Way Kambas National Park, Lampung, Indonesia

Way Kambas National Park Protects Endangered Animals

       Way Kambas National Park Lampung was designated as the 36th ASEAN Heritage Park area, on 25 July 2016.

Way Kambas National Park is located on the southern tip of Sumatra or 110 km from Bandar Lampung, and is one of the first and oldest National Parks in Indonesia. The National Park occupies 1,300 square km of coastal lowland forest around the Way Kambas River on the east coast of Lampung Province.

                                                          Image Source: Wikimedia.org

Way Kambar National Park was established in 1985, initially built as an elephant training center, later converted into an elephant conservation center.

This National Park is a tourist destination specially made to preserve the elephants., because apart from being a sanctuary for about 200 Sumatran elephants, this national park is also known as a place for their training. Way Kambas was founded by the Dutch government in 1937 until now it is still maintained as a National Park. On weekends, attractions that you can enjoy, for example, are ball matches between elephants.

In addition to elephant conservation, there is also a Sumatran rhino conservation and Rhino Sanctuary facilities. Unfortunately, to be able to see the Sumatran Rhino, visitors must have a special permit. Travelers or ordinary tourists can not see the natural captivity of this Sumatran rhinoceros.

Way Kambas is not only a place of conservation for Sumatran elephants, but also other rare animals, such as the Sumatran rhino, sun bear, Sumatran tiger, sambas deer, deer, golden cat, but also several other animals that are endangered.

Way Kambas National Park has become a proud tourist spot in Lampung, especially since it is located in East Lampung District, Labuhan Ratu District, this location can be reached within 4 hours driving from Bandar Lampung City.

Its strategic and easy-to-reach location is a place for education and recreation for the people of Lampung and tourists outside Lampung.

The infrastructure is adequate and improvements continue to be made on every side of the Way Kambas National Park.

Every year the Way Kambas National Park holds an annual event known as the Way Kambas Festival.

Way Kambas National Park is open to the public starting at 08.00 WIB - 18.00 WIB.

Tourists only need to pay the entrance ticket for Rp. 7,000 per person and Rp. 10,000 for four-wheeled vehicles.

After being at the Way Kambas National Park location, visitors can try to ride an elephant by paying a retribution fee of IDR 20,000 for a round which is 50-100 meters away.

Tourists will pass through green meadows and also lots of tall trees while enjoying the cool and natural atmosphere. Visitors can capture the moment of riding an elephant by taking photos or recording them with the elephants and handlers.

For those who want to go around the river with a motorboat, you can take a tour package. The motorboat can accommodate 6 people.

You will be invited by the elephant handler to go around the Way Kambas forest area and see wildlife in the wild. For the price of tour packages offered starting from IDR 750,000 to 1,500,000 depending on how far or near the forest the trip is.