Way Kambas National Park

Way Kambas Way Kambas National Park is one of the oldest reserve in Indonesia. Its occupies 1300 sq km of coastal lowland forest around Way Kambas river on the east coast of Lampung. This area is home for endangered species of rhinos, elephants and tigers.
Closed to 200 wild Sumatran elephant live in the park, but reliable estimates are uncertain and poaching and development pressure are constant. The Sumatran elephant is a subspecies of the Asian elephant and its found only Sumatra and Kalimantan. Sumatran rhino is another rare and endemic species in Way Kambas. This rhino has only two-horned and hide is red in color with a hairy coat.

The Way Kambas National Park is also a good place for bird watching. One of the most remarkable birds species found in this area is white-winged duck and Storms stork.
Way Kambas also known as place for elephant training centre, and its served as major tourism attraction. The center are created for rehabilitate wild elephants that were threatening farmers crops. As a results many of the elephants can be used to carry tourist on jungle track.
Also, there is operating in the park the Sumatra Rhino Sanctuary, where rhinos formerly held in captivity are introduced to more wild surrounding in the hopes of successful breeding.

Visiting the Park
Most visitor to Way Kambas are led through the forest on elephants of by canoe on the Way Kanan Rivers and surrounding waterways. The most commonly spotted animals on the tour include primates and birds. Herds of elephants are seen here from time to time but sighting of the Sumatran Tiger are extremely rare.
A day trip to Way Kambas can be arrange through tour operator in Jakarta or Bandar Lampung. Arie Tour & Travel (0271-474675) and Krakatau Lampung Wisata (0271-263625). You also can visit the park independently, although public transportation are limited and expensive. Take ojek or chartered car from Rajabasalama to Way Kanan, and then you can hire a guide and arrange your own transport.
Sleeping and Eating
The facilities for tourist within the park are limited. The nearest place / guesthouse are located 13km from the entrance. Food stalls nearby cater for day trippers and close after dark, so you’ll need to bring food if you’re staying the night. Also you can used Park guesthouse located in the Park, make arrangement with park office for staying at the guesthouse.
Getting there and Away
The Way Kambas National Park entrance located 110km from Bandar Lampung. From Bandar Lampung you can use buses from bus terminal in Rajabasa to Jepara. They pass the entrance to Way Kambas in Rajabasalama villages. Or you can uses buses to Metro an the another to Rajabasalama.

Source : Lonely Planet Book

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