Indonesia, known as the “emerald of the equator”, is a country consisting of over 17,000 islands full of breathtaking nature and wildlife. Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is a land of spectacular mountains, rugged coastline, mind-blowing waterfalls and wild landscapes; along with enormous wilderness areas that make Indonesia the second most biodiversity-rich country on earth. Here are some of our favourite wildlife and nature photography moments from our two months exploring wonderful Indonesia. We hope to inspire wildlife and nature lovers to visit Indonesia and add some of these remarkable destinations to your travel itineraries!
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Sumatran Orangutans: Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra
Sumatran Orangutans, Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra: One of the best places to see orangutans on Planet Earth, Bukit Lawang stands at the edge of the magnificent Gunung Leuser National Park. As part of the UNESCO Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, Bukit Lawang offers people the opportunity to trek into the jungle and see Sumatran orangutans in the wild. We did a 5-day trek and we were lucky enough to see some amazing sites and wildlife. It is certainly a trip of a lifetime and one we recommend for all wildlife and nature photography enthusiast’s bucket list!
We did our Sumatra jungle trek with Sumatra Vibes who were absolutely incredible! They took great care of us and allowed us to see some incredible wildlife on their 5-day-4-night trip in the jungle! And for accommodation, we absolutely recommend the amazing Waterstone Guesthouse where we stayed for 4 nights before and after our trek and they kept all of our things safe during our 5 days in the jungle!
Mount Bromo: East Java
Mount Bromo, Java: Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java is one of Indonesia’s most iconic and breathtaking landscapes, and the site of four active volcanoes. Make your way up to King Kong Hill at Seruni Point to view the volcanoes and enjoy one of the most awe-inspiring sunrise views you can possibly imagine. It is without doubt one of the most breathtaking views we have ever had the pleasure of seeing, so no wonder it is very popular amongst outdoor and nature photography addicts!
Amed Beach: Amed, Bali
Amed Beach, Bali: Amed, a small village on Bali’s eastern coast, is one of the island’s hidden gems and the site of some of Bali’s best snorkelling and diving opportunities. With beautiful coral reefs and resident sea turtles, it is a must-visit location. Here is the stunning sunset view from Amed Beach, with Mount Agung looking over us in the background.
These shots are taken just outside from where we stayed at Tudes Homestay. Our room opened out right onto the beach where we could sit and watch these sunsets, or snorkel with turtles within 30 seconds of getting out of bed in the morning!
Hawksbill Sea Turtles: Amed, Bali
Hawksbill Sea Turtles, Bali: Bali’s waters are home to enormous amounts of both the critically endangered hawksbill and the endangered green sea turtle. With amazing snorkelling sites at the likes of Amed, the Gili Islands and Nusa Penida, you have fantastic chances of swimming with turtles in Bali. If you are interested, please check out our guide to the 5 best places to swim with turtles in Bali.
Pig-tailed Macaque: Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra
Pig-tailed Macaque, Sumatra: In addition to the orangutans at Bukit Lawang, there are many species of primate that you can see including the extremely interesting pig-tailed macaques. These water-loving primates can be seen along the trails of Bukit Lawang, often coming close to some of the camping areas in search of food.
Fiji Waterfall: Bali
Fiji Waterfall, Bali: Bali’s mountainous terrain makes it a prime destination to see beautiful waterfalls. With countless different waterfalls across the island, chasing waterfalls is definitely something you have to do when visiting Bali. Fiji Waterfall was one of our favourites and much quieter than it’s neighbour, the more well-known Sekumpul Waterfall, which meant we had the perfect opportunity to pose and take some pictures!
Javan Langur: West Bali National Park, Bali
Javan Langur, Bali: The Javan Langur, also known as the Ebony Leaf Monkey, is endemic to the islands of Java, Bali and Lombok. West Bali National Park is thought to be the last viable population of this species left on Bali, and it is an amazing place to explore to see some of Bali’s best terrestrial wildlife.
Kelingking and Diamond Beach: Nusa Penida, Bali
Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali: Nusa Penida is a small island off of the coast of Bali, filled with rugged coastline and incredible landscapes. Despite the beauty of this instagram-famous location, if you plan to head down to the beaches it can be dangerous, with unstable pathways and extremely strong currents, so care must be taken here. But it is definitely a must-visit for those interested in landscape and nature photography!
Sunda Flying Lemur: Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra
Sunda Flying Lemur, Sumatra: One of the rarer creatures we managed to see in Bukit Lawang is this wonderfully bizarre creature – the Sunda Flying Lemur. This incredible species is one of our favourites. As zoologists and evolutionary biologists, seeing this unique animal in the flesh was amazing – as they are extremely cool in the fact that they are the closest living relative of Primates.
Siamang: Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra
Siamang, Sumatra: Siamangs are the world’s largest species of gibbon and one that frequent the jungles of Bukit Lawang. As you wake up in the jungle, the air is frequented by the calls of Siamangs echoing from the mountains. We were extremely fortunate to see this family of Siamangs on our fifth day hiking across Bukit Lawang’s rugged terrain.
Nature Photography in Indonesia
Indonesia is a dream destination for those interested in wildlife or nature photography. With its enormous range of islands and habitats, it has something for everyone. Whether it is its incredible volcanic landscapes, its dense wildlife-filled jungles, or its pristine coral reefs, Indonesia’s islands have nature in abundance.
If you are interested in nature photography or wildlife photography, we cannot recommend Indonesia enough. So grab your camera, drone and/or GoPro, and add Indonesia to your travel plans! And whilst Bali is amazing and really does offer stunning landscapes and marine life – make sure you also visit some of the other islands such as Sumatra, Java, Borneo or Sulawesi!
Happy Travels!
Find more Indonesia Wildlife & Nature Guides: If you want to learn more about Indonesia’s magical wildlife and nature, including more of our wildlife and nature photography, go check out our Indonesia Wildlife & Travel Destination Guides!
