Komodo Dragons

The island of Komodo (KOH-moh-DOH) is dry and barren, with rainfall occurring between November and March. It lies about three hundred miles east of Bali, between the Asian and Australian biogeographical zones—an interesting crossroads for species.

Birds from both zones are found on the island, such as the friarbirds of Australia and the monarch flycatchers of Asia. Komodo is a small island located between the islands of Sum bawa and Flores. The island has about eight hundred human inhabitants and double that number of dragons. Most of the other islands where the dragons live have no permanent human residents at all.

Visitors must pay a park entrance fee of 50,000 rupiah and a camera tax of 25,000 rupiah.

In addition to wildlife viewing, Komodo National Park offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in Indonesia. The waters are clear and the marine life is spectacular. Whales and dolphins travel through the area regularly. Visitors to this area should see the island of Rinca, which is just southeast of Komodo. It’s also part of Komodo National Park, but it offers a slightly different landscape and good dragon populations. Rinca is just a short boat ride from Komodo and Flores.

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While Indonesia comprises thirty-three different provinces, and its official capital is Jakarta, the country’s spiritual capital is Yogyakarta – a beautiful city located southeast of Jakarta. Yogykarta is politically sovereign and still has a Javanese sultan who rules the city. Banda Aceh, in northern Sumatra, also has its own sultan who rules the city. Although these sultans are largely political figureheads who have been carried over from historical eras, they still have significant autonomy and political influence.

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