Best Places to Visit in KALIMANTAN
I’m sure all of us are well aware that a large part of Borneo (around 73% actually) is taken up by Kalimantan, which is a part of Indonesia. Maybe some of you know that Kalimantan actually means ‘Burning Weather Island’, which derives from the Sanskrit for Kalamanthana, and which tells you a lot about the weather you’ll be expecting here. It’s all about the equatorial climate in Borneo, and Kalimantan is actually located very close to the equator. In fact, the city of Pontianak actually lies directly over the equatorial line.
Kalimantan is a nature’s wonderland, with acres of unspoilt rainforest and miles of rivers here. Which means if you’re looking to check back with nature and experience a virtually untouched lush jungle, this is the place to go.
Here are some of the best places to check out when in Kalimantan.
BALIKPAPAN
For those of us just looking to dip our toes into nature, let’s ease into the adventure by stopping by Balikpapan, possibly the most urban city you can find in Kalimantan. Located in Eastern Balikpapan, rural areas skirt the city so you can try out a few nature-based activities before retreating back into the comfort of a modern hotel room. Scenic beaches can be found here, including Manggar Segarasari Beach, Benua Patra Beach and Lamaru Beach, and some fun activities such as visiting the Sun Bear Education and Conservation Centre, Bangkirai Hill Nature Tourism and the Margomulyo Mangrove Forest.
MARATUA ISLAND
This island belongs to the Derawan Archipelago, and is home to the Maratua Paradise Resort. You will also find two famous lakes here (Tanah Bamban Lake and Hajj Buang Lake). This is a hugely photogenic island, with a wide expanse of sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters. Lounge around and catch some sun rays, or indulge in some water sports activities.
DERAWAN ISLAND
This UNESCO World Heritage Site lies off the cost of Kalimantan, and is a part of its own small archipelago. The waters here are teeming with marine life and is one of the best places to go for a dive in Borneo. One of the most popular dive spots here is the Blue Trigger Wall - a famous rock about 18 meters long that sits below the surface of the water.
DANAU SENTARUM NATIONAL PARK
Stretching as far as 132,000 hectares, this park is a large area of wetland made up of peat swamps, and is a great place to check out a wide diversity of flora and fauna in picturesqure surroundings. Expect to see crocodiles, orangutans, a variety of birds, and Borneo’s famous big-nosed native: the proboscis monkey.
TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK
One of the most popular premium parks in Kalimantan, this is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where you’ll find the largest number of orangutans in Kalimantan lounging in trees in a conservation and research center. Spanning about 415,050 hectares of land, here you can take a leisurely river cruise while training your eye on the trees to spot as much of the local wildlife as you can, which includes clouded leopards, sun bears and red monkeys.
KAKABAN ISLAND
If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with jellyfish without fear of being stung, this is the place to go. One of the more popular islands in Kalimantan, Kakaban Island has a majestic lake located in the center which is filled with, you guessed it, non-poisonous jellyfish (namely the Golden Jellyfish and Moon Jellyfish) that you can actually take a swim with! This is only one of two places in the world where you can swim with jellyfish, so this is a must-visit.
PONTIANAK
The largest city in Kalimantan with the most unfortunate name (we can’t even say why), the city of Pontianak sits at the point where two rivers meet, namely Sungai Kapuas and Sungai Ladak. This is a great place to visit for a cultural traveller, and houses the Museum Negeri Pontianak and the former royal palace Istana Kadriyah.
SEMBUKU SEMBAKUNG NATIONAL PARK
Running along the border of East Kalimantan, this natural forest runs across a span of 400,000 hectares and is one of the latest areas in Kalimantan to be declared a national park. A whole ecology of land can be found here, from mangrove swamps to lush forests to hilly areas, but come here for the elephants. This is the only place in Kalimantan where you’ll find them!