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Jakarta Post

Tambora National Park boasts rich biodiversity, adventurous escapes

Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post)
Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara
Sun, April 15, 2018

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Tambora National Park boasts rich biodiversity, adventurous escapes Located on the island of Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara, within Dompu and Bima regencies, the 2,850-meter mountain particularly attracts biodiversity enthusiasts as it is a habitat for various endemic fauna species. (Kompas/Ahmad Arif)

As the "Africa of Sumbawa", Tambora certainly has great tourism potential.

One of its gems is of course Mount Tambora National Park, which is blessed with many natural highlights.

"Tambora has a giant caldera of around 7 kilometers in diameter, which is proof of how gigantic its eruption was back in 1815. It also home to splendid nature, such as fall-season forest, high-landscape forest and savanna forest, which is why it is dubbed the Africa of Sumbawa," the park's agency head Raden Agus Budi Santosa recently told The Jakarta Post.

It often holds activities as well, such as Wana Trail Tambora and Tambora Charms Conservation Camp, which are currently ongoing as part of the 2018 Pesona Tambora Festival.

Located on the island of Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), within Dompu and Bima regencies, the 2,850-meter mountain particularly attracts biodiversity enthusiasts as it is a habitat for a variety of endemic species such as rusa timor, burung gosong kaki merah, burung koakiau, burung kipasan flores, nuri pipi merah and others.

Read also: Six Indonesian mountain peaks to climb this New Year

Agus said several new species had also been found following an expedition conducted by an Indonesian Science Institution (LIPI) team in 2015. One of the identified species has Tambora in its last name.

"There was one species that was identified by LIPI and named Cirtodaxtylus tamboresis, which is a type of lizard with a curved claw. Other species found during the expedition are currently still being identified," added Agus.

Tambora is also home to endemic plant species, such as the Elaocarpus batudulangi, which is a plant species that has a very limited spread and is only found in NTB's Batudulang and Tambora.

"Tambora is also a habitat of rajumas, kukun and several types of guava."

In terms of landscape, the park hosts natural water spots, such as the Oi Marai River in Kawindatoi village, where seven waterfalls can  be found along the river stream. "One of these waterfalls is Air Terjun Bidadari, which is 20 meters in height."

For adrenaline seekers, the area is also convenient for jungle trekking, horse riding, off-road, river tubing, camping and other adventurous activities.

Agus said the park was expecting to attract at least 5,000 visitors this year, adding that the number of tourists coming to the site had increased quite significantly following its designation as a national park in April 2015. "Previously only around 200 people come to this park per year." (kes)

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