GEDE PANGRANGO NATIONAL PARK

Located right next to the Botanical Garden, Gede Pangrango National Park (23,000 ha), one of the country's oldest (opened in 1889) and declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, is a magnificent site where numerous trails invite you to enjoy unforgettable hikes, in particular to the active Gunung Gede volcano, amidst beautiful vegetation.

It takes 8 hours to reach Gede volcano. It's a tough hike. The ascent of Gunung Pangrango can take longer, up to 10 hours. Temperatures at the summit are between 2 and 5°C. Don't forget to bring warm clothing.

From the entrance to Cibodas, a first path leads to Telega Biru, a blue-green lake, then on to the Cibeureum waterfall where three streams plunge down from the hill (a good hour-and-a-half walk). An excellent spot for a picnic. Then, an hour further on, you reach another waterfall, where you can admire sulphurous waters whose temperature rises to 60°C and which are reputed among Sundanese to be excellent for the skin. The trees are sparse, and with a bit of luck you'll be able to see some beautiful blue dragonflies and a few flying lizards. Few people continue beyond this point, but if you're one of the more experienced climbers, be aware that fog often envelops the summit, making the route all the more dangerous. It's advisable to set off early in the morning, and to bring warm clothing and food with you. After the waterfall and sulphur springs, you'll find a shelter after a 4-hour walk at Kadang Badak (2,400 m). Then on to Alun-Alun at 2,800 m. Like Raffles in 1815, you'll reach the top of the crater and verify that he wasn't lying when he certified that you could see Batavia from the summit. If it's not foggy, the scenery is sumptuous. Once you're up in the mountains, all you have to do is go back down the same way!

The park is also home to a unique flora and fauna, with Java deer, small lemurs, several species of birds, Java gibbons, coyotes and even leopards.

Finally, several tour operators (Climb Indonesia and Java Private Tour, for example) offer one- to three-day excursions from Jakarta, with qualified guides and all camping equipment.