- Address: Karimunjawa, Kabupaten Jepara, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia
- Phone: +62 24 76738248
- Area: 71.2 square meters. km
- Population: 9 thousand people
The richest animal and plant world of Indonesia is carefully guarded in the expanses of 44 national parks , as well as in the territory of many reserves and zoos. Not an exception was a small reef archipelago Karimundzhava, which recently received the status of a national park of the country. Tourists who visited the territory of this reserve are waiting for picturesque coral reefs, unspoiled beaches , wild nature and interesting hiking trails. Karimundzhava - a favorite place for diving and surfing fans, as well as wealthy Indonesians.
General information
Karimundzhava consists of 27 different in size islands, located 80 km north of the coast of central Java . The largest islands of the archipelago are Karimundjava, which gave the name to the whole group, and its fellow Kemudzhan. In order to make it easier for tourists and locals to move around, these islands are connected by a short bridge. Also a fairly large size are the islands of Menjangan-Besar and Menjangan-Kecil. All the land areas that make up the archipelago have a hilly relief. The tourist peak in the national park begins in April and ends by the end of October. Somewhat to overshadow the rest can mosquitoes, so vacationers should better stock up with special creams.
The population of the islands
In total, no more than 9 thousand people live in the protected area. The largest village is on the south-western coast of the Karimundzhava Island. Most of the indigenous population does not know five words in English, but some of the islanders, whose work is connected with the tourism industry, have mastered this language.
Local people are engaged mainly in fishing. It should be said that the population of the archipelago, professing Islam, is very superstitious. Particularly revered here is the tree devadar, which allegedly has a magical power: able to heal from the snakebite, prolong life and protect the dwelling from thieves. From wood devadar make amulets, which tourists can purchase as a souvenir .
Natural treasures of the reserve
The unique flora and fauna of Karimundzhava National Park has long been and still attracts botanists and biologists as a magnet. The islands in the archipelago are distributed by 5 types of ecosystems, including tropical forests with a cult endemic tree of devadar and evergreen mangrove jungles covering the sea coasts. In the waters of Karimunjava, there are large turtles and many other marine animals. Scientists have more than 250 species of fish. Often sharks swim to the shores, so lovers of recreation on the water should be extremely cautious. Surprising flora and fauna are distinguished by the uninhabited Karimundzhava islands, where you can buy a special tour for $ 15.
How to get to the national park?
Tourists wishing to relax on one of the islands of the reserve can go to Karimunjava by air or by water. For example, flights from Jogjakarta , Semarang and Bali regularly fly to the island of Kemujan, which is the airport of Devandaru. When choosing a flight on an airplane, consider that this is the fastest, but at the same time, the most expensive way to get to the marine park. In order to save money, many tourists prefer to travel by ferry or speedboat. Ferries run from Semarang and Jepara three times a week. You can pre-book tickets for a speedboat.