Komodo national park home to the ancient komodo dragons

Komodo National Park: Home to the Ancient Komodo Dragons

Komodo dragons may have made their movie block buster debut in 2012–trying to chow down on Daniel Craig in Skyfall–but they’ve been around a bit longer than. In fact, the world’s largest lizards are thought to date back nearly four million years.

Are they ancient?

Very. Though they’re not leftovers from the dinosaur age, as many legends suggest. The dragon is actually an oversized monitor lizard, believed to have Australian roots; although it’s carnivorous, sharp-toothed and razor-clawed like a T-Rex, it came along time after. Listed as a Vulnerable species (there are less than 5,000 left in the wild), the dragons have a poisonous bite, not to mention powerful legs and tails, and have been known to eat anything that moves. And that’s not all, they can reach a whopping 3m in length and weigh up to 100kg. But don’t worry, they only live in the UNESCO-listed Komodo National Park, a reserve first created by the Indonesian government 35 years ago, in March 1980.

Can you see them?

Yes. A one-day visitor permit costs 150,000IDR (just convert it to your currency  ). This includes your park entrance, tax, camera fees and a conservation donation; any activities, such as dragon-spotting treks, will cost extra.

What else can you do in Komodo National Park?

Despite its name, there’s more to the park than just Komodo dragons. It’s also one of the best scuba sites in the world, renowned for pristine corals and sponges, seaturtles, mammoth mantas and several species of shark. Batu Bolong, Crystal Bommie, Castle Rock and The Cauldron are among the most fruitful areas but strong currents mean these sites aren’t for the inexperienced diver. Snorkelling is great though, head for the islet of Pulau Lasa, near Kampung Komodo. Hiking is a must. Try the 9km walk from Loh Liang to Gunung Ara (538m), or the trail over Bukit Randolph (560m), where you’re likely to see dragons as well as wild boar, buffalos and deer.

How can you get there?

The park is comprised of five main islands (Komodo, Rinca, Padar, Gili Motang and Nusa Kode) as well as several smaller ones and the waters between, all nestled in a thin channel between Flores and Sumbawa.

You can take a boat to Rinca from the fishing town of Labuan Bajo (Flores) for as little as 300,000IDR. So if you want to see a prehistoric animal such as the Komodo Dragon, then add Komodo National Park to your list whenever you are planning to travel in Indonesia.

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