Pong Toda : A slice experience bird-watch in open grass and shrub lands

A pleasant 1,,5-day walk into a beautiful ravine forested with old casuarinas trees on the slopes of Mt Golo Dukol. The walk passes across open grass and shrub lands where you should see open-country birds such as Brown Quail, Golden-headed Cisticola, Red Avadavat and Five-coloured and Pale-headed Munias.

Getting there

Charter a car or a bemo to take you the 2 km from Ruteng to Leda, where the asphalt road turns to a dirt track. Walk west along this to the susteran (nunnery). Looking west you will see the ravine and the footpath following the contour of the hill. Continue up the road for 1.5 km, cross a stream bed and walk across the grassy area until you reach a small footpath leading up to the left (south). This brings you along a gentle contour into the west side of the ravine. After about 1 km the path forks. Take the left-hand fork (which is actually a water system trail and pipeline), which leads into the casuarinas forest. Here you should find, among other species, Dark-backed imperial Pigeon, Great-billed Parrot, White-rumped Kingfisher, Little Minivet, Scaly-crowned Honeyeater and mixed bird flocks.

Lake Rana Mese: Birdwatching in Ex-crater

Rana Mese, a small crater lake at 1,200 m located 22 km west of Ruteng on the Trans-Flores highway, supports waterbirds such as Sunda Teal, Pacific Black Duck and Little Pied Cormorant not found elsewhere in the area. The surrounding forest is good for Ruddy Cuckoo-dove, Sumba Cicadabird,, Russet-Capped Tesia, Russet-backed Rhinomyias and other forest birds.

Getting there

Take any public bus to Mborong from the terminal in Ruteng (IDR 7,500) and get off at the park sign at Km Post 22. the lake is just a short walk down a stepped trail. Alternatively, take a bemo to Mano (IDR 2,000) and walk the 6 km to Rana Mese. Flag down a vehicle to return to Ruteng.

General information

To get into the forest, walk 100 m back along the road from the site sign board towards Ruteng and follow the small, unmarked footpath on the right towards the lake. The trail passes through good forest with a short, steep section leading down to the northern shore, which is very swampy.