Destination Indonesia
Komodo National Park
One of the great destinations in Indonesia is the Komodo National Park. It’s a protected national park that consists of many small and larger islands as well as a marine park. The islands lay between the major islands Flores and Sumbawa in the Sape strait. The cluster of islands is non volcanic.
Komodo Dragons
The most famous inhabitants of the national park are the the Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the Komodo monitor. This animal is a large species of lizard found on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Motang. The Komodo dragon is the largest living species of lizard growing to a maximum length of 3 meters (9.8 ft) in rare cases and weighing up to around 70 kilograms .
As a result of their size, these lizards dominate the ecosystems they inhabit. Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including insects , reptiles , birds, and mammals. The diet of adult Komodo dragons mainly consists of deer, wild pig and buffalo. The young Komodo dragons eat birds and insects and other small lizards that live in the trees.
Mating of the dragons begins between May and August, and the eggs are laid in September. About twenty eggs are deposited in abandoned megapode nests or in a self-dug nesting hole. The eggs are incubated for seven to eight months, hatching in April, when insects are most plentiful. Young Komodo dragons are vulnerable and therefore dwell their first three years in trees, safe from predators and adult Komodo dragons. They take about eight to nine years to mature, and are estimated to live for up to 30 years.
To visit these large and fearsome creatures you have to go on a boat trip to the islands within the national park. These boat trips either start from Flores (Labuhan Bajo) or from Sumbawa ( Bima or Sape). On the islands of Rinca and Komodo guided trekkings can be arranged. It is not allowed to walk without a ranger as there is danger of an attack by a Komodo dragon. Treks can be made of several lengths –from 15 minutes to the ranger station up to 2 hours. Or for the very adventurous upon request trips of 6 hours up the mountain can be arranged.
Underwater world
The Komodo Dragons are not the only reason you should visit the Komodo National Park. Also the underwater world around the islands is of stunning beauty. The coral reefs and the fishes are amazingly colorful. With some luck you will even be able to see a Manta ray which is a sight to remember. The strong currents make for an ideal playing ground for these impressive creatures.
How to visit
As mentioned before the best way to visit the national park is by boat. It is possible to do a day trip where you both visit the dragons and go snorkeling. However to make the most out of it you can also overnight aboard one of beautiful boats. Then you visit both Rinca and Komodo island and spend plenty of time for snorkeling. Dive trips can also be arranged, luxury live aboard boats will ensure that you can enjoy the islands both under and above water. Off course you always include a trip to the Komodo National Park during a roundtrip in Indonesia. To get an idea how such a tour might look like please have a look at this tour.
For more information on the Komodo National Park or on how to visit please feel free to contact us.