In the eastern tip of the Java island (Indonesia), there is a volcano that has been inactive ie Baluran mountain. Baluran name was the inspiration for the name of a national park into a wildlife reserve since 1937. Baluran national park becomes wildlife refuges that have views like in Africa so it is often called by the little African in Java. Baluran national park has an area of 25,000 hectares consisting of mangrove forests, coastal forest, monsoon forest, swamp forest, evergreen forest along the years, Bama beach, and Bekol savannah. Alluvial and volcanic soil types dominate the area land in this park. Fertile soil make variety of trees and grasses grow well, so that becomes a source of food for the animals that were there.
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a flock of deer in Baluran national Park (this image belongs to Rochmad Setyadi)
image source: https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:Wild_Deers_near_Bama_Point,_Baluran.jpg |
Baluran national park has about 444 species of plants, 26 species of mammalia, and 155 species of birds. Species typical tree of Baluran national park is Widoro Bukol (Ziziphus rotundifolia), Mimba (Azadirachta indica), Pilang (Acacia leucophloea), etc. There is a kind of unique tree namely Pilang tree, this tree is similar to a tree that was in the Avatar movie. Banteng (Bos javanicus javanicus) becomes animals that became an icon of Baluran national park. The others mammals which found in Baluran national park is a wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), many kind of deer (Muntiacus muntjac, Cervus timorensis, Tragulus javanicus pelandok), leopard (Panthera pardus), etc. The most interesting bird species is the peacock because it has a tail that can be inflated and very beautiful. The male peacock using his beauty tail to attract females peacock. The others bird species that exist in Baluran national park is hornbill (Anthracoceros convexus), Bangau tong-tong (Buceros rhinoceros), stork casks (Leptoptilos javanicus), and Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea), etc.
Places which most visited by tourists are Bama beach and Bekol savannah. Bama beach is a white sandy beach which has a beautiful coral reef and a lot of fish. Bama beach lies between mangroves and acacia trees that grow as long as 3 kilometers. Travelers can enjoy Bama beach with snorkeling, canoeing, boating, swimming, or even diving. Bama beach has very clear sea water and the fish can be seen occasionally swim in the seaside. In the Bama beach, there is a sonneratia tree (mangrove) which becomes the biggest mangrove tree (with a circumference of 4.5 meters) in the world. There is also a Bidata tree that becomes the largest tree in Asia. Nuance of Bekol savannah natural scenery reminiscent of about the African. Bekol savana in the Baluran national park has a very beautiful view and decorated by a view of Baluran mount. Visitors who love hiking, they can climb Baluran mount along with officers who are in the Baluran national park. Mount Baluran has a height of 1,240 meters above sea level.
Existing facilities at Baluran national park are worship place, shelters, canteens (usually closed on Monday), cottage, guide office, viewing tower, the trail, etc. Location of Baluran national park can be accessed using any vehicle even public transport. Ticket to enter the national park area of Baluran national park is IDR 2,500 (USD 0.25) for the local tourists, IDR 20,000 (USD 2) for foreign tourists, and IDR 6,000 (USD 0.6) for each vehicle that brought by the visitor. Baluran national park is located in Jalan Jenderal Ahmad Yani 108 (Jenderal Ahmad Yani 108 street), Banyuwangi, Indonesia zip code 68416. The distance is 255 kilometers from the Surabaya city or 35 kilometers from the center town of Banyuwangi. Many accommodation are available around the Baluran national park.
