One of the closer in-shore “thousand Islands” of Jakarta Bay, the 45-ha Pulau Rambut is home to a large waterbird colony including Milky Stork, Herons, Egrets and Ibises. Well maintained trails enter the forest and a tall watchtower provides memorable viewing.
Key species
Breeding and roosting Milky Stork, purple and Grey Herons, Black-crowned Night-heron, Intermediate and Little Egrets, Little Cormorant, Glossy and Black-headed Ibises, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Frigatebirds on the crossing.
Getting there
From Muara Angke arrange a boat charter at the warden’s post. Expect to pay $70 for a 20+ seater, or $40 for a smaller vessel. The trip along the coast to Pulau Rambut takes 1.5 hrs.
A cheaper way to get there is to drive to Tanjung Pasir, at the back of the airport. The regular boats that ferry villagers across to the neighbouring Untung Jawa Island will drop you at Pulau Rambut for $1.5 (20 mins). Arrange for pick-up, too, for not later than 4.00 pm. Alternatively you can charter a boat ($30).
To reach Tanjung Pasir by bus: fffrom blok M to Kalideres bus station, getting off before Kalideres at Pasar Cengkareng. From there take a white bemo to Kampung Melayu (IDR 2,500), then a further bemo to Dadap (IDR 2,500), and finally at bemo (IDR 2,500) to Tanjung Pasir.
General information
A permit is required and may be obtained from SBKSDA, Jl Salemba Raya 16, Central Jakarta, phone/fax 3904402. to save waiting, fax them your permit request with your name and passport number the day before you want to collect it. This is a full-day excursion.
Researchers are allowed to stay on the island with a permit but there are no facilities on the island for visitors, so take all your own food and drink with you. PHPA has a guest house on nearby Untung Jawa Island ($7/IDR 65,000).
source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore