Planning Itinerary: Java Overland

Java overland: for those with more time available, the above two itineraries can be linked with birding stopovers on the overland journey from Bogor to Surabaya. In Bandung, three hours east of Bogor, a side trip to the active Tangkuban Prau volcano is a must. You can drive right up to the magnificent crater rim, which is surrounded by stunted elfin forest, so this is a place to see the speciality birds of Java’s mountain tops: the endemic volcano swiftlet, island thrush, mountain white-eye and, if you’re lucky, Sunda seri, with minimal exertion.

Five hours southeast by road from bandung is the popular south-coast resort of Pangandaran, where a small national park offers gentle lowland birding, an opportunity for a little sea-watching and the possibility of stumbling across a giant Rafflesia flower. In the same area the back waters between Pangandaran and Cilacap have lots of unexplored potential for water and marshland birds, including such locally rare species as racquet tailed treepie, milky stork and ruddy kingfisher. The route east continues to Jogjakarta, a full day-or more usually night-bus ride away. Jogja is the cultural centre and famous for the large Buddhist temple of Borobudur. The dieng plateu, lying between jogjakarta and Semarang, is popular with travelers on account of its evocative landscapes, but it features on few birder’s itineraries, for the good reason that the birding is better elsewhere.

Planning Itinerary: East Java

East Java: there is a wonderful, circular 2-3 week itinerary commencing from Surabaya, Java’s second largest city. The tour starts with a visit to the Brantas delta to look for Asian dowitchers and other waterbirds, then heads east along the north coast to Baluran National Park and its Green Peafowl, with a stopover to experience a sunrise over the awesome volcanic scenery of Mt Bromo/tengger. A short diversion can be made across to Bali Barat National Park from the ferry terminal at Banyuwangi, before swiing round south back on Java to the lowland reserves of Alas Purwo and Meru Betiri. Continuing west, the loop is completed after a relaxing sojourn at the peaceful environmental centre at Trawas, in the hills above Malang. Naturally, this can also be done as an add-on to Bali.