eunike's posts with tag: bama beach
|  | July 22-23, 2007
I won’t be surprised now whether people called Baluran National Park the little Africa in Java Island. The next destination after Sempu gave me many similar sights as I used to see in TV or book about Africa and its savannah.
The Baluran National Park is located in Desa Wonorojo, Banyu Putih district, Situbondo, East Java. It occupies about 25 hectares including monsoon forest, ever-green forest, natural savannah desert, thick mangrove forest and sea (did saw those kind of forest and their significant difference) . Baluran mountain (1,247 metres high) is now non-active, but public isn’t allowed to hike to.
To reach Baluran National Park (BNP) was quite easy. Batangan, the entrance gate is located just in the left side of pantura big road to Banyuwangi. Bringing no car, you could book BNP’s truck/ jeep to pass 12 kilometers “poor” road to Bekol station (but by prior confirmation). We arrived at 02.30 a.m. and had to wait a few hours in Batangan since we gave no prior booking/coming confirmation to the officer :p but it was ok! There one or two 24 hours warung for a cup of coffee or sleep a while near the entrance gate. Regular bus would be too big to pass the low down trees, but our mini bus was allowed heading to Bekol station.
Arriving at Bekol station after 50 minutes riding the bus, we were greeted by many wild Macacas and dramatic morning ray of lights. Bekol was the BNP tourism-research center. It had enough facilities such resorts (3 type of pesanggrahan here), mosque, clean water and lavatory, information center, musholla, gathering hall and more. You just need to order first to stay since the rooms not always available.
The Pesanggrahan/ resort was fairly nice, comfy and clean enough; but be careful to the macacas that could get into the house. Make sure you lock the door/window/room and put foods in safe place. Also there was a 6 meters watching tower placed in a peak next to our resort, where we could widely see the BNP area, from the forests, savannah, mountain to the sea.
Unloading all our stuff, bathing, cooking our very late breakfast (since none kept in mind to bring gases out from the bus that leaving us), we had muuuch break time for narscis “futu2” time; also fun experimental shooting with the lomo fisheyes!! (plz wait for a while when it is printed. I’ll add them later). This trip was easy and very loose! No many destinations as we used to have for a trip. I dunno why but seem the time went so slowly during this trip. Umm…. Doesn’t good thing swiftly pass?
Visiting BNP meant we had chances for wildlife watching; from wild buffalos, wild bulls, deers, antelopes, wild boars, panthers, mangrove and wild cats, to 147 species of birds, such uli-uli, peacocks, and jungle fowls. But seem we were not that lucky to see those all!! :p At 03.40 p.m., we were going to do what we were there for (messy wording! Bingung ga, loe! :p); trekking and snorkeling! The group was divided into two teams; some just head to Bama beach (2,8 kilometers from Bekol) by bus for snorkeling and sunset while the rest did trekking for animals watching with a longer distance.
I chose trekking for sure! Since watching animal was my mission and my biggest interest *even I had to defy Paketu, hehehe peace! v(^ - ^) v mas yudi!* but for sure better to obey! It was just about proper outfit to do trekking in BNP. Pak Henry, our knowledgeable and kind guide, advised us to wear proper outfits such long shirt, trousers, shoes (even I had only “sandal gunung” and 7/8 trousers), and hat! Those were to keep you safe from thorny vegetations, kutu babi/louse, and probably snakes!
The trekking was relatively easy; sloping path easily noticed from Bekol station to Acasia forest (watch your step to avoid the thorns). The problem was just about time, thorns, and a naughty bunch of photographers. I was next to Pak Henry always in frontline, so I got a lot of new knowledge about the plants and animals, but then… as I stepped out from the tight Acasia forest to a bare land whose dramatic scenes suddenly bumped to my eyes, I was getting behind and more. Just a few minutes Pak Henry and other trekkers were swallowed by the tall grass of savannah, disappeared from my sight. WOW! I got lost!!
The bare area was Acasia arabica killing field. This plant was introduced into BNP in 1964 as fire barricading medium. Getting widen quite quickly and disrupting the savannah ecosystem, BNP tries to control its growth.
Back to the lost me.. I was not alone! :p Roni, Harum, Yadi, Sony, Didiek, Putu, Vero, Tyo, and Andri were engaged taking pictures, too. LOL. The scenes were too precious to just leave behind. The coming sunset brought warm nuance to the blue sky, emphasized the beautiful shape of the clouds and perfectly matched with the vast yellow savannah. About 1 hours trekking without a guide, we still had a lot fun!! kept laughing but taking care each other, too. But yep! We lost a chance to see wild animals as the sun set down. Dark already but we knew we were on the right track. Later, we met Pak Henry not far from main road to Bama beach and other ones in Bama.
Going back to Bekol by bus, we passed a big group of wild deer. Too bad it was already dark to clearly see or to take pictures. But…
Lucky me!! i got the second chance to visit the same track and took a lot pictures of wild deers and peacocks in the next morning! Hurray!! \(^ -^)/ In the night after we had our dinner, was Pak Henry that offered to all of us to do “nyanggong” (waiting on hidden tree house to watch wild bull drinking in very late night for min. 4 hours – max only for 3 person) or riding his motorcycle next morning to see wild deer groups (only for one person). Ummm.. Seem other else too shy or too sleepy to catch the offer, but I did! :p
After waking up early at 04.30 and having sunrise from Bekol tower, I tried my luck to watch and take pictures of the wild animals. Just a few minutes leaving Bekol, I already saw a bunch of female peacock. They were flying away when I got close, the same reaction as the second bigger group with a beautiful male peacock. We did broke up a very big group of wild deers as we passed them. Some in my left, some in my right, some behind me, some in front of, cautious and hiding between the Acasia. I love this moment! They all were staring at me, watching me even my lil movement. Female deers were more cautious than Rangga, the big male ones. As she sounded a short “quik” voice, quickly the group left me. umm.. they were beautiful!
Very happy to get this chance! And much happier to visit Baluran National Park again.. some day…
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Summary
Malang – Batangan, Situbondo
5-6 hours by bus
Only Simpati cellular phone number has signal in BNP.
But it may drop sometimes.
Batangan – Bekol station
12 kilometers poor road
40-50 minutes
Booking the BNP truck
200,000 IDR/ return way
Entrance ticket
Foreign 20,000 IDR
Domestic 2,500 IDR
Student 1,250 IDR
2 wheel vehicle 3,000 IDR
4-6 wheel vehicle 6,000 IDR
Bekol station – Bama beach
2.8 kilometers, 20 minutes by bus
2 hours trekking thru savannah
Best time for animal watching
05.00 a.m. (seeking food, bathing, etc)
04.00 p.m. (having a rest under trees)
Bekol Resort
25,000 IDR/person
7,500 IDR for meal/person
Mostly BNP electricity by solar cell
Black out at 10.00 p.m
150,000 IDR for fuel to keep the electric after 10.00 p.m.
Guide fee
75,000 IDR/day
Souvenirs
T shirt 25-30,000 IDR
Pin 5,000 IDR
For further information:
Baluran National Park (banyuwangi office)
Jl. K.H. Agus Salim 132
Banyuwangi 68425
tnbaluran@telkom.net
P. +62 333 424119
Situbondo office
P. +62 333 461107
Or email me to get Pak Henry or other forest ranger/officer's number ;)
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