MEET RHINO AT UJUNG KULON - BANTEN WESTERN JAVA

Want to meet Rhino? Come to Ujungkulon, Banten, Western Java and take a chance to play with him…hehe (I am kidding)

Ujung Kulon (means : Western Tip) is located at the westernmost tip of Java Island, within Banten province of Indonesia.

The Ujung Kulon National Park is the triangular peninsula situated at the south western-most tip of Java. It includes the volcanic island group of Krakatau and other islands including Panaitan, as well as smaller offshore islets such as Handeuleum and Peucang on the Sunda Strait.

Ujung Kulon is Indonesia’s first and prime National Park, which was designated as a nature reserve since 1921.  This is the largest remaining lowland tropical rainforest ecosystem in West Java. And, together with the awesome Krakatau volcano the 137,000 hectares Park was declared Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Ujung Kulon is the habitat of the rhinoceros of which only about 60 survive today. Seeing one of these animals is very rare since they are shy and are traceable only at night. Typical Javan rhinos were over 170 cm in height. At the shoulders, more than 3 metres in length and 2,200 kg. In body weightJavan rhinos are believed to be capable of running as fast as a person and so advice to visitors, should they happen to come across one, is to climb the nearest tree and take a photo - in that order.

Here also roam free some endangered animals like leopard cats, gibbons, long-tailed macaques, leaf-monkeys, crocodiles, muntjaks, mousedeer and herds of grazing wild oxen. In the Park’s surrounding seas are found the great clam, clown fish, angel fish, parrot fish, mudskippers which can climb trees, and archer fish, which spit water up to a height of more than two meters to catch insects…amazing, right?

How to get there

From Jakarta, you can drive to Serang (Banten Province) via highway, then continue to Labuan, which will take approximately 2 hours. Ujung Kulon can be reached by chartered speedboat from Labuan to Peucang Island, which takes about 5 hours. Or you can travel for 3.5 hours by car from Labuan to Tamanjaya, where trip into the park usually starts.

Optionally you can find some travel agency at Jakarta to arrange everything for you.

Where to stay

Accommodations are available on Peucang Island and at Handeuleum Island.

What to eat

Accomodation at Peucang and Handulum Island serve 3 meals a day.

What to do

The Ujung Kulon Park is also rich in plant life. It has nearly 1000 species of plants with some 57 categorized as endangered species, including various species of orchids.

Visitors to the Park may also enjoy fast flowing rivers, waterfalls, white sandy beaches, thermal springs, thrilling caves, and beautiful sea gardens. You can observe animals is at Handeuleum Island. From here you can further explore rivers and mangrove forests. While Peucang Island is ideal for snorkeling, diving and fishing with its clear blue water, white beaches and coral reefs.

Panaitan Island offers diving and surfing experience. In this island there is a place called ‘one palm point’, a perfect place for surfing for its high and big waves.

Some tips

·         Best time to visit the Ujung Kulon Park is between April through September. To enter the Park a permit is required obtainable at the Forestry and Nature Protection office in Labuan. Visit their official site here.

·         Do not forget to bring some foods and drinking water with you.

·         Before visiting Ujung Kulon you had better consume some anti malaria medicine and take some anti mosquito lotion with you.