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Nearby Senaru, the gateway to the
Rinjani National Park, is a pretty village set in lovely scenery
with fantastic views of the volcanic mountain range. The Rinjani
Nation al
Park is a nature reserve of 41 330 hectares surrounding the volcano
that provides many opportunities for eco-tourism.
The whole area is a picturesque haven, featuring magnificent
waterfalls, lush and accessible jungle trekking, traditional
village, and plantations of tobacco and cashew nuts, grown alongside
verdant rice terraces. Senaru is the usual starting point for
climbing Lombok's famous volcano, gunung Rinjani.
Other options, for a slightly shorter route to the summit, are
Sembalun Lawang and Sembalun Bumbung to the northeast.
Rinjani so ars
3726m above sea level and is the second highest volcano in
Indonesia, attracting thousand of trekkers and climbers annually.
The huge caldera near the top is around 4 kms wide and is almost
filled by a beautiful crescent-shaped lake, Danau Segara Anak(Child
of the Sea).
The lake is around 230m deep and contains plentiful fish, as well as
being home to birds and other wildlife. A smaller volcanic cone,
Gunung Baru Jari, was formed a couple of hundred years ago and just
from the crater's interior at the edge of the lake. It's been
estimated that the force needed to create the new cone and the lake
would have been equal to around 300 hiroshima-type atomic bombs.
There are a springs located around the volcano, most importantly "Aik
Kalak" on the northeast of the crater, where the volcanically heated
waters are said to cure illnesses, particularly skin diseases.
In 2004
 the
Rinjani Trek won the world Legacy Award for Destination Stewardship
and the volcano is recognized internationally as an important
eco-tourism destination. The Rinjani Trek, funded by the New Zealand
government, has set up a series of programs that involve the local
communities and guides, for climbing the volcano and for trekking in
the National Park-ensuring better management and safety for
trekkers. However, it is always prudent to use an authorized guide,
deal with a reputable trekking business and carry as few valuables
as possible with you.
There are
a variety of different options for climbing Gunung Rinjani, two days
one night treks are the shortest available , taking visitors to the
crater rim, to view the wide crater and the emerald green lake
within. However, the most popular is the three days two nights treks
which allows trekkers to climb to the very summit of the volcano,
with magnificent views from the highest point on Lombok - taking in
the vista of the surrounding mountain range, the lush green
landscape below, and the ocean to the west studded with Gili islands
and Bali floating in the distance.
The best
time to climb Gunung Rinajni is in the dry season from around April
to October ,or before the rains start. The sunny days and cooler
temperatures make this time of the year the most comfortable for
climbing, and enable the clearest views of the stunning scenery both
on and around the mountain. It is cold on the mountain at night, so
make sure you take warm clothing.
Gunung Rinjani National Park in the East and North Side of Lombok
Island
The park covers an area of 41,330 ha on the northern part of Lombok
and locates the three administrative district of West, East and
Central Lombok. The area covers 12,357.67 ha in the west, 22,152.88
ha in the east and 6,819.45 ha in central Lombok. Rinjani dominates
the National Park of Lombok, an island east of Bali on the
Indonesian archipelago. At 3726m it is the second highest volcano in
Indonesia, part of the infamous ring of fire that encircles the
basin of the Pacific. Within the crater is the spectacular Segara
Anak lake and the still – active volcano Gunung Baru (2,363m).
It is surrounded by further 66,000 ha of Protection Forest also
covers the three administrative districts. The park ecosystem is in
the transitional zone between Asia and Australia (Walaceae zone).
Average rainfall is about 3,000mm annually.
Rinjani Trails Route :
01.
Senaru Trails
02.
Sembalun Trails
03.
Torean Trails
04.
Timbanuh Trails
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