Visiting the home of the world’s largest lizard “the Komodo Dragon”

Me, from Komodo Island

The Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest lizard which can only be found in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. They can be found almost everywhere on Komodo Island and Rinca Island. They can be found in the forest, in the savanna, on the beach and in the mangrove swamps.

Komodo National park also has amazing underwater life. Diver said that Komodo waters are one of the best diving sites in the world. Really? Let’s go there!

Day-1

Away back in November 2012, when we visited Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara,  where The Komodo National Park located is. From Jakarta we have to take the flight to Denpasar (Bali), and continued with small plane to Labuan Bajo. There are two to three flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo by local Air Transport. So, if you have plan to visit The Komodo National Park on holiday season, you have to arrange the tour at first, cause’ of the number of tourists will visit the island. Do you know The Komodo National park? Let’s study Indonesian’s map down below:

We planned to visit Komodo Island the next day. We arrived at Labuan Bajo in the afternoon, though. And we decided to explored this small city  and planned to watch the golden sunset Labuan Bajo’s have. Exploring the city by car, we visited some “cool” site nearby, called “Bukit Cinta”  or the hills of love. It had beautiful views from the top of the hill. Then, we're waiting for the sunset from the local restaurant on the hill with the balmy evenings, it was the best way to cool us down spending a day in Labuan Bajo. Check these out:

at Bukit Cinta Labuan Bajo

the view from local restaurant

Sunset from Labuan Bajo

Day-2

One of the best way to explore Komodo Island is by boat. So, that was the way we used to. You don’t have to worried about how to rent the boat or get tour to the National Park, because there are various tourism operators in the area that offer both sea and land trips with local Indonesian guides, you can find here.

And here’s the view of the Islands in Komodo National Park:

Komodo Island

As we approached the island by boat, we caught a glimpse of the dragon waddling along the beach. This giant lizard was a fearsome sight, measuring between two or three meters long. 

After buying the tickets and looking for some information on Tourism center in Komodo Island, we started to explore the island, accompanied by two rangers and our local guide and took some sticks with us. Komodos are usually afraid when threatened with a stick. “So, when you are trekking, please take a stick with you”, the ranger said. For your info, if you go to this place with woman who have menstruation, you must report to a ranger for special attention. Komodos have a very strong sense of smell and may turn agressive when they smell blood. So, that we were do, we are women and one of us have got menstruation, and we’ve got special attention from our ranger anyway...

We explored the island and its natural habitat by feet. Your feet will be your trusted companion on this Komodo island. We have to walk to the path of the hills nearby, looking around, and found some deer behind the trees. And woow...  finally, we met them... yeaah three komodos dragon. While the dragon were not active at that moment, it’s a good idea to take photo’s with them, not to close, and kept the ranger around us.

We continued to walk to the next path. The natural habitat of the dragons was beautiful. The savannas and clean blue sea would be seen in the distance when we arrived at the top of the hills. And for your info, most lands of Komodo island are savannas which are prone to fire during the dry season, so smoking is prohibited.  Check these photo’s out:

The view from the hill on Komodo Island

It spent 2 hours walking by feet to explore the island. And we took a rest on one of guess house on the island and had some meals we brought, since no restaurant is available in Komodo island, though. Be care full of the dragon that seems to close by the guess house because of the smell foods.  

Komodo under the guess house

After visiting the home of the dragon, We boarded our boat to Pink Beach. Pink Beach located on another part of Komodo Island. Arriving to the beach, our boat stopped by on the middle of the sea nearby the beach. We jumped directly off the boat and onto the water, and walked on the sand. When standing on the beach itself, it’s definitely see the white sand, and when I took the sands on my hand, it would be seen that the sands mix with the red coral that erodes, and washes ashore here. And we didn't forget to grab our snorkeling gear to do snorkeling here. At pink beach.

Pink Beach

White sand mixed with red coral that erodes

We continued our trip to another site of snorkeling spot. We boarded our boat for a half hours ride to Bidadari Island. Looking around, the clear blue sea, combine with the sunshine, allowed for the good visibilities. We have spent all afternoon swimming around here.

from Bidadari Island

Underwater life in one of snorkeling spot on Komodo National Park

Time went so fast, and the trip on this National park would be over. We were lucky to get this place. Between both dragons and the snorkeling, Komodo National Park was beyond my expectation. Those were wonderful.

Day-3

We have to go back to Denpasar, and we have got an hour to two to kill, by all means we headed out to the other destination in Labuan Bajo. Gua Batu Cermin (Mirror Cave), the place we have visited. It’s not far from the town. There’s a hut at the entrance and with local guide who would take us around the caves for a small fee. The caves was good to see, full of bats and spiders. Well worth a visit.

Gua Batu Cermin

Bye-bye Komodo National Park. I hope I could go to the other site of National Park one day. And leave my daily activity again, and then tell the story again.

The view of the island from the air

Wonderful Indonesia

SitRok