Lake Dolat: Wetland Birdwatching

Around Labuhanbajo

A marshly lake and buffalo wallow (approximately 6 km to the south of Labuhanbajo) attracts migratory waterfowl in the northern winter (oct-Mar). at the height of the dry season (Jul-Sep) egrets and whistling ducks from surrounding areas concentrate at this rare area of fresh water.

Getting there

Few people in Labuhanbajo know where Lake Dolat is; an added confusion is that villagers along the way seem to know several areas as “Dolat”. To be sure of getting there, take a guide from the National Park office. Alo Sahu knows the area and is a keen birder, but for 3 weeks every month he is based on Komodo.

Finding your own way there is a nice adventure and you will see plenty of open country birds Black-winged Kites, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Singing Bush-larks and the like, along the way.

There are two ways of getting there. One is to charter a boat to take you down the coast to Nonganipa (about 30 min/$20 charter) and then walk inland asking along the way for Dolat. The locals do not consider it to be a lake, so your best bet is to ask for Rawa (swamp) Dolat or lahan basah (wetland) Dolat. The other option is to approach it by land. Take any bemos in the direction of Ruteng and ask to be dropped at Cabang (branch0 ke kampong Nanganai, which is 5 km out of town. 

There’s chicken farm on the right at the right place. Take the trail behind this farm over a small rise, then down through a bamboo grove to an area of paddies. Walk direcly across the paddies for about 2 km until you come to a river with a village on the opposite bank. Wade the river then go through the village and carry on for about 3 km, asking at every opportunity for directins. It is best to head off in the early morning, take lunch and plenty of water, and approach it as a pleasant stroll which with luck will arrive at Lake Dolat.

Labuhanbajo: Place for savana birdwatchers

Labuhanbajo

The little coastal town of Labuhanbajo is the main entry point to Flores for those traveling from Komodo or islands to the west.

Getting there

Daily ferries from Sape, Sumbawa, which stop at Komodo, arrive in the late afternoon. Hotel/losmen representatives meet the ferry, so simply walk to the Losmen of your choice or the whisked to the oout-of-town seaside hotels by boat. If you arrive by bus from Ruteng, you can be dropped where you want.

The Pelni ships Binaiya, Tatamilau and tilongkabila each stop in at Labuhanbao a total of 4 times each month on their respective 2-week routes.

The airport is a couple of kilometers out of town, $4 charter, 80 cent for a collective minibus. At present there are 6 flights a week to Labuhanbajo on the Kupang to Bima route; however the service is unreliable and often overbooked. Do not rely on getting a flight out: an “Ok” ticket booked outside Labuhanbajo has no meaning.

Accommodation/dining

Most places are geared to the low end of the budget travel market and are situated along the shore, a short walk from the harbour, though there are a few better quality hotels.

Transport

Ferry office at the harbour at the north end of Jl Soekarno, Impossible to miss.Bus Local buses run up and down the main street. Your losmen will call one for you. Buses to Ruteng run 3 times daily ($4, 4-5 hrs0. Charter minibus to Ruteng, $50-75, night buses direct to Ende, $7, 15 hrs. Long-distance bus several bus companies offer service to and from destinations to the west.

General information

Tourist Office Jl eltari

PHPA office Komodo National Park information centre, Labuhanbajo, Flores Barat, 86554 Labuhanbajo

Post Office Jl Soekarno

Foreign exchange is not available in Labuhanbajo. Remember to stock up on malaria tablets as they are essential in this region; it is also advisable to carry a net.