Established as a nature reserve in 1917 during the Dutch colonial period, the park in the northwest of the Indonesian island of Bali was not declared a national park until 1970. Since then, it has officially been named ‘Taman Nasional Bali Barat’. It is the only national park on the island.
The park, also known as ‘Bali Barat National Park’ or simply ‘West Bali National Park’, was originally founded to protect the Bali starling, a bird threatened with extinction. But this species is not the only thing you can see here. Bali Barat National Park impresses with its diversity of vegetation, landscapes, plants and animals.
Location – Where is Bali Barat National Park located?
Bali Barat National Park is located in the northwest of the island of Bali, about three and a half hours from Denpasar International Airport. It also takes a good three hours to reach the park from popular tourist destinations such as Kuta, Canggu, Ubud or Sanur.
The closest town is Gilimanuk, which is only a few minutes away. Pemuteran in the east is a good 30-minute drive away. Lovina is about an hour and a half to the east and Singaraja two hours.
History – The origin of Bali Barat National Park
The origin of Bali Barat National Park goes back to the German naturalist and ornithologist Erwin Stresemann. He had to dock in Singaraja in 1911 to carry out a three-month general overhaul of his Moluccan expedition ship. During one of his research trips to the village of Bubunan, he discovered the Bali starling.
In 1925, the German ornithologist Viktor von Plessen conducted further intensive research based on Stresemann’s notes. It turned out that the Bali starling’s habitat lies exclusively between Bubunan and Gilimanuk.
In order to protect this rare species, as well as the other animals, which once included the now extinct Bali tiger, a decree was issued in 1947 declaring the forest area around Banyuwedang a nature park.
In 1970, the administration of the park was handed over to the Indonesian government and reborn as ‘Taman Nasional Bali Barat’ (West Bali National Park).
Landscape
The Bali Barat National Park combines a wide variety of vegetation types, offering an extraordinary diversity of natural habitats for a range of animal species. In addition to rainforest and dense mangroves, the park also features swamps, dry savannah, mountain forests and volcanoes, sandy beaches and small islands. The Prapat Agung peninsula is situated in the north of the park. Long, protected beaches with coral reefs and the small island of Pulau Menjangan lie around this peninsula.
In the east of the nature reserve are a few extinct volcanoes, with Mount Patas (1,580 metres) and Mount Merbuk (1,388 metres) being the highest. Their peaks are visible from every area of the park. The southern slopes of the numerous mountains are covered with evergreen forests and form an impressive part of this fabulous natural landscape. The diversity of landscapes in Bali Barat National Park is truly impressive.
Flora and Fauna in the National Park
Up to 175 different plant species grow in the Bali Barat National Park, of which at least 14 are on the list of endangered species.
The animal world is just as diverse and impressive as the flora. Most wild animals in the Bali Barat National Park live in the rainforest and local guides know exactly where to find them.
Birds
The Bali Barat National Park is home to more than 160 species of coastal and seabirds, some of which are protected to prevent extinction. Among them is the Bali starling, which almost became extinct and was the reason why the national park was founded.
Bali starling
The rare bird that the Bali Barat National Park was founded for is now critically endangered, primarily due to deforestation on Bali and the now illegal animal trade. It is a sought-after cage bird, especially among wealthy Asians. In 1999, the black market price was around 2,000 US dollars per animal. The blackbird-sized white bird has long feathers on its head and bright blue around its eyes.
Estimates of the number of Bali starlings still in existence vary between just 20 and a few hundred. It nests only in the inaccessible northern part of the park and is endemic to this area. This means that it does not exist anywhere else in the world. The probability for visitors to see the rare bird is therefore rather low. Nevertheless, a visit to the park is particularly worthwhile for ornithologists, because there are special bird tour guides with whom you can go on a discovery tour. Here you can observe the various exotic birds in their natural habitat. The guides know exactly where to find which species of bird.
