About Komodo National Park

The Dragon Princess from Komodo

“A long, long time ago, a beautiful princess lived on Komodo Island. She was known as Putri Naga, or Dragon Princess. The princess married a man named Najo and bore him twins. One was a baby boy, but the other was a baby dragon. She named her son Si Gerong and raisedhim amongst men. The dragon she named Ora and reare her in the forest. Neither knew anything of the other.

Years later, manly Si Gerong shot a deer whilst hunting in the forest. But as he stepped forward to take his quarry, a large lizard appeared from the thicket and seized it hungrily. Si Gerong tried hard to chase the best away, but in vain. It stood firm over the carcass, warning him off with bared teeth.

Si Gerong raised his spear, intending to kill the lizard. Suddenly a radiantly beautiful woman appeared-the Dragon Princess. Swiftly, she parted the foes, telling Si Gerong, “Do not kill this animal, for she is your sister Ora.” I bore you together. Consider her you equal because you are “Sebai”or twins.

From then on, the inhabitants of the island treated the Komodo dragons with kindness. Old dragons that could no longer fend for themselves were fed by their human “brothers.”

 (A traditional folktale from Komodo Island – transcribed by Hilly C. Djohani-Lapian)

Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the island of Sumbawa and Flores which composed by three major islands; Komodo Island, Rinca Island and Padar Island. This Park was established in 1980 and also was designated as Man & Biosphere Reserve in 1977 by UNESCO. Komodo National Park demonstrated exceptional natural beauty and contains the large majority of the only areas in the world in which wild population of Komodo dragon lizard still exist. Based on these values, The UNESCO was designated this Park as a World Heritage Site in 1991. In 2009 the Park became one of the Official Finalist of New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Komodo National Park covers 1.733 square kilometers of rugged hillsides and dry vegetation that highly contrast with the sandy beaches and the blue coral-rich waters. There are more than 250 plants mixed of Asian and Australian species in this Park, some of these grasses and trees are fire adapted. The Park also inhabitant of more than 30 mammals, 130 birds, 1000 fishes, 380 corals and numerous other invertebrate animals.
Most people live in and around Komodo National Park are fisherman which depend on the Park’s waters. There are three villages in the Park; Komodo Village on Komodo Island, Rinca Village on Rinca Island and Papagarang Village on Papagarang Island with more than 4000 people inhabitant.

The Dragons

Komodo Dragons (Varanus Komodoensis) could only be found in the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motang and Nusa Kode in Komodo National Park. Small population of the dragons also could be foundin western and northen Flores. Komodo dragons are carnivorous, cannibal, scavenger and top predator. The main prey of the dragons is Timor deer. They also feed on water buffaloes, wild boars, wild horses and long tailed macaques. The juvenile dragons feed on small lizards, rats, insects and other small animals. The mating season of the dragons occurs in around July – August, about two months later the female dragons will laying the eggs. Around February – April, the juvenile dragons hatch.

Loh Liang on Komodo Island
Loh Liang is the visitor gateway on Komodo Island. It provides opportunity to various activities for visitors, such as:
Komodo dragon and other wildlife watching such as Timor deer, monkey, wild boar, and water buffalo.

  • Bird watching such as Sulphur crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), Orange-footed scrub fowl (Megapodius reinwardt), Sprangled drongo (Dicrurus densus), Green imperial pigeon (Duculaaenea) and Friarbird (Philemon buceroides).
  • Short Trekking about 1 hour
  • Medium Trekking about 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Long Trekking 2 hours
  • Adventure Trekking
  • Photographing and video shooting

Nearby attractions:

  • Diving and snorkeling at Pink beach
  • Thousands of flying foxes on Kalong Island close to Komodo Village

Loh Buaya on Rinca Island
Loh Buaya is the visitor gateway on Rinca Island. It provides opportunity to various activities for visitors, such as:

  • Komodo dragon and other wildlife watching such as water buffalo, long-tailed macaque, Timor deer, wild boar, monkey and wild horse.
  • Short Trekking about 1 hour
  • Medium Trekking about 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Long Trekking 2 hours
  • Adventure Trekking
  • Photographing and video shooting

Nearby attractions:

  • Diving and snorkeling at Wae Nilu
  • Flying foxes on Kalong Island close to Rinca Village
  • Batu Balok close to Rinca Village

Diving and Snorkeling Sites

Komodo National Park waters located on the equator get enough sunlight with the strong current and low sedimentation, providing a lot of plankton and oxygen needed for coral and many other marine organisms. This high level of nutrient significantly creates the richness of marine biodiversity, includes more than 1000 species of fishes, 380 corals and 8 species of seaweed. The Park also become habitat and migratory route for about 24 species of whales and dolphins. Dugongs, whale-sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, Napoleon wrasses, giant clams and triton also could be found here. This combination offers tremendous sites for diving and snorkeling opportunities with the mixed of biodiversity and challenge. There are more than 30 dive sites in the Park.

Accessibility

Access from Bali and Jakarta by Airplane:

  • Direct flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo around 1 hour.
  • Direct flights from Jakarta to Labuan Bajo around 2 hours 30 minutes.

Access from Labuan Bajo to Komodo National Park

By Fast Boat:

  • Labuan Bajo to Rinca Island about 45 minutes
  • Labuan Bajo to Padar Island about 1 hour
  • Labuan Bajo to Komodo Island about 1 hour 30 minutes

By Local Boat:

  • Labuan Bajo to Rinca Island about 2 hours
  • Labuan Bajo to Padar Island about 3 hours
  • Labuan Bajo to Komodo Island about 4 hours

Entrance and Ranger Fee in Komodo National Park

  • Weekday: IDR 500K / Day / Person
  • Weekend/Holiday: IDR 575K / Day / Person

Highlights

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