Rinca is a small and dangerous island located in eastern Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, near the western tip of Flores. Rinca, one of the few places where Komodo dragons can be seen in the wild, is often overlooked by tourists heading to the more popular island of Komodo. You are much more likely to see Komodo dragons in their natural habitat on Rinca Island, where there is less impact from tourism.
Some weighing 300 pounds, Komodo dragons can grow up to 10 feet long, are poisonous, and have caused several human deaths. Komodo dragons are the largest lizards on Earth, but don’t let their size fool you; Komodos can chase their prey, usually a hapless water buffalo, at 15 miles per hour!
Rinca briefly highlighted the world when five divers were found stranded there in 2008. The group survived on shellfish and had to fend off dragons by throwing stones and weights.
Rinca is part of the Komodo National Park of Indonesia and has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. If you find yourself in search of the famous Komodo dragon, avoid the crowds in Komodo and visit Rinca.
What to expect on Rinca Island
Rinca occupies only 123 square miles, and aside from a small fishing village, the island is completely underdeveloped. Miserably hot and generally dry, Rinca is the perfect home for exotic and dangerous wildlife. The dense forest gives way to grassy fields and a few scattered water holes where Komodo dragons hunt for prey.
Far fewer tourists visit Rinca than the neighboring island of Komodo. Although it is never a guarantee, the chances of seeing dragons in the wild are much better in Rina than in Komodo. With a bit of luck, you may just find yourself and a guide, armed only with a stick, wandering through the jungle in search of the Komodo dragons.
Upon reaching the pier, a short hike takes you to the ranger camp, where you will need to pay a fee (around $ 15) that includes a guide for an hour or two. Two hours is all you can handle in extreme heat. It is not possible to explore the island without a guide .
A few lazy Komodo dragons can be seen immediately lounging around the campsite waiting for brochures or rummaging through trash. Take photos, but stay away from the dragons – they can run almost twice as fast as you!
Tips for visiting Rinca
- The island is very hot; wear sunscreen and drink more water than you think is necessary. Read more about sun protection in Southeast Asia.
- A small canteen in the camp has drinks and snacks, but no food.
- If a large group has formed, just tell the rangers that you want to wait for the next guide. Your chances of seeing Komodos are much better in a small group.
- Stay close to your guide and watch closely as he walks through the tall grass to see Komodos hiding in an ambush.
- Depending on the success of the hike, some people choose to tip their guides or offer to buy them a cold drink.
Komodo dragons
Members of the monitor family, Komodo dragons are the largest and deadliest lizards on earth. Adults regularly live up to 50 years and reach over 10 feet in length. Only in 2009 did researchers discover that dragons are poisonous; The high level of bacteria in the mouth was previously thought to be the leading cause of death after a bite.
Biologists estimate that there are fewer than 5,000 Komodo dragons in the wild; Around 1,300 are believed to live on the island of Rinca. Komodo dragons are known to exist in only five places in Indonesia: Gili Motang, Gili Dasami, Komodo, Rinca, and on Flores.
- Read more about Komodo dragons.
Visiting the Komodo national park
Indonesia’s Komodo National Park is one of the best divers in the world for those brave enough to tackle strong currents. Deep ocean currents from Antarctica drain into the Indian Ocean creating dangerous and unpredictable currents. An astonishing variety of marine life feeds on fish and organisms carried by currents.
In 1991, Komodo National Park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site to protect the fragile environment and the endangered Komodo dragon population. A 3-day park pass costs USD $ 15 and is required to visit Rinca Island or snorkel in the national park.
- Read more about the Komodo National Park.
Other fauna
Komodo dragons aren’t the only impressive wildlife on the island. Life in Rinca includes water buffalo, deer, wild pigs, monkeys, and many species of exotic birds. Cobra snakes, responsible for more fatalities than dragons, are frequently seen at night or swimming in water.
- Read more about monkey safety.
Get to the island of Rinca
As with Komodo, Rinca can be accessed via Bima on the island of Sumbawa or Labuan Bajo on the western tip of Flores, Indonesia. Flights are available for both from Denpasar in Bali.
Once in Labuan Bajo, you need to organize a boat to Rinca Island. This can be done for a fee through your hotel or by going to the pier and speaking to a captain yourself. Most of the boatmen speak very little English, so choose carefully. A boat rented for the day can be negotiated for around USD $ 40.
- Read more about Labuan Bajo.
Bear in mind that you will literally cross some of the most dangerous currents in the world; Try to find a boat with safety gear and a radio!
When to go
Rinca is best visited between April and November. The mating season for Komodo dragons is during July and August ; females will be laying eggs in their nests in September.
Staying on the island of Rinca
The camp has a small bungalow operation, but is no longer accepting guests. It is possible to sleep on your rented boat and return to Labuan Bajo in the morning. For obvious reasons, there is no camping available on the island.
