Komodo island is about 280 square Kilometres and located between the island of Flores and Sumbawa in Nusa Tenggara group of islands of four big Nusantara Groups, those are; Sumatra – Java, Bali – Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi – Kalimantan and last but not least Papua groups of island. This island can be reached by boat from Labuhan Bajo or after daily flight from Denpasar with small airplane.

Komodo is famous for its giant pre-historic lizards, considered the last of their kind remaining in the world today called ‘ora’ by the local people, it is actually a giant monitor lizard called in other word as a real dragon of Veranus Komodoensis. Growing up 3 – 4 meters in length, its ancestors roamed the earth up to about half a million yeas ago.

The only human population on the Island is at the fishing Village called also Komodo who supplement their income-breeding goats, which are used to feed the lizards. Law protects the Komodo Village and although they are considered harmless, it is advisable to keep them at a distance from the dragon and other nearest islands.

NATIONAL PARK

The Islands are now a nature reserve in a National Park, home to a number of rare bird species, deer and wild pigs, which are prey to the lizards as well. Declared a World Heritage Site, a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, the park boasts one of the world’s richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds, seamounts and semi-enclosed bays. These habitats harbour more than 1.000 species of Fish, 260 species of Reef-building Coral and 70 species of Sponges.

The islands of the Komodo National Park are hot, arid and relatively barren compared to their lush, jungle-filled neighbors. The most popular reason to visit this is to take a guided natural tour to the famous dragons, monitor lizards that can reach a length of three Meters. Large ferocious predators, the dragons are capable of consuming fully grown human. As they slowly sashay past, their eyes leery staring menacingly and their forked tongues flickering, it is easy to emagine the strength of their massive jaws and powerful claws.

What is difficult to the dragons and your Guide protect visitors from the predators to comprehend is that these lumbering creatures, with their short legs, can run as fast as a dog. The Komodo dragons are also excellent swimmers and it is common for them to travel between the islands. All Komodo visitors must be with the local guide to know more the dragons characteristic.

Although the stunning pink and grey beaches of these islands are open for visitors, you should watch out for the dragons’ foot and tail prints in the sand. Pink beach is also located just in front of the old dragon feeding station in east Komodo across bay from Komodo Village. Snorkelling here is excellent over a healthy shallow reef with diving drops down to 25 meters, you see a wonderful experience under bottom part of Pasific ocean.

Thousands of fish of every colour and shape are here including regal angelfish, checkerboard wrasse and masked unicornfish against a beautiful backdrop of acripora corals, gorgonian fans and sponges. Mantis shrimps are always in attendance with their housekeeping as they remove rock from their burrows. Their darting bulbous eyes are thought to be the most complex in nature, and they can strike prey with a crustacean karate chop from its claw, hard enough to crack a pane of glass.

CANNIBAL ROCK

It is cannibal rock, lies in the channel just to the south of Rinca Island one kilometre off the northern coast of nearby Nusa Kode, a truly world-class dive site and one of the top journey of  Komodo Scuba Diving. Out of the depths, you may be visited on your dive by curious black blotched stingrays, out on a hunting foray.

Black snappers are also prevalent here with many juveniles, conspicuous in their black and white stripe colours. Making your way east and north you’ll be astounded by the sizes of the purple gorgonian fans, some over two metres tall. These fans are home to the pygmy seahorse, be on the lookout for yellow-ribbon sweetlips –endemic to Komodo National Park– and sweeps of gold striped fusiliers.

Visitors may enjoy their time through the pinnacle breaks the surface of the northern side of the two small islets to the north of main island. Diving with cuttlefish and rust coloured sponges with soft tree corals is another an unforgettable world package tour in the whole World Heritage Site of Komodo Destination.

Be yours with us D’tour Double Eight Eco-tour and Adventure  http://dtur88.wordpress.com in a special days through these wonderful experiencies. Send your special request to this mail-address andimhd@gmail.com or andimhd@yahoo.com. Links information to read more about Komodo and all over Indonesia Travel Planner but also Indonesia Diver’s Paradise (both you got above written destination) please open www.indonesia.travel ; an afficial web of Indonesia Tourist Guides Associations http://hpijogja.wordpress.com or www.hpijogja.org in any languages.***