Outside The City

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

Built during President Soeharto’s time in charge, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is a sprawling mass museum that will take you throughout the Indonesian archipelago without leaving Jakarta. As you arrive you’ll immediately see the centrepiece of the park – a man-made lake containing miniature islands that form a huge map of Indonesia. Surrounding this mega-map are replicas of houses from each of Indonesia’s 27 provinces. Each house is built in the style of each particular province complete with exhibits inside detailing the customs and clothing of each province. It is here that you will truly appreciate the diversity of Indonesia. Also in the park are a series of museums (Science Museum, Telecommunications Museum, Sports Museum, Komodo Museum, Museum Indonesia, Asmat Museum). Museum Indonesia is probably the best of the lot, exploring Indonesia in detail. The Asmat Museum is also a good one, featuring the woodcarvings from the Asmat tribe in West Papua. There is also an aviary, a swimming pool, an IMAX theatre showing films about Indonesia, an orchid garden and various other attractions making this one place you couldn’t possibly see in just one day. To see most of it in a day though, take the cable cars, trains and motorized trains around this huge park and let it take you through the archipelago’s cultures and histories. Address: Jalan Bambu Apus, East Jakarta. Tel: (6221) 840 9210 Opening hours: 9am-5pm daily (Aviary - 9am-4.30pm daily). Prices (subject to change): Entry – Rp7000 per person. Car entry – Rp7000 per car. Aviary – US$5 per person. Orchid Garden – Rp5000 per person. Cable car – Rp15,000 per person. Train – Rp15,000 per person. (back to top)

Ragunan Zoo

Visited by over three million visitors every year, the Ragunan Zoo is a well-maintained open concept zoo making you feel like you are closer to the animals than a traditionally designed zoo with cages. The Zoo was originally opened in 1864 in the Cikini district in Central Jakarta. After independence was gained from the Dutch and the site had grown too small for all the animals, the zoo was moved to its current 140-hectare position 20km south of central Jakarta and renamed Ragunan Zoo in 1966. Today the zoo includes over 3000 animals from 270 species of which 90 per cent are native to Indonesia. The zoo has also had great success with their captive breeding meaning that most of the animals have never been released in the wild. Apart from the main zoo you’ll find plenty of other attractions including: Childrens’ Zoo – The Childrens Zoo is designed for children to learn about animals and get close to them in a safe, controlled environment. This area also has a variety of interesting exhibits that children can play in such as a spider-web net and a mouse tunnel to find out what its really like to be an animal! Canoe Park – The Canoe Park is a nice relaxing way to get up close to a lot of the animals in the Zoo. The 2000 square metre lake is designed to replicate a tropical rain forest. Take a canoe out onto the lake and you’ll be able to spot all sorts of animals and birds such as deer, tree kangaroos, monkeys, swamp snakes and ring-tailed lemurs. Schmutzer Primate Centre – This 13 hectare complex is designed as an open concept with a natural environment feel to it. You’ll also be able to ride on various animals around the Zoo like elephants, camels, horses and ponies as well as see a few different shows that are mainly scheduled for the weekends. Address: Jalan Harsono R.M. No. 1, Ragunan, Jakarta. Tel: (6221) 782 0015. Opening hours: 7am-5pm daily. Prices: Admission - Rp3200 adult, Rp2200 children, Rp5500 per car. Other admission prices apply for shows within the Zoo. (back to top)

Thousand Islands

Even if you can’t get away from Jakarta for more than a day, the Thousand Islands is definitely a place you should try getting to. Just ask your hotel concierge to arrange a tour and you can take your pick out of the many beautiful white-sand beached islands located off the north coast of Jakarta. While there aren’t actually 1000 islands in the group – it’s more like 200 – you will understand the moment you’re out on the water traveling to one why the group is named that way. It seems everywhere you look you’ll catch a glimpse of another island in the distance. On the weekends the islands get a little crowded so it’s best to get out onto one of them during the week when it’s likely you’ll have the place to yourself. To get there, we recommend you book a tour as it will save you the hassle of negotiating a boat from the Ancol Marina in North Jakarta. One of the outermost islands, Sepa Island, where we recommend, is typical of many of the islands. Sepa contains a resort so you can sit in a deckchair with your feet dangling in the brilliant blue waters within easy distance to a restaurant and bar. Or maybe you would rather take to the water for some snorkeling or diving – both are readily available on all the resorts in the Thousand Islands. You can also take a stroll along the beaches and through the island’s interior where you’ll get a good look at the local flora and fauna as well as maybe catch a glimpse of a komodo dragon or two. Probably you’ll like it so much out on one of the islands that you’ll want to stay over a couple of nights as it feels a million miles from Jakarta. That’s possible of course, but if you only have one day to get away from the city, then it’s an easy, and rewarding, trip to make. Getting there: Gray Line Jakarta run tours to the islands of Sepa, Kul Kul Kotok, Putri, Pelangi and Bira daily. Take your pick and enjoy! See the Guided Tours section for booking details. (back to top)

