SUKAMADE TURTLE TOUR MINIMUN 2 PAX
One of Meru Betiri National Park jewel is the Sukamade Turtle Conservation. Located on the west of Banyuwangi, this place has an experience to offer. It is a natural, quiet, beautiful place and part of the 50,000 hectare Meru Betiri National Park. The Meru Betiri National Park officially came into being in 1982 but Sukamade has had turtle conservation facility since 1972. Since then, nearly 3,000 turtles have been tagged here.
Almost every night of the year, turtles appear on Sukamade beach to lay eggs. It is clearly a globally important site and one which is protected 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by the over-worked park rangers. Some eggs are taken by the rangers to protect them from predators, both human and other animals. These are incubated in the safety of the park hatchery and the youngsters are released to the ocean on the very beach from where the eggs were laid. There are similar beaches within the park boundary but it seems to be Sukamade that the turtles prefer. The stability of the turtle population has been helped by a careful system of tagging and monitoring, as well as the use of the special hatcheries.
The ranger will give you chance to release the baby turtles back to the sea only by giving donation to the conservation. When the babies crawl their way to the ocean, they will map the area to come back and lay eggs when their time comes. You can also peek on how the turtle come at night to lay eggs. The whole process take about 1-2 hour from the moment it dig a deep hole to bury the eggs. One turtle can lay hundred of eggs.
Getting here is also another fun experience. Being inside a deep jungle, we will ride a trooper through the rainforest and rivers. On our way, stop by the beautiful Green Bay Beach, a hidden treasure with soft-white-sand and clear water as green as its name.
Activities During Sukamade Tour :
- Sea turtle laying their eggs on the beach (sukamade turtle tour)
- Visit cocoa, coffee, rubber plantation
- The hatchery facility (young turtle incubation) sukamade turtle conservation
- Relax at Green Bay beach
- See fisherman activity at Rajegwesi beach
- Meru Betiri National Park / Meru Betiri Tour
- Fauna : green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, olive ridley turtle and the occasional leatherback and other mamals
| Services | Green Sea Turtle /2Pax | Leatherback Sea Turtle /2Pax |
| Transport 4WD | √ | √ |
| Driver | √ | √ |
| Petrol | √ | √ |
| English Guide | − | √ |
| Entrance Fee | − | √ |
| Guest House | − | √ |
| Meals (3x) | − | √ |
| Donation For Baby Turtle | − | √ |
| Price | US $120 | US $230 |
D1.BANYUWANGI – MERU BETIRI NATIONAL PARK – SUKAMADE
Depart to Rajegwesi Beach (1st stop on the tour) then we stop at the gate of Meru Betiri National Park, continue by walking to Rajegwesi fishermen village (500 – 750 m) and having Lunch and rests on Rajegwesi food stall. Continue the trip to sukamade guest house ( the most difficult one, four wheel drive vehicle mostly recommended) and stop at Teluk Hijau (literally translated means “Green Bay”). It’s possible and recommends walking on jungle road from the flat point to security post ( half hour walk). Visit the plantation factory of coffee,cocoa,rubber (the crops are can be seen on the way to sukamade) and continue visit the Sukamade plantation village (Afdeling). Arrive at the guest house, take a shower, rest until dinner time. Dinner on Sukamade Beach Guest house. Brief at Park Ranger Office (possible to see the turtle hatchlings all the time of year). Walk to the beach (800 m) and sitting on the beach wait for the signals from park ranger who search for the turtle (Not allowed to smoke, turn on the flashlight, loud talking or making any loud noises). If we are lucky to find the turtle so we can witness the wonderful processing of laying eggs, after that we go back to guest house and sleep.
D2. SUKAMADE – BANYUWANGI / KALIBARU
Wake up in the morning to witness baby turtle return to ocean. Breakfast on Sukamade Guest House. Check out and depart to Banyuwangi or Ketapang stop by at Rajegwesi beach. Drop at the hotel or Ketapang harbour. End of Tour. See you next time.
Preparation:
Camera,
Sport shoes,
Casual dress (preferred dark-colored dress)
Mosquitoes repellent lotion
Flashlight
