Komodo Island is located in West Flores Island. It is part of the lesser Sunda chain of islands, Indonesia. The island has a surface area of 390 square kilometers. It is surrounded by mangrove shrublands, coral reefs, Savanah, and forest. Komodo Island is known as the place where over 2.000 Komodo Dragons are inhabitants.
Besides the Komodo Dragons, the island of Komodo also has beautiful beaches on the north side. There is also a village which is called Kampung Komodo. There is over one thousand population living on the island. They are living together with Komodo Dragons and other wildlife.
Most of the population on the island are fishermen. They also work in the tourism area and become rangers or Komodo tour guides. In some tour arrangements, they will offer you to experience the local life on the island. Visitors can visit the village and learn more about the fact of its village and the people.
Getting to Komodo Island
Komodo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the main tourist destinations in Indonesia. You will only have access to the island by boat tour from Labuan Bajo, Lombok, and Bali.
The following are the best ways to get there:
- Join the boat trip from Labuan Bajo. The tour company offers a variety of tour packages such as full-day tours and many more.
- Flight from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo, and then book a Komodo boat trip. You can choose to do a day tour or overnight tours.
- 4-day Komodo island boat trip from Lombok with the Phinisi boat. This boat tour offers 3 schedules a week.
- Use PELNI, a big ship from Bali. This big ship is scheduled 2 times a month. You can choose to depart from Bali or Lombok.
There are more tour operators that offer the best tours to Komodo. Visit the Komodo tours webpage from Labuan Bajo for details.
The Best Time to Visit
Indonesia has two seasons, rainy and dry. The dry season is from April to the end of September while the rainy season is from October to March.
The best time to visit in a year is from April to September. During this period Indonesia has a dry season. So it's best if you don't want to go into bad weather. During the rainy season, from October to the end of March, Indonesia will have a rainy season. Most seas are rough and rainy during the visit.
When you plan to visit Komodo dragons, all you need to do is prepare yourself physically. You will have to go trekking on the island to find the Komodo dragons.
Things to Know When Visiting Komodo Dragons
Komodo dragons are the wild largest lizard in the world. Here are some tips for your best travel to Komodo:
- Find a reliable travel agent
- Never try to go alone
- Keep silent while you are on the island
- Do not smoke, the island is very dry, and it is easy to burn.
- Keep your eyes during the trek, baby Komodo's are sometimes on the tree.
- Report to the ranger when you find a problem.
- Women on their period are not recommended
- Make sure you are always with the ranger.
Apart from Komodo Dragons, you will also find other wildlife such as deer, buffalo, birds, and snakes. A beautiful pink sand beach is located in the north of the island. It is about 30 minutes from the main harbor.
