TAMAN NASIONAL WAY
KAMBAS
Geographical location : 106°32-106°52 E ; 4°37-5°15
S
Administrative Location : Provisnsi Lampung (Kabupaten Lampung Tengah and
Kabupaten Lampung Timur)
Area : 125,621.3 hectares
Temperature : 28° - 37° C
Rainfall : 2,500 - 3,000 mm/year
Altitude : 0 - 60 masl
Best time to visit : July - September
(Way Kambas National Park) forms a lowland forest ecosystem consisting
of freshwater swamp forest, tall grassland/bush, and coastal forest.
Among the plant species in this Park are : api-api (Avicennia marina),
pidada (Sonneratia sp.), nipah (Nypa fruticans), gelam (Melaleuca
leucadendron), salam (Syzygium polyanthum), rawang (Glochidion borneensis),
ketapang (Terminalia cattapa), cemara laut (Casuarina equisetifolia), pandan
(Pandanus sp.), puspa (Schima wallichii), meranti (Shorea sp.), minyak
(Dipterocarpus gracilis), and ramin (Gonystylus bancanus).
The Park is home of 50 species of mammal including the Sumatran
rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis sumatrensis), Asian elephant (Elephas
maximus sumatranus), Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Malayan tapir (Tapirus
indicus), Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus sumatrensis), siamang (Hylobates
syndactylus syndactylus); 406 species of bird including the storm’stork (Ciconia stormi), woolly-necked stork (C. episcopus),
white-winged wood duck (Cairina scutulata), lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos
javanicus), crested fireback (Lophura ignita), great argus pheasant (Argusianus
argus argus), oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster) and various species of
reptile, amphibian, and fish.
Wild elephants that have been tamed and trained at the "Pusat
Latihan Gajah" (Elephant Training Centre) can be ridden, used to transport
logs, and to pull ploughs. The centre is located 9 km from the Plang Ijo gate.
At the Elephant Training Centre (constructed in 1985 and about 290 elephants
have so far been tamed), visitors will enjoy some activities that will be done
by this giant mammal.
Interesting locations/attractions :
Pusat Latihan Gajah Karangsari : elephant training centre.
Way Kambas : camping.
Way Kanan : research on Sumatran tigers and Sumatran rhinoceros
breeding (facilities for researchers include a nature lab and accommodation).
Rawa Kali Biru, Rawa Gajah and Kuala Kambas : kayaking/canoeing along
the Way Kanan river, observing animals (wild duck, herons, deer, migrant
birds), grasslands and mangroves.
Cultural attractions outside the Park : the Krakatau Festival, held in
Bandar Lampung each July.