Garden in Bogor to be investigated.
       The island is known as a habitat for native Komodo dragon. On this island, komodo animals breed well. Until August 2009, on the island in 1300, there are dragons tail. Komodo dragons in the wild habitat has shrunk and hence IUCN include dragons as a species vulnerable to extinction. This large lizard is now protected under Indonesian law and a national park was established to protect them.
       The island is known as a habitat for native Komodo dragon. On this island, komodo animals breed well. As of August 2009, there were 1300 individuals dragons on this island. Komodo dragons in the wild habitat has shrunk and hence IUCN include dragons as a species vulnerable to extinction. This large lizard is now protected under Indonesian law and a national park was established to protect them.
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        The main attraction of Komodo National Park which is the ancient giant reptiles Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis), but the authenticity and uniqueness of nature, especially the savanna and panoramic underwater panorama, is the attraction of potential supporters. Marine tourism such as fishing, snorkeling, diving, canoeing, boating. While on land, natural tourism potential that can be done is a wildlife observation, hiking, and camping. Visit the Komodo National Park and enjoy the natural scenery is very charming an experience that will never be forgotten. 

Some interesting places to visit:

1. Loh Liang in Komodo Island  

Dock of Loh Liang
Arrival hall of Loh Liang
Guest house of Loh Liang
         Loh Liang is the entrance and the main tourist areas on the island of Komodo. Activities to do in Loh Liang are the observation of the Komodo dragon, deer, wild boar, bird watching, climbing (Loh Liang - Mount Ara), exploration (Liang Loh - Loh Sebita), Photo hunting, video shooting, diving and snorkeling in the Red Beach (Pink beach).

Red Beach (Pink beach)
 
Hydnophora in the waters of the Red Beach
Montastrea in the waters of the Red Beach
Giant clam in the waters of the Red Beach
          Red Beach is a shallow beach, which is beautiful with captivating coral reefs. Usual activities undertaken by tourists who visit are snorkeling, diving and sun bathing.
       Loh Sebita is mangrove areas and activities that are interesting enough to do bird watching and trekking.
Butterfly in Loh Sebita


Dendrobium orchids in Sebita Loh
Source of picture: http://komodo-park.com/detail.php?id=13

 
Vanda limbata orchids in Loh Sebita

      In Loh Liang is there are facilities available for visitors to the cottage, information center, cafeteria, docks, shelters and walkways.

2. Loh Buaya in Komodo Island   
        Loh Buaya is the center of tourist arrivals in the island of Rinca. Visitors can see the mangrove forest, savanna, and wildlife such as dragons, Timor deer, wild buffalo, long-tailed monkeys, wild horses and a variety of birds. 
        Activities offered to visitors at Loh Buaya include wildlife observation, exploration (Loh Buaya - Wae Waso, Loh Buaya - Golo Code), photo hunting, shooting video, observation bats in Kalong Island (the Kampung Rinca) and observation beams in stone Rinca village.
         Facilities available at Loh Buaya, among others, cottage, cafeteria, shelters and walkways.

 
Gate of Loh Buaya
Source of picture: http://komodo-park.com/detail.php?id=13

Front office in Loh Buaya

Savanna in Loh Buaya
         In Kalong Island, the activities that can we do such as observation of bats colony in large numbers. The most interesting observation was made during late afternoon when the bats started out in search of food.
      From the top of the hill known as Golo Kode, visitors can see the panorama and landscape representation is quite fantastic because various types of ecosystems can be seen from this place.

Panorama of Golo Kode
3. Padar Island 
       In Loh Liang is there are facilities available for visitors to the cottage, information center, cafeteria, docks, shelters and walkways. Padar is a small island located between the islands of Komodo and Rinca. Padar has a very beautiful beach and an excellent place for diving and snorkeling.
Red Padar Beach

Padar East Beach

The view from the South Padar
Source of picture: http://komodo-park.com/detail.php?id=13

