Wild and mountainous in part with rolling green savannahs and cliffs plummeting down to white sandy beaches fringed by the turquoise ocean, these islands must be seen to be believed.
Remote and beautiful, the Komodo islands in eastern Indonesia form one of the last paradises on earth. Wild and mountainous in part with rolling green savannahs and cliffs plummeting down to white sandy beaches fringed by the turquoise ocean, these islands must be seen to be believed. Most people come here for one of two reasons, either for the exceptional scuba diving or to get up close and personal with the world’s biggest lizard.
This chain of islands, formed by Komodo Island, Rinca Island, and Padar Island, plus a few smaller islets and is one of Indonesia’s most spectacular world heritage sites. This area rates as being of such ecological importance that the region was established as a National Park in 1980 and made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. All flora and fauna, as well as all the wildlife, on land and under the ocean, are protected here. This region is also famously known as the only place the Komodo dragon roams in its natural habitat.
This incredible species is the largest lizard in the world and a member of the monitor lizard family. They can, in exceptional cases, grow up to 3 meters in length and reach weights of up to 70 kilograms. Wake early to be taken ashore on a guided tour by one of the park rangers and learn how these fantastic creatures perform a ‘virgin birth,’ swim between islands and have a venomous bite.
The Komodo Islands encompass a wealth of excellent dive sites, and it is possible to simply jump off your luxury liveaboard into the ocean and see an abundance of life. Don’t forget to visit some of the real crowd-pleasers which include Castle Rock, Manta Point, Batu Bolong and Pink Beach. Even if you don’t scuba dive snorkelling is just as rewarding here.
Numerous dive sites in the region are uncharted and only known to the boats that sail these unique waters. Caves, coral gardens, swim-throughs and chimneys swarm with reef favourites such large groupers, snappers, sweetlips, jacks, and sharks. Some spots are renowned for turtles, dolphins and manta rays and others for their wealth of invertebrate life and rare pygmy seahorses.
Asides from the diving and the dragons, this destination offers endless splendours from the natural world. There are legendary pink beaches formed by the high quantity of organ pipe coral breaking off from surrounding reefs, peaceful pellucid seas and sunsets thronging with bats leaving the mangroves in the cool dusk.
