Baluran National Park
|
Written on May 2021
National Park of Baluran is the biggest Savanna in Asia, well-known as The Africa of Asia (or Little Africa van Java). Unique place, very different from the rest of Indonesia. No tropical forest, just dry flat grassland with scattered trees and extinct volcano in the middle. You can observe an extensive wild life. Why should you visit Baluran National Park: How we did it |
RELATED POSTS
|
|
|
1. To see Savanna
The park has a relatively dry climate and mainly consists of savanna (40%), as well as lowland forests, mangrove forests, and hills, with the extinct volcano, Baluran, at its center.
The scenery is very different from the rest of Indonesia, quite a unique place in the region. No jungle. Savanna-like terrain is reminiscent of East Africa, American wild wide west, Alentejo in Portugal or northern South America.
If you are Indonesian and or any person that is most of the time surrounded by jungle (or city) and humid climate, this dry land will be a nice change of scenery. You will feel like in another country! Try it!
But to be honest, for me as European that lived many years in Portugal it was a nice trip, but not one of the must-see. I wouldn’t come all the way here from Jakarta just to see Baluran National Park, but once you are here in the region and you have time, then I would definitely recommend it.
The park has a relatively dry climate and mainly consists of savanna (40%), as well as lowland forests, mangrove forests, and hills, with the extinct volcano, Baluran, at its center.
The scenery is very different from the rest of Indonesia, quite a unique place in the region. No jungle. Savanna-like terrain is reminiscent of East Africa, American wild wide west, Alentejo in Portugal or northern South America.
If you are Indonesian and or any person that is most of the time surrounded by jungle (or city) and humid climate, this dry land will be a nice change of scenery. You will feel like in another country! Try it!
But to be honest, for me as European that lived many years in Portugal it was a nice trip, but not one of the must-see. I wouldn’t come all the way here from Jakarta just to see Baluran National Park, but once you are here in the region and you have time, then I would definitely recommend it.
2. To observe wildlife
We have seen many deer, monkeys, wild peacocks, and wild chickens.
The park is home to 26 types of mammals, like water buffalo, wild cattle, wild boars, and extensive bird life (green peafowl, red and green jungle fowl, horn-bills, woodpeckers, bee-eaters, etc)
Monkeys will not disturb you but avoid any plastic bag noise (plastic bag noise = food)
We have seen many deer, monkeys, wild peacocks, and wild chickens.
The park is home to 26 types of mammals, like water buffalo, wild cattle, wild boars, and extensive bird life (green peafowl, red and green jungle fowl, horn-bills, woodpeckers, bee-eaters, etc)
Monkeys will not disturb you but avoid any plastic bag noise (plastic bag noise = food)
How we did it
We flew from Jakarta to Banyuwangi airport with an early flight that landed in Banyuwangi at 7:00 am (as that was the only flight available during the pandemic on April 2021). We booked a car with a driver and guide in advance. We had a guide too, but you don’t really need a guide for this trip.
From the airport, we went directly to the Baluran National Park, which took us about 90 minutes. We bought Baluran Park ticket at the entrance (Pos Tiket Taman Nasional Baluran). There is no need to do it in advance via the internet.
We drive to the observation tower (Bekol, Menara Pandang), took pictures from the tower, then drive to the beach where we took pictures of mangrove trees and went for a short walk on mangrove trail (15 min) and on the Bama beach (15 min). It was a very hot day (it felt like 40C), so we didn’t feel more like walking. However, our friends that have been there 3 years ago (in the afternoon, after Ijen hike) walked from the Bekol observation tower to the Bama beach (2 km, flat, asphalt) and then swam in the sea.
We have seen many deer, monkeys, wild peacocks, and wild chickens. We stop few times and took pictures.
You can make a picnic at the beach, but you have to do it in an area protected by a cage because of the monkeys. Monkeys were everywhere. They were quiet, friendly, and not disturbed by us. Until my friend took food from a plastic bag and then suddenly there were 3 monkeys around us showing their teeth. We quickly jumped into the car.