        Komodo is no longer a remote island accessible only by wealthy tourists on private boats. Today there are over 20,000 visitors a year that visit the park. The majority of visitors still arrive by cruise ship, despite the fact the most popular, Spice Island Cruises, Ceased operations in 1999.
        The gateway to Komodo is arguably the island of Bali. While most visitors to Komodo National Park enter through the gateway cities of Bima in eastern Sumbawa, or Labuanbajo in the west of Flores, the departure point is actually Bali. Both Bima and Labuanbajo are Regularly serviced by scheduled flights of that depart daily at 9:30 am from Denpasar to Bima, with connecting flights to Labuanbajo on Monday and Saturday. The gateway cities of the are also connected to Bali by overland buses and inter - island ferries. There are local coastal ships that travel between Lombok and Labuanbajo. These boats cater to tourists and take passengers on a four day trip that includes a day and night in Komodo National Park (cost $ 50 per person).
        After arriving in Sumbawa, a ferry service from the port of Sape in the east of the island to Labuanbajo picks up and drops off passengers in Komodo in the July - August peak tourist season. Otherwise local tour operators organize shared boat charters from either Bima or Labuanbajo to Loh Liang and the smaller islands in Komodo National Park. Grand Komodo Tours operates a four day / three night package from Bima to Komodo return for US$ 190, with two nights in a hotel , and one on a live aboard boat .
Airfares: Denpasar to Bima U.S. $ 60 o/w
              Denpasar to Labuanbajo $ 80 o/w
Park Facilities
     The Komodo National Park administrative offices are located in Labuanbajo in west Flores. An information center and travel agents where transportation to and from the Park can be arranged are also found in Labuanbajo. The majority of tourists to the Park pass through the Loh Liang ranger station nestled in the sweeping arc of Slawi Bay on Komodo island. This is the largest facility in Komodo National Park with bungalows and rooms, a restaurant and a dormatory for the park rangers. The most popular tourist activity is a hike to the Banugulung viewing area, a two-hour roundtrip level walk that originates from Loh Liang. Hikes to other areas of Komodo are also possible, and vary from one to two days: Gunung Ara, Poreng, Loh Sebita, Gunung Sata libo, Soro Masangga. On longer walks overnight accommodation can be arranged at ranger posts at Loh Sebita and Loh Genggo. For certified divers there is a compressor and diving equipment available for hire at Loh Liang as well as masks and fins for snorkellers. Handicrafts made in the nearby village of Komodo are for sale at the arrival jetty.
        The entrance ticket to Komodo National Park costs Rp 25,000 and is valid for three days. It is easily renewable, so a prolonged stay in the park is possible. There are two ranger stations which provide spartan accommodation for tourists: Loh Liang on Komodo and Loh Buaya on Rinca. The charges are minimal and start at Rp 30,000 per room. Be advised that everything is basic, including beds, communal toilets and food availability. Fortunately most travellers are not deterred by the limited facilities, accepting this as a part of the Komodo experience. Advance booking for accommodation are not accepted.
The hiking on Rinca is less strenuous than that on Komodo, and has the added attraction of viewing the wild horses and monkeys which are not found on Komodo. On Rinca wild buffalo are more common and easily seen as well. On the north side of the island, behind Rinca village, is a large cave with a resident bat colony. Rangers at both Loh Liang and Loh Buaya are readily available to lead walks, and are knowledgeable about the local fauna and birdlife.
Diving in Komodo
         Scuba divers have a number of operators to chose from and range from the live-aboard luxury of Dive Komodo's MS Evening Star to the more spartan accommodation found on the boats operated by Grand Komodo Tours.
Liveaboards
Dive Komodo: Operates two charter vessels: 30m long MS Evening Star with six cabins and a large dormatory aft. Shared facilities; 23m long Dewata Ayu, a luxury catamaran with four double berth cabins. One toilet. Both vessels have Bauer compressors and twin aluminum tenders.
Divemaster: Mark Heighes.
Cost US$180 per person for Evening Star, $120 per person for Noorigoo
Grand Komodo: Operates three vessels: the 20m coastal steamer Komodo Plus with five cabins and shared facilities; the Tarata, a larger 30m converted steamer with A/C six cabins and attached baths; and the Baka Temu, a large eight cabin phinisi boat with all the mod-cons. All boats have Bauer compressors with aluminum dinghy.
Regularly scheduled departures start from $780 per person for seven days, with all diving and food included.
CNDive. Operates one converted steamer with sleeping space on deck. Three day dive safaris.
         There are 42 dive sites in Komodo National Park which is frequented by foreign tourists for diving and snorkeling, namely:



 

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