Safari Trip in Africa Van Java - Baluran National Park in Banyuwangi, Indonesia

When I just arrived at the Savana which located in Baluran National Park, my expression was kinda bit overreacted because I could finally found almost the same place like my dream travel to savana in Nairobi or Kenya Africa, but unknowingly this is in my country and only 5 hours driving from Surabaya, city where I lived.

Baluran named from the closest mountain around the forest, Baluran Mountain. Baluran National Park is a bit different with national park or forest in other places in Indonesia where there are so many colourful flower with the green grass also surrounded with the variety beautiful animals such as butterflies, swans and etc. It's totally different with Baluran National park which dominated with savanna which also the plant become dry and the grasses turn in to yellow-ish like the real savana in Africa - in certain months. That is why certain people called Baluran National Park as an Africa van Java or little Africa because there is large savanna that full of wild animal, which almost the same  ambience like savanna in Africa.

But still the real savana in Africa can not be comparing with this place and we all knew that Africa is way better in everything but for you guys who wants to find a place that similar with savana in Africa, Baluran National Park might be the best choice to travel destination in Asia.

WAY TO BALURAN NATIONAL PARK

It won't  be hard to find an entrance that says "Baluran National Park" because the main entrance is located on the side of the road which is the main access to Banyuwangi - Surabaya or the reverse way. Heading to savanna which is 10 km away and about 20 minutes from the entrance need transportation either car or motorcycle. It is impossible reached it by walking.

Before exploring further, visitors need to pay the ticket. Because I came in weekend so I had to pay 18.500 in rupiah which is not that expensive. And different price of the ticket for tourist non Indonesia and other need thing to do such as shooting and etc.

And some rules that must be considered by visitors, which will be explained by the staff such as prohibited to bring food to give it to the animals and entering forest without guide or permission.

THE EVERGREEN FOREST TO SAVANNA

Before heading to savanna, about 5 km along the way, we will presented with a view of the green forest on the right and left of the road, that looks green along the year or known as evergreen.  There is a river under the forest that is makes forest always green even in summer season. Passing by the evergreen forest feels like through the green tunnel.

The forest, that called the protected forest (in Indonesian we called it "hutan lindung") aims to protect some of the animals in the national park. 

Baluran National Park is like a miniature all of Indonesia's forests because there are so many type of forests that Indonesia has, we can found it all in here. Such as tropical forest, coastal forest, mangrove forest, brackish forest, season forest, also mountain rain forest and some variety types of forest that I might be forgot of the name. And all of these forests have their own functions. So basically Baluran National Park is a protected park that functions as a conservation park for a variety of animals and plants.

EXPLORING THE SAVANNA BEKOL

On the corner of savanna named Savanna Bekol, there is a beautiful scenery between the savanna, mountain named Baluran Mountain, and the forest. And there also couple of big trees grow up in the middle of savanna.

Unfortunately I came in rainfall season when the savanna turning into green and the grass also the trees perfectly growed up. I've read from others blogger that the right time to visit savanna when in summer or around mid year between July - December when everything turn in to brown-ish and looks exactly almost the same like savana in Africa.

But it's good right when plants thrive so the wild animals there can eat it.

one of the iconic spot in Savana bekol of Baluran National park

Speaking about animal, I couldn't find another animal besides a lot monkeys who tried to chase my food and couples of deer in the middle of savanna. Probably there will be a lot of tropical animal like deer, buffalo, bull, peacock, thousands of species of birds and etc in some areas or maybe in another time.

Like the staff have said, there are 26 types of animals living in here including butterflies but they are probably still in the middle of somewhere for find foods or maybe they living out their life because sometimes the animals are not really comfortable when the visitors coming over.

Except ton of monkeys which more excited when visitors coming 😏

No entry to Savanna

ENJOYING THE CALM of BAMA BEACH

Not only forest and savanna, about 3 km from savanna or in the end of the road, there is a beautiful and calm beach named Bama Beach. The beach is perfect to visit after get tired exploring Savana and need quiet place to chill.

Bama beach is typical of calm beach with no heavy waves even sometimes almost no waves. With white-soft sands and the blue-clear water, it would be perfect for chilling and refresh the mind. For swimming or  just soaking as well.

Be careful with the monkeys

I saw people fishing in the middle of the sea by renting a boat and the staff said visitors allowed to snorkeling as well by renting boat. But I don't know why I'd rather to sit under the tree and enjoy the windy of the sea-wind. Besides the weather was really hot that makes the sea water also hot. So I don't think it is a perfect weather to get wet.

Walk about 500 meters to the left, there is also beach in the same line with different name located behind the forest, that looks like a hidden beach. Unfortunately I don't really know the exact of the name of the beach but the water is more clearly and also there are rocks (not too big) in the edge of the beach that makes beach looks more beautiful.

EXPLORE MANGROVE FOREST

Another places that visitors could explore is Mangrove forest which located in the other side of Bama Beach about 100 meter by walking. As I know not so many beach in Java island comes with beautiful scenery, blue and clear water has mangrove. But it's different with this mangrove forest in Bama Beach which is the biggest mangrove forest in Asia.

The mangrove forest in here is in good managed with walking bridge or famous as mini harbour so visitors can explore the forest and see the grow up of mangroves root that spread all over the edge of the beach. Mangrove in here also cultivated forest growed up on purpose, to reduce the waves.

Be careful with the security before passing the bridge

******

Iam so sorry for the very late update because I lost my mood to write since my last writing and I don't know why. And I feels like all of my writing from my last trip that I plan to wrote is going to expired and too late to updated. But I hope you still excited of my writing as Iam excited to write it.

Wish I got my mood to write again and share many interesting things for all of you guys. And promise to make updates more often.

Anyway how's you guys doing ?
Hope you are all in good and survive in this issue. 
Just remember that you are not alone and we are going to get through this together. As humans.

xoxo, Yunda

If there is anything that you guys want to ask, reach me in social media instagram.

Let's be friend :))

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