Mammals
In addition to the rare bird species, numerous primate species, giant squirrels, special cattle and deer, wild boar, Bengal cats, geckos, snakes, turtles and much more also live here. The park is a paradisiacal refuge for endangered species.
The endangered mammals living in the park include the ‘banteng’, a Southeast Asian wild cattle species from which the well-known Bali cows descend, as well as the ‘Javan Rusa’ deer and the Indian ‘Muntjac deer’.
In the past, the Bali tiger also roamed the forests here, but unfortunately the last one was shot in 1937 and has been extinct ever since.
Activities in Bali Barat National Park
In Bali Barat National Park, you can marvel at the impressive nature, observe rare animals and go hiking. But what else can you experience in the national park?
Excursion to Pulau Menjangan Island
The island of Menjangan (Island of the Deer) is only two kilometres long, 500 metres wide and uninhabited. It is located off the ‘Prapat Agung’ peninsula in the northern part of Bali Barat National Park. The rare Muntjac deer species, called Menjangan, lives on the small island, which is where the island gets its name from. In addition, reptiles such as lizards and snakes feel right at home in the dry, hot climate of the island.
The small island with its dreamlike white sandy beaches and turquoise waters also offers spiritual places. For example, the temple complex ‘Puri Gili Kencana’, which is visited daily by numerous devout Balinese people for prayer.
Balinese people also like to visit the ‘Pura Ganesha Menjangan’ on Menjangan, which is considered the most important temple on the island. A large white Ganesha statue points the way there.
Diving and snorkelling
The coral reef off Pulau Menjangan is home to numerous marine creatures. The diversity of the underwater world, the crystal-clear water and the pleasant temperatures make the island one of the most popular diving and snorkelling spots in Bali. The marine reserve offers 12 different diving spots, some of which are perfect for wall and cave diving. Every diver will find something to their taste here. The lagoons, coral reefs and a 19th-century shipwreck are particularly exciting.
The sun-drenched coral gardens in the 5-metre range on the north side are particularly suitable for snorkelling.
Visit to the Bali Tower
Bali Barat National Park is also home to the ‘Bali Tower’, a remarkable and unique construction made of five huge tree trunks, each 33 metres long and 80 centimetres in diameter. These rise above the trees and offer incredible panoramic views of Bali Barat National Park and the sea from the roof platform.
Tours in Bali Barat National Park
Only about ten percent of the total area of Bali Barat National Park is accessible to visitors. These ten percent are criss-crossed by a few narrow hiking trails, which may only be entered with a tour guide. This is to keep the crowds of visitors in check and to protect the unspoilt nature.
You can get a permit and a guide for the park in the towns of Cekik (about three kilometres south of Gilimanuk) and in Labuhan Lalang on Terima Bay, for example.
Half-day or full-day tours are offered here, with various routes that vary in length and difficulty.
Gunung Klatakan trail
One of the possible tours is the Gunung Klatakan trail, for example. The five-hour hike is ideal for adventurers, as it leads through the rainforest,
Prapat Agung peninsula
Around the small peninsula of Prapat Agung in the northwest of the park, there is a small hidden path that leads through the middle of the dreamlike landscape. It takes about ten hours to walk around the peninsula. An alternative to hiking here is to ride a mountain bike or horse.
For ornithologists, the relatively easy but impressive
Conclusion – Who should visit Bali Barat National Park?
A visit to Bali Barat National Park is worthwhile for anyone who wants to experience truly untouched nature and see rare animals. The park is a true paradise for adventurers, nature or wildlife photographers, naturalists or birdwatchers. It is also the perfect place for those who enjoy hiking,
During the rainy season, Bali Barat National Park transforms into a green jungle landscape with mangrove swamps, while in the dry season it is rather parched and the plants provide little shade. A visit after the rainy season is therefore more impressive and less hot. In general, it is advisable to plan your visit for the morning, when it is not yet too hot and the mosquitoes are not yet as active as in the afternoon.
It is also advisable to wear long clothing and sturdy shoes, to take sufficient water and food, and to bring sun and mosquito protection.