Bogor Botanical Gardens

About 60km to the south of Jakarta lies the city of Bogor - a popular getaway destination for the residents of Jakarta and home to the Presidential Palace and the Bogor Botanic Gardens. The city has a long history independent of Jakarta, first being the capital of the Pajajaran Empire in the 12th to 16th centuries before becoming a Dutch colonial enclave for the wealthy who needed a place to get away from the heat of Jakarta. While it is only about 300 metres above sea level, the climate in Bogor feels a lot cooler than in Jakarta. In 1745 the Dutch Governor General of Indonesia, Willem van Imhoff, decided to make Bogor his home, and the residence he built was consequently also the official residence of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1811, during the brief British rule. Since then, Bogor has always had an official role in the rule of Indonesia, with successive Dutch Governor Generals having used the official residence here from the 1870s until the estate was passed to the Indonesian people in 1949 when it took the name of Istana Bogor – the Presidential Palace. Today you can see the Palace on the edge of the Bogor Botanic Gardens, but you’ll have to get a permit to actually enter the grounds. The main attraction therefore in Bogor is the Botanic Gardens. Founded in 1817 by a German botanist, the original intention of the gardens was to develop plants from other countries that could be used in Indonesia for business. The best example of this is the Elaeis Guinensis, an oil producing palm from West Africa which was so successfully reproduced here that it became the mother plant in all palm oil plantations across South East Asia. Today the Gardens also display the diversity of Indonesian Flora and Fauna as well with as many as 13,697 specimens of both local and international plants and trees. Also in the gardens is a memorial to Olivia Raffles, the first wife of Sir Stamford Raffles. Address: Jalan Ir. H. Juanda No. 13, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Tel: (62 251) 322 187. Getting there: Take the Pakuan Express train from Gambir Station in Jakarta (Rp6000, train departs 9am daily). Prices: Entry to the Botanic Gardens is free. (back to top)

Museum Purna Bhakti Pertiwi

Nearby Taman Mini is the Museum Purna Bhakti Pertiwi with its amazing collection. The whole museum is mainly filled with gifts presented to President Soeharto by foreign heads of state during his time in power. The artistry is brilliant and the exhibits priceless. It really is a good side trip to get to if you’re heading out in the direction of Taman Mini anyway. Opening hours: 9am-4pm daily. Prices: Rp2500 per person (prices subject to change). (back to top)

Taman Safari Indonesia

To the South of Jakarta, past Bogor, you’ll find the excellent Taman Safari Indonesia. As its name suggest, you’ll find a safari park here which is great value. Not only is there a six-kilometre road taking you in the safety of a car around the animal enclosures, but there’s also a baby zoo to get close to the animals as well as an aviary, primate and reptile section and various animal shows to take in. The Safari drive is the undoubted leader here, as you drive through enclosures holding all sorts of animals from giraffes, zebras, camels and tigers to a myriad of others. The animals wander freely in the large enclosures as you sit in the safety of your car enjoying the whole show. When you’ve finished there, head on over to the car park where you’ll find the Baby Zoo. It’s here where you can get some great close-up pictures of all the animals. If you want, you can even get your photo taken with most of them, including a white tiger, orang utans, cheetahs, Javan leopards and all the exotic birds in the walk-in aviary. On the other side of the car park is the animal show area. It’s here that you can see various shows throughout the day including Sumatran Elephants, Californian Sea Lions, Birds of Prey, Tigers, African Lions and even Dolphins. Also in the park is a primate and reptile section (further up the hill) and even a safari trek into the next-door National Park. You really can’t go wrong with a trip here as the Park also has a range of restaurants that mean you can spend the whole day here with the family. We recommend you take a tour or hire a driver to get here as it will take the hassle out of renting a car, leaving you to enjoy the whole safari park experience. Address: Jalan Sekolah Duta V/11 Pondok Indah, Jakarta. Tel: (62251) 250 000 (back to top)