Way Kambas National Park : Birth of New Generation of Sumatran Rhinos

Located at the southern tip of Sumatra Island, Way Kambas is well known for its school for elephants, the first ever in Indonesia. The National Park covers coastal forest along the Way Kambas River at the east coast of Lampung almost 110 km from Bandar Lampung, the capital city of Lampung Province.


This national park is one of the oldest reserves in Indonesia. It is believed that close to 200 wild Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatrensis) live in the park, but reliable estimates are uncertain and poaching and development pressures are constant. The Sumatran elephant is a subspecies of the Asian elephant and is found only in Sumatra and Kalimantan. In addition to the Sumatran elephant, Way Kambas is also the sanctuary for the Sumatran rhinoceros ( Dicerorhinus Sumatrensis ), the only two-horned rhino of the Asian species. Its hide is red in colour with a hairy coat.

The area around Way Kanan, a subdistrict of the park, is frequently visited by birdwatchers. Of the most remarkable species, the white-winged duck and Storm’s stork get the binoculars fogged up. The area is populated by endangered bird species such as the white winged duck ( Cairina scutulata ), oriental darter ( Anhinga melanogaster ) and jungle fowl ( Gallus sp )

Way Kambas is also the natural habitat for the Sumatran Tiger ( Panthera tigris sumatrensis ), tapir ( Tapirus indicus ), sun bear ( Helarctos malayanus ), wild dog ( Cuon alpinus ) and sambar deer ( Servus unicolor ).

For the average visitor not engaged in wildlife conservation, a visit to the park is a nice break from the concrete confines of Jakarta, but it’s not a true wild safari. Most visitors are led through the forest on elephants or by canoes on the Sungai Way Kanan and surrounding waterways. The most commonly spotted animals on the tour include primates and birds. Herds of elephants are seen here from time to time but sightings of the Sumatran tiger are extremely rare.

Where to stay :

• Satwa Sumatra Elephant Ecolodge : ( Jl. Taman Nasional Way Kambas Phone : +62 725 764 5290 )
• Elephant Training Center : Phone : +62 853 7780 5517
• Way Kanan Resort : Phone : +62 853 7780 5517.
• YESTOYA Club House Hotel : Phone : +62 725 640 222 
• Way Kambas National Park Camping Ground : For the ultimate outback experience, you can set up tents at the Plang Ijo Watch post, please chceck in to the officer in charge and get the entry permit or SIMAKSI if you wish to camp at the National Park.

How to get there :

• If you are using public transport, the simplest route is taking a bus from Rajabasa Terminal in Bandar Lampung in the direction of Way Jepara. Get off at the stone elephant at Rajabasa Lama Village, Way Jepara, and resume by an “Ojek” or motorbike taxi ride to the Way Kanan or the Elephant Training Centre (ETC), which is the entrance to WKNP. Keep in mind that the last direct bus back to Rajabasa Lama returns at 15.00 hrs Western Indonesia Time, and it is best if you arrive before dusk, since the “Ojek” driver won’t drive you there after this time. The whole trip would take approximately around 2-3 hours. Alternatively, from Bandar Lampung, you can catch a bus to Metro and subsequently another bus to Rajabasa Lama which also last around 2-3 hours.
• If you happen to use or rent a car, from Bandar Lampung take the Kota Bumi Road northward and just follow the serial elephant signs that will easily take you to WKNP. It is possible to hire a taxi from Bandar Lampung to Way Kambas but it is considerably more expensive. From Bandarlampung to east Lampung district, the roads are relatively in good condition. However, as you enter Sukadana area the trip will get a little bumpy since some parts of the road are in poor condition. From Way Jepara market to the entrance of WKNP the poorly condition road last for about 5 Km.

Best Time to Visit :

• July to September

Contact Details :

• Way Kambas National Park ( Jln. Raya Way Jepara, Labuan Ratu Lama, Lampung. Phone 0275-44220 )