Javan Rhino by Alain Compost

Ujung Kulon National Park

Ujung Kulon National Park or Taman Nasional Ujungkulon is one of the oldest national park in Indonesia. This national park located in the southwest of Java, and is part of the district of Pandeglang. To the east of the National Park of Gunung Honje ridge runs north-south, which rises up to 620 m. At the southern end joins a peninsula to the west.

peta taman nasional ujung kulon

This peninsula, which are upstream to the north as Handeuleum islands, as well as Peucang and Panaitan Island. The land area covers 76 214 hectares, the adjacent sea zone further 44 337 hectares. The peninsula of Ujung Kulon is mostly flat, with the exception of Gunung Payung with 480 meters to the southwest.

pulau peucang

Panaitan has the Gunung Raksa a central elevation of 360 meters. The group around the island Krakatoa is located approximately 60 km north of Ujung Kulon National Park in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra and covers 2,500 hectares.

To the west of Gunung Honje is followed by a narrow strip of land bordering before wide sandy beaches along the Sunda Strait. The north east coast of the peninsula is mostly marshy. In the north and west of alternate narrow sandy beaches and reefs. In the southwest, the hills fall steeply down to the sea. The south is dominated by wide sandy beaches.

The History of Ujung Kulon

Despite the devastation caused by the 1883 Krakatau eruption, Ujung Kulon National Park has one of most pristine and natural ecosystems in the world. Boasting the largest lowland rain forest in Java, grasslands, mangrove forests, pristine beaches, coral reefs and very diverse flora and fauna. It’s a testament to Mother Nature’s ability to recover after such a dramatic event.

relokasi badak jawa
Sumber; Rhino Resource Center

Whilst the parks natural beauty is undeniable. It’s probably best known as the last sanctuary of the endangered Javan Rhino and the only place in the world where they can breed naturally. Other notable species include the leopard, wild dog (dhole), leopard cat, banteng, deer, Javan mongoose and several species of civets.

Cidaon Grazing Ground Ujungkulon

Three endemic primate species including the Javan gibbon, Javan leaf monkey and silvered leaf monkey are found there, over 270 species of birds, snakes and in the waterways smooth-coated otters and crocodiles, although sightings of these are rare.

The climate is tropical with temperatures between 25 and 30 ° C and 80-90% humidity. ainy season is from October to April and brings with high rainfall (400 mm in December and January) and strong north winds. The driest months are between July and September.

How to Get To Ujung Kulon?

Public Transportation

In Labuan or Carita beach resort in the neighboring even tours are offered in the park. The trip to Krakatau takes about two hours by motorboat. The Ujung Kulon National Park about four hours. By land you can ride the bus from Labuan continued to Taman Jaya (approx. 5 hours) and then either rent a boat or travel on foot through the park.

public car to ujung kulon

Wooden Boat

The park offers some of the most diverse and pristine trekking in Java. The starting point of tours in Ujung Kulon National Park is the city of Labuan in the Sunda Strait to reach from Jakarta by rental car or public bus in 6 to 7 hours. In Labuan, there is the Park Service, which granted permission to visit.

rental-wooden-boat-ujungkulon

On Peucang Island there are guest houses with different equipment and a restaurant on Handeuleum another simple guesthouse, the availability should first be obtained from park management. In Labuan or Carita beach resort in the neighboring even tours are offered in the park.

Speed Boat

Rental_Speed_Boat_Ujungkulon_Krakatau

The trip to Krakatau takes about two hours by motorboat. The Ujung Kulon National Park about four hours. By land you can ride the bus from Labuan continued to Taman Jaya (approx. 5 hours) and then either rent a boat or travel on foot through the park.

To get the most out of Ujung Kulon’s abundant attractions you should allow 3-4 days minimum but it’s the sort of place you could easily lose yourself torn between doing “something” or doing nothing but laze on the beach and having trouble dragging yourself away from, especially if you’re ready for a retreat from the rest of Java’s business.

Tour Guide

A tour guide is mandatory. Since there is no food available on Peucang there, all food can be taken. Water is used at various points in the park there, but it must be boiled and filtered accordingly.

Canoeing Tour

Canoeing_Cigenter_River
Handeuleum out of a canoe trip can be made on the Cigenter river.  To which may be a 2 km-long march through the jungle to connect to a cataract. At the mouth of a clearing Cigenter is an observation tower. Can be placed on the peninsula to the clearing of Cidaon with an observation tower or Cibom and Peucang from the lighthouse on the westernmost tip of Java Tanjung Layar.

For more walks to the south coast or the north are possible. Peucang also offers beautiful coral reefs for snorkeling. Tamanjaya in various ways to offer through the park to the south coast and from there (allow at least 2 days) after Peucang. Along the way there are some shelters to stay, take a tent is an advantage.

For a complete circumnavigation of the peninsula is not because of the swamps in the north-east possible. There are over 100 km of hiking trails, nature conservation due to the largely offshore.  Rarely run lead into the interior of the peninsula. In a cave in the southwest Sanghyang Sirah is a Muslim Shrine, which is sometimes visited by local pilgrims.

The South Panaitans provides ideal waves for surfing. On Panaitan under questionable circumstances in 2005 Surf Camp was established, which has now (2009) abandoned. On the mountain Gunung Raksa is a statue of the Hindu deity Ganesha.
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