Exploring Komodo National Park
Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. After a long debate and polls around the world a few years ago, Komodo Island was listed as a world heritage site. The island is one of only a few where one can see specimens of the world's largest living species of lizard in the wild.
More than 1,000 Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) live on the island, which takes two hours by speedboat to reach from Labuan Bajo subdistrict in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.
Established in 1980, the Komodo National Park includes the main islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, along with dozens of smaller islands, islets and barren rocks.
It was originally set up to protect the Komodo dragon, but over time it was expanded to become a massive terrestrial and marine national park encompassing nearly 2,000 square kilometers.
While the park is mostly famous for Komodo dragons, which are the main attraction, they are matched by the beauty of the undersea wonderworld that surrounds the park's islands.
Within the park's boundaries, visitors will be able to experience some of the best snorkeling and diving in the entire Indonesian archipelago and enjoy a rugged, stunning landscape that is truly an experience to behold.
Visiting Komodo Island is not difficult. Visitors can take a short flight from Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, or directly from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten. There are two flights daily from Jakarta on a Bombardier aircraft, with flying time of less than two hours.
While adapting to the hot, dry climate after getting off the plane, the silver-and-red-striped building of the Komodo Airport arrivals hall will be among the first structures you see. The newly renovated airport lies in the center of the hilly village of Labuan Bajo.
Upon entering the village, one encounters many hotels and restaurants for backpackers at very affordable prices, with only a five-minute walk from the seaport. Labuan Bajo also has a five-star resort with a sea view and its very own bay.
Tour guides at the harbor also offer overnight liveaboard or day trips to visit the three main islands to see the ancient creatures or to enjoy the hot sunny beaches and do some snorkeling.
Padar Island
Padar Island is only two hours away by speedboat from Labuan Bajo. There are only three komodos left on the island but the view from the top of one of its tallest hills is astonishing, with a clear blue ocean contrasted against the barren hills.
It took an hour to get to the top of the 352-meter high hill, which has a 45-degree splay along the way. The trip could take longer as the heat will finish take its toll. Make sure to bring sunblock and bottled water as it can be a very exhausting and dehydrating trek.
Komodo Island
Komodo is the largest island in the Komodo National Park and it is also the furthest from the port town of Labuan Bajo. Because of the distance, it is typical for a trip to Komodo to include several snorkeling stops, including at the famous pink beach, which got its color from a mix of white sand and red coral abrasions, which wash up on the shore.
On Komodo Island, there are four hiking options – short, medium, long and "adventure." The short option takes around 45 minutes to cover the 1.5-kilometer trail. While the medium option takes about an hour for 2.5 kilometers. The long track is 4,5 kilometers long and will take around 2.5 hours to complete, but the fun part is that you can see the Komodo dragons' nest on top of the hill. The adventure trip is the longest, and it may take more than three hours' walking. However, it is worth the effort as you can see many wild animals, such as yellow-crested cockatoos flying overhead or wild buffalo, which often fall prey to Komodo dragons.
Regardless of which trail you choose, taking along a guide or a ranger is mandatory. They will carry a pronged stick to ward off some of the more adventurous Komodo dragons.
Komodo dragons can also be seen near the park restaurant, sometimes underneath the restaurant building. Even though reptiles usually move around slowly, they can be deadly.
Komodo dragons can run at speeds of up to 20 kilometers per hour and they have a lethal bite, with scientists still debating whether they contain venom, or bacteria in their saliva, which can cause a slow, agonizing death.
Rinca Island
Rinca, which is closer to Labuan Bajo, is known for its more aggressive Komodo dragons but it offers better opportunities to see the giant reptiles in their natural habitat.
The dragons on this island often attack humans as they regularly cross the island to the side where around 150 people live.
Despite being more dangerous, Rinca also has bigger populations of wild animals, such as the beautiful, yet deadly green tree viper and the long-tailed macaque. The natural surroundings on the island are breathtaking, but also harbor a deadly menace.
Encountering some well-fed dragons is almost a certainty through most of the year, as they like to hang about around the park headquarters, likely attracted by the smell of food from the cafeteria. However, seeing a Komodo in the forest is not guaranteed, especially during the mating season.
Visitors to the park must carefully consider before bringing small children along, as the place is certainly not a local zoo. People may get hurt if they are not paying attention, or just plain unlucky.
Many dive operators in Labuan Bajo will include a quick visit to Rinca Island as part of a scuba and snorkeling day-trip package. Make sure to confirm with your dive operator what fees are already included in the price. Finding non-diving or snorkeling trips to Rinca, which will allow for a longer visit, can be difficult. Prices vary but remember: in many ways, you do get what you pay for.
Visitors to the Komodo National Park must pay an entrance fee and a non-optional guide fee, which costs less than $10. But in reality, most people – as did the Jakarta Globe – will quickly appreciate this after seeing the size of these giant lizards.
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