Afterward, we had lunch in a warung outside of the park (Warung Ndeso Rajwa – very basic Indonesia buffet, plastic plates, but as it was Ramadan, we very happy that it was open, Rp 25 000/pax), went to our hotel, Ijen Resort and Villas, where we spent few relaxing hours by a pool, had an early dinner at went to bed at 8 pm, as we had to hike Ijen at night.
Baluran Map and Entrance:
We flew from Jakarta to Banyuwangi airport with an early flight that landed in Banyuwangi at 7:00 am (as that was the only flight available during the pandemic on April 2021). We booked a car with a driver and guide in advance. We had a guide too, but you don’t really need a guide for this trip.
From the airport, we went directly to the Baluran National Park, which took us about 90 minutes. We bought Baluran Park ticket at the entrance (Pos Tiket Taman Nasional Baluran). There is no need to do it in advance via the internet.
We drive to the observation tower (Bekol, Menara Pandang), took pictures from the tower, then drive to the beach where we took pictures of mangrove trees and went for a short walk on mangrove trail (15 min) and on the Bama beach (15 min). It was a very hot day (it felt like 40C), so we didn’t feel more like walking. However, our friends that have been there 3 years ago (in the afternoon, after Ijen hike) walked from the Bekol observation tower to the Bama beach (2 km, flat, asphalt) and then swam in the sea.
We have seen many deer, monkeys, wild peacocks, and wild chickens. We stop few times and took pictures.
You can make a picnic at the beach, but you have to do it in an area protected by a cage because of the monkeys. Monkeys were everywhere. They were quiet, friendly, and not disturbed by us. Until my friend took food from a plastic bag and then suddenly there were 3 monkeys around us showing their teeth. We quickly jumped into the car.
Afterward, we had lunch in a warung outside of the park (Warung Ndeso Rajwa – very basic Indonesia buffet, plastic plates, but as it was Ramadan, we very happy that it was open, Rp 25 000/pax), went to our hotel, Ijen Resort and Villas, where we spent few relaxing hours by a pool, had an early dinner at went to bed at 8 pm, as we had to hike Ijen at night.
Baluran Map and Entrance:
Drive thru savanna:
Viewing Tower on small Bekol Hill in Baularan Nationa Park:
Baluran Bima Beach (last picture is the picnic place, protected from monkeys by cage):
Bularan Mangrove trail:
|
Duration: 2 hours (our time inside the park)
Where: The park is located in the very East of Java (close to Bali). Entrance point: Pos Tiket Taman Nasional Baluran Area: 25 000 ha (size of 35 000 soccer fields!) Tel: (0333) 461650 Web page: balurannationalpark.id/ Email: [email protected] |
Costs:
Entrance ticket: foreigners: Rp 165 000 - 240 000 / pax, week and weekend (no discount for KITAS holders, but they offered “buy 2 get 1 free”), locals: Rp 5 000 – 7 500 / pax (info on https://balurannationalpark.id/blog/biaya)
Car with driver and guide: Rp 750 000 (probably Rp 500 000 without guide)
Guide:
Pak Alfin: +62 812 3477 0106
Pak Dedi: +62 813 5831 2378 (recommended by Grand Harvest Resort)
Pak Dedi and Pak Alfin are certified guides that helped us to organize a 3-day program around Ijen, arranged an (old) car with a driver (driver could be better), picked us at the airport. Pak Alfin speaks good English, is knowledgeable, and is a pleasant person. Very recommended.
RELATED ARTICLES
Entrance ticket: foreigners: Rp 165 000 - 240 000 / pax, week and weekend (no discount for KITAS holders, but they offered “buy 2 get 1 free”), locals: Rp 5 000 – 7 500 / pax (info on https://balurannationalpark.id/blog/biaya)
Car with driver and guide: Rp 750 000 (probably Rp 500 000 without guide)
Guide:
Pak Alfin: +62 812 3477 0106
Pak Dedi: +62 813 5831 2378 (recommended by Grand Harvest Resort)
Pak Dedi and Pak Alfin are certified guides that helped us to organize a 3-day program around Ijen, arranged an (old) car with a driver (driver could be better), picked us at the airport. Pak Alfin speaks good English, is knowledgeable, and is a pleasant person. Very recommended.
RELATED ARTICLES
|
|
|
|