Baluran National Park

Baluran National Park has some of the few dryland ecosystem types in Java, consisting of savanna. It also has mangrove forest, monsoon forest, coastal forest, swamp forest, and evergreen forest.

About 40% of the Park area is dominated by savannatype vegetation.

There are 444 species of plant growing in this Park, including curious and indigenous species like widoro bukol (Ziziphus rotundifolia), mimba (Azadirachta indica), and pilang (Acacia leucophloea). These three species are able to adapt to very arid conditions, remaining green while the plants around them wither. Other plants in the Park include tamarind (Tamarindus indica), gadung (Dioscorea hispida), kemiri (Aleurites moluccana), gebang (Corypha utan), api-api (Avicennia sp.), kendal (Cordia obliqua), manting (Syzygium polyanthum), and kepuh (Sterculia foetida).

The 26 species of mammal include the banteng (Bos javanicus javanicus), Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus javanicus), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak muntjak), Timor deer (Cervus timorensis russa), panther (Panthera pardus), lesser Malay mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus pelandoc), fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus); and ebony leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus auratus). The banteng is the mascot of Baluran National Park.

In addition, there are about 155 species of bird, some of them endangered species like the green peafowl (Pavo muticus), red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), malabar hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus conversus), rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros silvestris), barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), koel (Eudynamys scolopacea), and lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos javanicus).

At Km. 80 on the Batangan-Bekol road there is an old well which has become a legend amongst the surrounding community. Legend has it that long ago, people from the towns of Banyuwangi, Bali and Balurawere simultaneously digging wells in their respective cities. Whichever well was first to gush forth water meant that the city would become a centre of trade and culture.

Interesting locations/attractions:
Batangan: historical site in the form of a Japanese cave. This place is a witness to Indonesias fierce struggle for independence against the Japanese. A good place to observe animals, particularly the peacock dance in the mating season between October and November, and go camping.Bekol, Semiang: watching animals such as the barking deer, banteng, red junglefowl and green peafowl.Bama, Balanan, Bilik: marine tours, fishing, swimming, diving/snorkelling, and watching great herds of deer. During July and August, stags can be seen fighting each other. At low tide, troops of ebony leaf monkeys can be seen fishing for crabs using their tails at high tide.Manting, Air Kacip: a year-round water source, birdwatching in the early morning and afternoon.Popongan, Sejile, Sirontoh and Kalitopo: rowing on the calm sea while watching shoals of ornamental fish, watching migrant birds.Candi Bang, Labuan Merak and Kramat: sites of historical/cultural interest.

Best time of year to visit: March to August.

How to reach the Park: Banyuwangi-Batangan, 35 km; then proceed to Bekol, 45 minutes (12 km); or Situbondo-Batangan, 60 km by car.