Visiting the Komodo Islands of Indonesia and the Komodo Dragons that inhabit the area is a once in a lifetime experience which I happily got to do in October while visiting Indonesia. It can also be a frightening experience for some people like myself which you can read more about in my post “Surviving a Visit to the Komodo Dragons at Komodo National Park” . Whether you think you might be the scared type or think its totally awesome and you are the kind of person that eats fear for breakfast there are a few important tips that you should know for visiting the Komodo Islands and the Komodo Dragons. Scroll down to keep reading the tips and/or press play on my newest video which might just show you why these tips are so important.
Tips
1. Never visit alone, that is just asking for trouble. Always report to the ranger stations and make sure that you have a ranger with you at all times. Also you might think the idea of a private tour is fun but honestly this is the one time being in a large group is a good thing because the larger your group the better. Oh and don’t wander away from the group, obviously.
2. Keep quiet. A no brainer. You don’t want to attract the dragon towards you. Sure you might want a cool picture but surviving your visit is probably a better souvenir.
3. No smoking. I think this is mostly to protect the island. It is a very dry area and if a fire was started there would be no way to put it out or to save the dragons. Seeing that they are an endangered species it would suck if you were the one to give the final blow and wipe them off the earth.
3. Tell the rangers if you have a cut on your leg or open wound and any women visiting who are on their period make sure you tell the rangers. As embarrassing as it may be they need to know. Komodo Dragons can smell blood from 18kms away. Komodo Dragons smell blood and think food. Tell the rangers and they will keep an extra eye on you, and protect you. This is also a good time to be in a group as the more people around you the better.
4. Always check your surroundings. Look up in the trees. Young Komodo Dragons live in trees until they are in their teens to prevent their mothers and other dragons from eating them. You might not want jumping on your back… not that that happens, but you never know… well maybe it does happen… watch your back is all I’m saying.
5. If you didn’t listen to any of my tips and you now find yourself lets say, in an open field with a Komodo Dragon quickly coming in your direction, remember that as you run for your life to run in a zig zag pattern. Komodo Dragons are sprinters and can run at speeds of 18kms an hour but I guess they aren’t very good at running crookedly.
6. Pick a good tour guide / boat to take you to the island so you don’t end up shipwrecked like my dear friend Kate. Because that really sucks.
Photographs taken with a Nikon D5100 using a 17-55mm lens.
16 Comments
Komodo Guides
February 20, 2022 at 3:42 amHi Cailin, Just came across your blog. Great information. We have a tour company in Komodo and if you ever come back, please look us up. You seem to fun to take a tour with! You can find us by looking up Maika Komodo Tours
Fransiskus
March 18, 2016 at 8:40 amHi Callin, thanks for some great tips to visiting komodo dragons at a real habitat. I had shared it.
John
February 10, 2016 at 9:22 pmHi Cailin. . .great blog! We’ll be visiting Komodo a few days after the total solar eclipse just north of Bali. Seeing the dragons in person has been a dream of mine ever since reading about them in a short story collection close to 60 years ago. I’ll be checking this off my bucket list in exactly 1 month from today.
Cheers. . .
. . .John
Cille
January 12, 2015 at 9:08 pmHey! Awesome post. I’m planning a trip to see these creatures but can’t seem to find any group tours only private tours? I’m traveling by myself so would prefer being in a group. Which company did you go with? Cheers, Cille
Cailin
January 12, 2015 at 9:15 pmHey Cille! Thanks for the questions! I was there on a group trip. However we departed from the island of Flores. Have you looked for tours leaving from there? Ideally it should be pretty easy from Flores to rent a boat to get there and then I believe the rangers on the island will walk you around when you arrive or tell you where you can and can’t go. Also reach out to https://twitter.com/SwankyTraveler she might have some good suggestions as well :)
Christina
April 16, 2014 at 12:24 amI was there last month. I think they are amazing, quite ugly but being close is a memorable experience. Great tips, Cailin.
Edwina Fletcher
April 13, 2015 at 3:52 pmI have clients from South Africa who are very keen to visit the Komodo Dragons in October – not quite where to start or who to contact
Cailin
April 16, 2015 at 10:30 pmLook for a tour company or boat charter based in Flores :)
10 Reasons You Should Visit Indonesia | The Looptail, The Travel Blog Powered By G Adventures
February 19, 2013 at 11:36 am[…] is home to Komodo National park named after its celebrity residents, the Komodo Dragon. Currently the largest living lizard in the world and the closest thing we have to dinosaurs, these […]
Jennifer
December 31, 2012 at 1:12 amMe again, sorry! Do you always carry a tripod?
Cailin
January 1, 2013 at 2:58 pmHey Jennifer! Yes I do carry a tripod with me most places :) I have a pretty light one that is convent. If you don’t want to carry one perhaps look into getting a gorilla pod or depending on the size of your camera an Xshot or QuickPod Pro :)
Jennifer
January 15, 2013 at 11:18 pmJust bought the Xshot! Couldn’t find it, but stumbled upon it and am quite happy! ;)
How much time would you say goes into your film editing? Will be taking a beginner’s class with Adobe Premiere on Friday! :)
Jen
Jennifer
December 31, 2012 at 1:08 amJust discovering your site! It’s awesome! Can I ask what software you use for your video montage?
Cailin
January 1, 2013 at 2:58 pmThanks Jennifer! I edit with Final Cut 7 :)
Ayngelina
December 12, 2012 at 3:48 pmI had no idea they were so scary!
Cailin
January 1, 2013 at 2:58 pmdeathly! literally! haha