Ecotourism in Balikpapan
Rainforests & Animals | Wain River Protected Forest | Wana Wisata Forest |
Mangrove Margo Mulyo (City jungle) | Bukit Bangkirai/Bangkirai Hill
Rainforests & Animals
Kawasan Wisata Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup (KWPLH)
"Kawasan Wisata Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup" or known as "KWPLH" is an environmental education and recreation center (Karang Joang Honey Bear Enclosure Park), which lies on a 1.3-hectare area. This rainforest is designed to be as comfortable as possible for the five protected "Beruang Madu" ("Helarctos Malayanus" or Sun Bears). They were saved from illegal wildlife animal trafficking. Visitors can see them during their feeding time at 9am and 3pm.
There is a small information center that commonly visited by local elementary students or other children for educational purposes.
Click the picture above for more and bigger photos of Kawasan Wisata Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup (KWPLH).
| Location |
: |
Km. 23, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta, Kompleks KWPLH, Karang Joang district, (Balikpapan-Samarinda Trans Road) |
| Telephone |
: |
+62 542 7108304,
Wahyu Palupi: +62 812 5325729 |
| Website |
: |
www.beruangmadu.org
|
| Email |
: |
[email protected] |
| Operating hours |
: |
daily, 9am-5pm |
| Admission charge |
: |
free |
| Facilities |
: |
a hall called "Lamin", a traditional house of "Dayak" people, which can be used to take a break, a camping ground and a play ground |
| How to get there |
: |
 Own transport is highly recommended since getting a public transport from this place may not be easy
 By public transport, "mikrolet": take the number "3" from downtown (the Government office) to "Batu Ampar" terminal (fare: Rp. 6,000). From this terminal, take the No. "8" mikrolet and ask the driver to drop you at the location (about one hour journey and an additional charge will apply, expect to pay about Rp. 20,000). To go back, you need to walk out to the main road (about one kilometer/1100 yards). From there you need to hail a mikrolet to town, which may take some time to see one
|
| Remarks |
: |
visiting this site during the feeding time is highly recommended. Do not feed the bears and do not make noise. Visitors will have about one hour to see the bears. Guides are available in Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) only. There are two other nearby places of interest (see below). |
Wain River Protected Forest/Hutan Lindung Sungai Wain
This 10,000-hectare virgin rainforest where endemic and protected animals such as "Orangutans" and Sun Bears ("Beruang Madu"), "Bekantans" can be found. There are also protected plants, such as "Kantong Semar" and the ginger of Balikpapan ("Jahe Balikpapan"). Visitors can explore the exotisism of this natural forest in two ways: by walking through a canopy bridge or going along the Wain River by boat. Note that not all visitors will able to see those animals.
Click the picture on the right for more and bigger photos of Wain River Protected Forest.
| Location |
: |
Km. 15, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta, Karang Joang district |
| Telephone |
: |
+62 813 47829012 (Mr. Bambang), +62 813 50187395 (Mr. Agung), +62 542 7025771 (Office) |
| Fax |
: |
+62 542 749 301 |
| Email |
: |
[email protected], [email protected] |
| Website |
: |
www.sungaiwain.org
|
| Operating hours |
: |
Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. The operating hours are flexible based on the special request of visitors (a formal document is needed for such request) |
| Admission charge |
: |
there are 4 packages for one day visit. Package A (1-6 guests/pax), B (7-9 pax), C (7-12 pax), D (>12 pax). "Track Eko-PLH-Kebun Raya" Tour: A = Rp. 350,000; B = Rp. 500,000; C = Rp. 590,000; D = Rp. 850,000. "Mangrove and Selok Puda" Tour: A = Rp. 180,000; B = Rp. 270,000; C = Rp. 450,000; D = Rp. 540,000 |
| Facilities |
: |
toilets are available at one of the stopping points. They also have accommodation in the area: "Beruang Madu" house (Rp. 500,000/day) and "Enggang" House (Rp. 200,000/day) |
| How to get there |
: |
Own transport (highly recommended since getting a public transport from this site may not be easy)
By "mikrolet": take the No. 3 from the city center or "Klandasan" market and get off at "Batu Ampar" terminal (fare: Rp. 6,000). From "Batu Ampar" terminal, take the No. 8 "light brown/broken white coloured" mikrolet (fare about Rp. 10,000 for this about one hour journey). Ask the driver to drop you off at this place
|
| Remarks |
: |
guides are available in Bahasa Indonesia, no English speaking guide is currently available in house. Wearing shoes or boots during rainy days is advisable. |
Wana Wisata Forest
This forest is suitable for families or group visits. Occupying an area of about 15 hectares, it is the nearest site that locals visit for camping or outdoor activities. There are lots of local trees planted here such as "pulp trees", acacia, mahogany, and so on.
Click the picture on the right for more and bigger photos of Wana Wisata Forest.
| Location |
: |
Km. 10, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta, Karang Joang district |
| Operating hours |
: |
daily, 8am-5pm |
| Admission charge |
: |
Rp. 1,000/person, Rp. 3,000/car |
| Facilities |
: |
camping ground (Rp. 300,000 per day), meeting room: from 7am to 5pm (Rp. 400,000), toilets, parking area, prayer room |
| Nearby facilities |
: |
accommodation |
| How to get there |
: |
By car (own transport): it takes about 15 minutes from the city center
By "mikrolet": take the number 8 from "Batu Ampar" terminal and ask the driver to drop you off at the place. It takes about 20 minutes away.
|
Mangrove Margo Mulyo (City jungle)
This 1,500 hectare natural forest, which has plenty of mangroves, is a place where one of the protected animals in extinction, such as "Bekantan" ("Masalis Larvatus" or long-nose monkey), live. The Bekantan usually can be seen at twilight.
There is an 800 meter wooden pedestrian track for visitors to explore the forest.
| Location |
: |
Gunung Dupp, Kilang Minyak area |
| How to get there |
: |
by own transport |
Bukit Bangkirai/Bangkirai Hill
One of the tropical rainforest of East Kalimantan, located at about 1,5 hours drive from Balikpapan. In this forest, you can see a hanging canopy bridge on five Bangkirai trees. It is 30 meters high and 64 meters long. It was built by 'the canopy construction association' from America on January 1998. This bridge became the first of this kind in Indonesia, second in Asia and eight in the world. To reach the bridge, you will go through 14 stairs turning around a Bangkirai.
Click the picture above for more and bigger photos of Bukit Bangkirai/Bangkirai Hill.
| Location |
: |
KM 38, Jalan Propinsi Balikpapan-Samarinda |
| Facilities |
: |
camping ground, homestay, meeting room, canteen, restaurant |
| How to get there |
: |
preferably by your own transportation |
| Remarks |
: |
some treks are available. |
Back to top
Name:
|
|
date |
Comment:
|
|
|
0 comment
|
You are solely responsible for your comments. You must read and agree to abide by all of the terms and conditions between you and www.JoTravelGuide.com, as available on the following links: (Terms of Use: "Your Comments"), general Terms and Conditions (click here) and Privacy Policy (click here).
|
|
Back to top
