Highlights of Flores
Flores contains some fantastic highlights which very worth a visit. The Komodo National park for example, world-famous by their Komodo dragons which only occur in this park. And the Keli Mutu National park where a volcano lies with craters which are filled with a coloured lake. Moreover the fisherman village Labuhanbanjo is an absolute must!
Komodo National Park
The Komodo National park was set up in 1980, and is world-famous for its Komodo dragons which only occur in this park. The park is 219,00 hectares large and exists from the islands Komodo, Rinca, a number of smaller islands and the neighbouring waters and a part of the island of Flores. The dragons live on Komodo, Rinca and West-Flores. The islands exist generally from steep cliffs, narrow bays and rivers. Komodo is mountainous. A large part of the island is covered with savannah area and rounds man palms and open grass area. Rinca also has a savannah like landscape and has three mounts which dominate the picture. In the south you find the highest top of the Dora Ora which is 667 meters high and in the north the tops of the Doro Raja and Gunung Tumbah, respectively 351 and 187 meters high. If you want to see the dragons on Komodo then you are oblige to do that under accompaniment of ranger. Adult dragons are between 170 and the 180 centimetres long and approximately 35 up to 55 kilos heavy. The dragons don’t seen fast but they are super-fast when they attack. And since they eat everything what they can catch or kill and also the much larger water buffalo not safe people will also be part of its menu card. Dragons can smell also very well, the dragon will smell an indisposed woman from a large distance. The fragrance of blood will make the dragons go mad. You can reach the park from the fisherman village Labuhanbanjo on West-Flores what also is the shortest route. If you came with a boat form the island Sumbawa you’ll need a seven hour trip.
Keli Mutu National Park
In the south of Central-Flores lies Keli Mutu National park. Keli Mutu is a volcano which exists from three craters, each is filled with a coloured lake. The lakes themselves are on an altitude of 1600 meters. The water of the lakes are coloured by minerals of the earth. In the course of years the lakes have had different colour. The previous years were the lakes dark red, pale green and pale blue, in the past the lakes have had other colours. Because the crater landscape around the lakes is bald and grey the colours of the lakes jump out, the lakes are also sometimes compared with gemstones. The most impressive view you have in the morning at sunrise. From the village Moni that lies at the foot of the volcano you can climb the volcano best. One believe that the souls of the deceased find peace in the lakes.
Fisherman village of Labuhanbanjo
Labuhanbanjo is a quiet fisherman village at the west coast of Flores. The majority of the 3,000 inhabitants of the village is Moslem. The most occupants live of their captures of fish which you can see clearly at the bay of the village. You see all kinds of types tri-marans, canoes, sail boats and high-speed motorboats. From the bay you have a splendid view when the sun is dawning. At north of Labuhanbanjo is a beach where you can relax. However there are much better beaches on the coast on of the small islands which lie there. You can also snorkel but then you must sail to the island Biddadari (half hour) or Sebolo-islands (1 hour). Especially at the white beach of Biddadari lies splendid gentle coral where coloured tropical fish roam round. Many tourists go through Labuhanbanjo to the island Komodo.