The land of dragon is real and it’s not even a film set from Game of Thrones. The real life dragons has no wings, but its region promises a raw and fulfilling adventure that won’t be found at anywhere else. Travelers of previous decade were mainly make their trip to see the majestic dragon with their own eyes, but ended up discovering many other natural wonders hidden between the deserted islands. Today, the UNESCO protected Komodo National Park offers great experience that will make the most adventurous souls leap with joy. Here, we have gathered best places to visit for rare fauna exploration on a Komodo sailing trip.
Komodo Dragons in Komodo Island
Of course, our main star of the frontier wildlife. The rare Komodo dragons and the last of their kind, giant monitor lizard from prehistoric Australia. Somehow, during the evolution process, they end up migrating to the latter known Lesser Sunda Islands chains. They found a greatly comfortable place and now refuse to migrate to other part of the region—even though they are perfectly capable to do so. We know their modern home as the Komodo Island and Rinca, officially the only sanctuary of the last dragon on earth. And mind you, even though they receive a great care from park rangers and abundant supply of fresh meats, these beasts are still as wild as ever. Never expect them to be docile—despite how lazy and chill they are under the sun—or worse, pet them, if you still want to come back from the Komodo sailing trip alive.
More Komodo Dragons in Rinca Island… and Birds
Some people never have enough. And it’s perfectly fine to not have enough of the dragons. You can only meet them in this specific part of the world, anyways! For those who wants more dragons, head to Rinca—especially if you excited to observe the minor difference. Dragons of Rinca is slightly smaller, with more triangle-shaped head. The island is also a great place to see water buffalos, Timor deers, and exotic birds.
The Bad Big Bats in Kalong Island
If you always associate sunset with romantic vibes, wait until you dock near Kalong (literally big bats) Island. Your captain will anchored the boat a few miles near the “island” while the sky is turning into crimson red. Wait in the deck and see. The sunset here will take you into a very Nat Geo-ish experience, Wild channel. One or two bats will take their departure from the island as the sun down, and soon the sky is full of thousands flying foxes, screeching and flying in continuous stream for what seems to be forever. it’s one of those magical moment when you’ll truly appreciate nature’s wildest show. A sunset watch with the bats is a perfect closure for the Komodo sailing trip of the day—just be careful to not get bats’ poo in your head.
The Cutest Pygmy Seahorses in Batu Bolong
Pigmy seahorses is one of the rarest ocean dwellers that can only be found in few part of the world. These tiny, cute animal lives among gorgonian sea fans for their whole live, adopting the coral’s structure and camouflage seamlessly with the branch. In Komodo, they are found Batu Bolong and Crystal Rock dive site, residing in the depth of 16 – 40m. Spotting them is virtually impossible—they can just look like an appendage of the sea fan! But when you do see them, you gonna have a hard time to believe in what you’re really looking at.
Majestic Mantas in Manta Point/ Manta Alley
Ah, no adventure in Komodo is complete without seeing the Manta Rays. These gentle giants of the sea is the ocean star that just as famous as the dragons. Manta Points and Manta Alley is always on Komodo sailing trip itinerary to see the manta. The sight of them gliding gracefully amidst the blue world will always feel otherworldly.
Playful Dolphin in Komodo Waters
No matter how many times you’ve seen dolphins, this cheerful creature will never fail to make you go “Oooh” and “Aaaah” with their jump, dives, and playful antics. Luckily, the unpolluted and deep-water channels of Komodo waters serves as a great spot to meet them. The bottlenose and spinner dolphins are the residents of Komodo waters for all the year-round. They are fairly easy to spot almost anywhere in Komodo region without a specific sighting spot.