weather info

kids corner

Nature Reserves in Indonesia

Permits are necessary to visit the nature reserves which can be obtained from the PHPA office in Bogor or local offices. Facilities in the reserves are generally undeveloped and most travel has to be done on foot or horseback. Some of the more important ones are :

Gunung Leuser

Gunung Leuser reserve is 830,500 hectares in size and 500 to 3,500 meters above sea level, and can be reached by road from Medan, North Sumatera. Two research stations within the reserve function as an Orangutan Rehabilitation Station, providing a rare opportunity to see these great apes at close range.

A boat trip on the Alas River which flows through the reserve is a good way to see the rain forest habitat of endangered species of rhinos, orangutans, tigers and elephants. There are also gibbons, leaf monkeys, jungle cats, forest deer, otters, hornbills and argus pheasants. Serown (goat antelope) live in the mountain forests at higher altitudes.

Ujung Kulon and Krakatau

The total reserve area is 62,500 hectares and stands 570 meters above sea level. By road from Jakarta or Bogor to Labuan on Java's west coast, or by ferry from Sumatera (to Anyer, north of Labuan), and hence by hired motorized fishing boat, taking a minimum of 5 hours from Labuan to Peucang Island. Two rest houses on Peucang offer limited furnished accommodation. Book first at the PHPA office at Labuan and take canned food along.

The mainland reserve area is the last refuge for the 45 -50 remaining Java rhinos, and is almost the last lowland rain forest in Java. Other wildlife species, gibbons, macaques, leaf monkeys, deer, pigs, bantengs, (Java's wild ox), and 222 species of bird species. Idyllic beaches, seascapes, and good coral. The Krakatao volcano, 40 kilometers from Labuan, is best visited from here on a one-day trip.

Penanjung Pangandaran

Only 100 meters high this reserve is only 530 hectares in size, and can be reached by road from Bandung. Public transport, guest house accommodation and food are all available. This reserve includes beaches, coral gardens, caves and nature walks. Interesting legends are associated with various topographical features. There are remains of a Japanese World War II fortification. This area is good for bird lovers.

South Sumatra

By road from Palembang or Tanjung Karang or from the Java-Sumatra ferry port at Bakauheni. The reserve area includes most of the south western tip of Sumatra totaling 365,000 hectares, at a height of 1781 meters. There are turtle rookeries on the western beach, good forests both at lowlands and mountains in the northern end of the reserve. Wildlife includes gibbons, elephants, tapirs, pigs, deer and the occasional tiger.

Meru Betiri

The reserve starts at sea level and reaches 1,223 meters in an area of 5 hectares. By (rough) road, go from Genteng or Glenmore, both on the main Jember-Banyuwangi road. From Genteng it is 70 kilometers to the south coast where there is a rest house (bedding, food, service) at Rajegwesi Bay, 2 kilometers from the reserve's eastern boundary. Coffee plantations occupy much of the lowland and thick forests. The steeper parts include precipitous headlands. Sukamade beach is a fine turtle rookery of its kind. Two species of the parasitic Raffelesia flower are found in Meru Betiri, which is the last refuge for the nearly extinct Java tiger.

Tangkoko-Dua Saudara

The reserve starts at sea level and reaches 1,109 meters in an area of 4,446 sq. meters.

By road from Manado, North Sulawesi, across the peninsula to Bitung harbor, then by boat. Two small post guards within the reserve offer basic shelter, food and camping equipment. There is an interesting volcanic scenery and wildlife including anoas, macaques, babi-rusas, tarsiers, pygmy squirels, cucusea (marsupial phalangers), and hornbills. Megapode birds, lay their eggs in areas of volcanically heated sands.

Tanjung Puting

The reserve covers 205,000 hectares at 30 meters above sea level. By air from Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, to Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan, (PHPA Office) and then by road to Kumai (15 kilometers), then by boat on the Kumai and Sekunir Rivers into the reserve. This is an interesting boat trip through swamp forests full of bird life, particularly waterfowl; the Bornean proboscis monkeys, so-called from the large pendulous nose of the male, easily visible in the riverine trees. In the northern part of the reserve is a "rehabilitation station" for Bornean orang utans which is also the study area of resident scientists. There is a guest house at their camp. Advanced reservations are necessary. Take canned food along.

Bromo-Tengger and Semeru

The total area covers over 8,000 hectares at 1,500 to 3,676 meters above sea level.

Usually reached from the north by road from Pasuruan to either Tosari or Ngadisari. Both villages just below the rim of theTengger Crater offer some accommodation as well as horses and guides. There is also a small hotel at Cemara Lawang above Ngadisari (jeep track only). The floor of the Tengger caldera is a vast "sand-sea" 10 kilometers across. Cones of the active Bromo volcano and others rise from here.

Upland to the south shows three lakes, a small rest house at Mt. Semeru, the highest mountain and still active volcano in Java. Though under PHPA jurisdiction, no special permit is at present required for a visit to this particular reserve.

Lore Kalamanta

The altitude ranges from 700 to 2,000 meters over an area of 13 1,000 hectares.

By road from Palu, Central Sulawesi south to Kulawi (70 kilometers) or Gimpu (130), then on foot with guides/hired porters, camping gear and food stuffs over the 1800 meters ridge into the valleys beyond. There are no facilities, but accommodation can be found in occasional villages of the Western Toraja people, who travel the paths into and out of their isolated valleys regularly to trade.

The reserve includes fine lowland and mountain forests, many streams, much wildlife especially the anoa (swarf buffalo), babi-rusa, and black macaques. Interesting megaliths are found in the valleys.

Kutai

The reserve covers 200,000 hectares and goes up to 340 meters in altitude. By road from Samarinda, East Kalimantan, to Sangata, 80 kilometers to the north, by boat up to the Sangata river. In spite of timber exploitation and the logging access road, the reserve still contains large areas of good lowland rain forests. Boat trips with side excursions by foot offer a chance to see some of the hardwood forests of East Kalimantan.

Adventure

Traditional Parks and Gardens in Indonesia