Tag Archives: Komodo dragon

Slawi Bay, island of Komodo, Indonesia

6 in the morning and we approach the anchorage in Slawi Bay; on the map above, the bay is to the right of the “o” in Komodo.  It’s dark, hence no time-lapse for this call I’m afraid.  The sole purpose for this call is, of course, for the sights of the Komodo dragons.  There is a long, concrete jetty to which we take our tenders, guests and crew having to negotiate a rough set of steps up onto the jetty itself and then a 200m walk to ‘land’. 

Lying at anchor in Slawi Bay

Here, (apart from the inevitable market), one will find a guide, accompanied by a Ranger, (armed with a long, forked pole for fending off any dragon which gets too close).  No-one is allowed to walk the paths without being accompanied by both, every individual must be on a tour.  Despite this being communicated to all, there were those who tried to ‘sneak’ onto the island, however such is the organisation that they were soon ‘discovered’ 😉   

We 3, (Hazel, Karen and myself)  had a prior arrangement and met our guide, Marcel and Ranger, Rizman and off we set.  The paths are muddy and one is surrounded by vegetation, I kept a wary eye on the undergrowth, I did not want to become an item on the menu 😯 

Marcel was knowledgeable on the island’s flora and fauna and reptiles.  There are approximately 1100 dragons on Komodo itself and another 1500 or so on two adjacent islands.  Into a clearing and bingo!  4 dragons, eyeing the assembled tour surrounding them with distinct relish, their mouths were ‘watering’, however it was actually saliva, so full of bacteria that it is used to kill their prey; one bite and 3 days later the stricken animal, (usually deer or pig), will die of blood poisoning and the dragon can eat at leisure.

 Here is a video, far easier than trying to describe it all.  In the latter part of it, when walking back towards the assembly area, we happened upon a dragon which was obviously in a hurry…..

Once near the shore, deer were in abundance and 2 dragons were ‘hanging out’ near the cafe….

 I’ll leave you with the market stalls, Karen searching for pearls, (success) while Hazel provided support, darn it!