Baluran National Park | Komodo National Park

BALURAN NATIONAL PARK


Baluran National Park can be found in East Java and is often referred to a "Africa van Java". The landscape of Baluran National Park is indeed similar to that of Africa: a wide savannah that is home to flocks of birds and animal herds, including Javanese Bulls, Timorese deer, wild water buffaloes, wild pigs, wild dogs and leopards. Alas, some of this animals are protected and their number already down to just a few dozen. 
Birds are easiest creature to find in Baluran National Park. In total there are 179 species listed as having settled in the parks 25,000 hectares. To make Baluran Nation Park watching easy, the management of national park has published a bird watching guide book complete with a distribution map for each species. Baluran was officially declared a national park on 6 March 1980.


How to get there   
Baluran is located in Banyuputih, East Java, and is bordered by the Madura Strait to the north and the Bali strait to the east. It can be reach from Bali or Surabaya. Information about Baluran National Park including its wildlife can be found at www.balurannationalpark.web.id.




KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

Regardless of whether it is voted one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature, the Komodo National Park is surely one of the wonders of the world. This 180,000 hectare conservation area is habitat of the world's most gigantic, ancient lizard, namely the Komodo dragon, whose population at present estimated to be around 2,700.
Located between Sumbawa and Flores, this national park encompasses three main islands - Komodo, Rinca and Padar - and several smaller ones. UNESCO designated it a World heritage site in 1991. 


The Komodo dragon is a killing machine equipped for just about anything. This thick-skinned lizard can run at up to 20 km/hours. it can climb tree, swim and even dive. The motto of hunting the Komodo is "You cannot run and you cannot hide".
Unlike  other predators that rely on incisors or poison, the komodo relies on its saliva to knock out its prey and there are no less than 57 types of pathogen in its mouth. The bitten prey will die between two to four days, the Komodo will than track down its dead body using the smell sensor located in its tongue. For safety reasons, visitors are always escorted by rangers while Komodo watching on the island. In addition to watching this fearsome dragon, visitors may also enjoy trekking and diving in the National Park and a relaxing season on the island's famous Pink Beach and its pinkish white sand.


How to get there  
Komodo National Park is located in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Fly to Labuan Bajo, and than continue your journey by boat. A more interesting option is to enjoy liveaboard programme on a cruise ship for two to nine days, starting from Labuan Bajo, Bali or Lombok. Information on Komodo National Park can be found at www.komodonationalpark.org.