I had booked us a 3 day boat tour from the Indonesian island of Flores. Along the way we had some incredible snorkel swims and visited several of the islands in Komodo National Park, including the amazing Padar Island and Komodo Island, where we got to see the legendary Komodo Dragon.
Indonesia: Komodo National Park
One of the things I most enjoyed about our 3-day boat tour of the islands from Flores was a visit to the legendary Komodo Island to see the Komodo Dragons.
The Komodo dragon or Komodo monitor is a member of the monitor lizard family and is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Montang. It is the largest lizard species, growing to a length of 3m (9.8 feet) and weighing up to 70kg (150lb). The Komodo dragons hunt and ambush their prey which includes invertebrates, birds, and mammals. Their favourite food is the Javan rusa, a large type of deer. As well as live prey these lizards are happy to eat carrion. The Komodo dragon is also known to occasionally attack people.
They mate between May and August and lay their eggs in September. Around 20 eggs are laid, and they take seven to eight months to incubate. Young Komodo dragons spend their early life up in trees to avoid predators, especially mature Komodo dragons as they are cannibalistic. It takes around 9 to 10 years to reach maturity, and they can live up to 30 years.
On Komodo Island, there is a large pier which allows cruise ships to dock. Luckily, today there were no cruise ships. Despite the fact our boat could have easily docked here we still used the tender to reach the island. As we walked down the long pier, we could see that there were some Komodo dragons on the beach, so we quickened our pace to make sure we did not miss them. At the end of the pier, a huge, somewhat dilapidated arch welcomed us to Komodo Island. We were keen to head to the beach, but first, we had to be handed over to the custody of an official tour guide.
We had several options for hikes; short, medium, and long and opted for the medium trail which was about 3km.
We were keen to get onto the beach and quickly bypassed the row of small shops that lined the beach and sold gifts to the tourists. Immediately we met our first wild Komodo dragon – a huge male that must have been 3m long. Having heard that these beasts have been known to attack people we had some trepidations about getting too close. Shortly before arriving, Karen had read about a Komodo dragon that had somehow sneaked into the office of a National Park official on the island and attacked the poor man, leaving him seriously injured. Our guide assured us that we were safe and encouraged us to get very close so he could take some great photos of us next to this Komodo dragon. I assume he did his photographer duty to ensure getting a good tip, and to be fair he did a wonderful job.
After getting a good number of photos with this large male we headed further down the beach where we saw a baby Komodo, which is rare as they are usually up trees to avoid getting eaten, and three other larger specimens.
From the beach, we headed inland. The forest on Komodo is dense and primarily made up of bushes and trees. I remember recently watching a David Attenborough documentary that covered his many decades of visiting the wild extremities of the planet in search of animals and what they had to do to capture them on video. One of his earlier expeditions in the 1960s had been to this very island in search of Komodo dragons. I expect things were very different when Sir David arrived here than we were seeing today! After about 2km we reached a waterhole where there were another five mature Komodo dragons. A couple were just lazing about in the heat of the day, the others were moving around the waterhole and the nearby forest.
By the time we returned to the beach, our guide was excited that we’d seen nine Komodo dragons. It is estimated that there are 5700 of these giant lizards on these Indonesian islands and 2500 on Komodo island, so they are not so rare within this small range. Being sceptical I expect he was saying what a great job he had done to get a better tip. That said we were happy having seen the incredible animals in the wild and up so close.
Getting to Komodo National Park
There are many ways to get to Komodo National Park. You’d have to get to Labuan Bajo first, which is located in Flores Island. Think of it as the first stop before you reach the three major islands in Komodo National Park.
The quickest, safest, and most convenient way to get to Labuan Bajo is by air. You can fly from the many main Indonesian islands such as Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Praya. Airlines frequent Flores Island daily, so you don’t have to worry about catching another flight if you miss a trip.
You may also take a ferry trip from Bali to Labuan Bajo, but it’s not advisable since it takes 36 hours to reach Flores Island. The trip may also be rocky. It may be a budgeted way of traveling, but you’d be spending a night at sea which might be a waste of time for some who would like to get to their destination and spend that extra night in Labuan Bajo already.
The best time to visit Komodo National Park
The Best Time to Visit Komodo Island
Located on the western coast of Flores Island in Indonesia, Komodo Island has two main seasons: the rainy and dry seasons. Komodo Island has a drier climate with a shorter monsoon than the rest of the islands in Indonesia because of the dry air mass flowing from the Australian continent.
This unique climatic condition has helped create the region’s savannah hills, which are often framed against a stunning blue sky in the dry months. According to Weather Spark, on Komodo Island, the temperature usually stays between 22 and 31 degrees Celcius (71.6 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit) or goes beyond 32 degrees Celcius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
However, the seasons in Komodo National Park are suitable for boat trips all year. Each period provides you with a beautiful perspective and offers a different experience that you can enjoy on this island.
1. The Dry Season: April to September
The dry season starts from April to September. This period is widely regarded as the best time to visit Komodo Island. During these months, the weather is mostly sunny and dry. Thus, this period provides ideal conditions for outdoor activities.
2. The Rainy Season: November to March
The rainy season, which starts from November to March, is marked by frequent rainfall and higher humidity.
When The Best Time to Visit Komodo Island
Even though Komodo Island can be visited throughout the year, however, the timing is crucial for the best unforgettable experience. Each period provides the best experience that you can choose. Below, we give the cheatsheet of the best time to visit Komodo Island special for you!
1. April to June
At this period, the islands are green and lush since the rainy season has just ended. You can see many manta rays and Komodo dragons in the park around June. The sea is usually very clear and calm from April to June. There is a good chance to see whale sharks during this period.
2. July to August
This period is the peak season in Komodo National Park since calm seas and favorable weather conditions make it the perfect time to visit Komodo Island. It might be tricky to see Komodo dragons around this time, as it is mating season for them.
3. September to November
This period is the best time to visit Komodo Island. It is manta season, whale season, and Komodo dragons season.
4. December to March
This period is usually still good for visiting Komodo. In these months, the sea is still calm, although it often rains at night. Komodo dragons are very active during this time of year.
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