When you hear “Indonesia,” what do you think of?
If you’re a surfer, you’ll probably start daydreaming about the waves in Kuta, Bali. A yoga fanatic? I bet you’re already reciting the mantra you learned at your retreat in Ubud, Bali. Or perhaps you’re a culture aficionado, and you can’t wait to tell me about your latest UNESCO World Heritage Site visit: Borobudur Temple in Java.
But do you want to know what I think of? Dragons!
Don’t worry; this isn’t some weird Game of Thrones goes to Southeast Asia fan fiction piece. I’m talking about real life, covered in thick scaly skin, terrifyingly deadly, make you want to run for cover dragons! Komodo dragons, that is!
Referred to as “land crocodiles” when Europeans first discovered them in 1910, Komodo dragons are the largest lizards on earth. They may not breathe fire, but these things are fierce! They’re equipped with 60 serrated teeth to rip apart their prey, not that they need them in order to kill; similar to snake venom, Komodo dragon venom is lethal (at least that’s what many scientists think). One dragon bite and you are basically a goner. These lizards are no geckos; a Komodo dragon can reach 140 kilograms and measure 3 meters in length. And yes, they are carnivores.
What’s that? Think you’re too big for a lizard to eat? Think again. A Komodo dragon can eat up to 80 percent of its own body weight. In fact, they can eat pretty much anything, from pigs to huge water buffalo, humans, and even other Komodo dragons. It’s a good idea to keep away from them – and I mean far away, as they can run up to 20 kilometers per hour, accelerating very quickly.
Basically, Komodo dragons are awesome – the stuff fairy tales are made of! Well, the sort of fairy tales where the prince dies tragically from a venomous bite, because Komodo dragons do NOT lose in a fight!
But do you want to know the best part about Komodo dragons?
They live in paradise.
To be more specific, Komodo dragons live on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Padar, and Gili Motang, which are part of the larger Sunda Islands group.
While these islands may not be on every tourist’s itinerary, with many people simply heading to Bali and the Gili islands for beach holidays and Java for a taste of Indonesian culture, they certainly should be. Boasting pristine white sand beaches, clear turquoise water, and some of the best snorkeling spots in the world, these islands really will make you think that you’ve found paradise.
You can sunbathe on impossibly soft sand, watch fruit bats storm across the sky at sunset, hike up to high points on an island for some gorgeous photo opportunities, take a nighttime swim through seemingly magical phosphorescent plankton, and of course get to see Komodo dragons hanging out in their homes!
If you’re not the lucky owner of a private yacht, the best way to explore this area and get a chance to see the Komodo dragons is to take an organized tour. These tours will take you to Komodo or Rinca to catch a peak at the Komodo dragons, and your boat might also make stops at tiny deserted islands to give you a chance to sunbathe on a deserted beach, or in the middle of the ocean for an impromptu dip!
To actually see the dragons up close in their natural habitat, visit Komodo National Park, which spans several islands, including Komodo and Rinca. Here you can take a tour with a trained guide, who not only will tell you more about the island and point out interesting vegetation and animals, but he will also help to keep you safe when Komodo dragons are nearby.
While spotting a dragon is not necessarily guaranteed, many hang around the park buildings where they are used to being fed, seemingly undisturbed by visitors. In fact, you might find a dragon peacefully lounging in the sun – the perfect backdrop for your next Instagram selfie! Just remember to keep a safe distance, as Komodo dragons can move shockingly quickly. Stay close to your guide and follow his instructions to avoid any dangerous encounters.
Several companies run boat multi-day boat trips, usually starting from one of the Gili islands and heading down to Labuan Bajo on Flores, however safety standards can be lacking and sinking is not unheard of. Flying between some (but not all) of the islands is also possible. Book with a trusted company to ensure you have a comfortable and safe journey!
You can read about my personal experience on a multi-day boat trip to Flores here.
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Katie @ Second-Hand Hedgehog says
Great post, Silvia. I never knew komodo dragons were so fierce! Or that they had such sharp teeth.
Also – is that a photo of them mating?! Excellent shot!
Silvia says
Haha yup, just a bit of dragon sex. And yeah, I had no idea they were so fierce until I visited Komodo Island. So crazy!
Katie @ Second-Hand Hedgehog says
Haha – excellent! I remember seeing (and hearing!) penguins mating in Tasmania. Definitely an unexpected extra added to the trip! (Not to mention that the noise they make is hillarious.)
Silvia says
Whoa, cannot even imagine what that sounds like, haha. I would love love love to visit Tasmania someday!
Katie @ Second-Hand Hedgehog says
It’s quite a squawky, hysterical kind of noise!
And you should absolutely go to Tasmania. It so often gets forgotten about by people visiting Australia, because it looks quite small tucked at the bottom on the map. But it’s actually an incredible state, with some of the last unexplored wilderness on earth, a plethora of fascinating wildlife, and scenery to die for. I was bowled over by it.
Rachael says
What the what!? I had never heard of these before, but now I definitely want to go check them out! Doesn’t hurt that they live on tropical islands 😉 So cool!
Silvia says
Yes! They’re totally worth the trip, plus they’re on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Win win 🙂
Brandon says
Actually, this sounds just like Game of Thrones fan fiction. I think it’s time I go to Indonesia.
Silvia says
Book it!
the epic duo says
first thing popped in my head .. “are those two mating?”
lol totally love dragons!
and indonesia of course… will totally map out our next trip when we leave CR!
Love this post 🙂
Pura Vida
Romeo
Silvia says
It was probably rude of me to photograph them in such an intimate moment… ugh, humans. But yes yes, put Komodo on your next itinerary!
Catherine says
Wow, the dragons do sound very terrifying! Would still love to see one though, even if I was fearing for my life as I did so!
Silvia says
I was definitely scared when I got to the island, but the guides seemed to have a relationship with the dragons so in the end I felt pretty safe! Well, mostly… ha.
Julie (The Red Headed Traveler) says
These are incredible looking creatures although I will admit that they’re a bit intimidating (even from just a picture). Your facts about them definitely confirmed this 🙂
I do however, love that deserted beach picture. Looks idyllic!
Silvia says
It was incredibly idyllic! Blissful beaches with a little bit of terror – perfect vacation?
Corinne says
Silvia, We took a boat tour from Flores to Komodo and Rinca and loved every minute of it. We saw plenty of the scary beasts, and we enjoyed sleeping on the deck of the boat. During one part, we were snorkeling, and a school of flying fish skimmed over our backs…what a weird feeling that was!
Silvia says
Oh wow, I just got chills reading that – what a beautiful experience!
Rachel G says
Whoa–those intimidate me a bit! I used to live on an island in Malaysia where monitor lizards were common, but ours weren’t nearly as large as the Komodo dragons–usually more like 4-6 feet in length. They do move really fast, though, and one time I saw one climbing over the fence into my neighbor’s yard which was a bit frightening…they’re pretty cool-looking, though.
Silvia says
Monitor lizards freak me out too! I was pretty scared of the dragons, but it was still really cool to see them in person!
Mike Orobona says
What a great experience. I’ve always been fascinated with Komodo dragons.
Silvia says
They are fascinating creatures!