Waingapu, Sumba, Indonesia, 8/20/2023, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
Australia and New Zealand
Today was an amazing day of activities on beautiful Sumba Island for guests of National Geographic Orion. The morning was spent swimming and enjoying sunny Puru Kambera Beach.
We spent the afternoon enjoying the culture and traditions in the local village. We were given an amazing welcome.
Born in Zimbabwe, Ross grew up between a 45000-acre Game Ranch and the small town of Victoria Falls, which is situated inside of the Victoria Falls National Park. Most of his earliest childhood memories were of the wildlife that was always on his doo...
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This morning we awoke just as the first crimson light hit the horizon, and we witnessed thousands of flying-foxes (fruit-bats) flying home to their camps. As the dawn progressed, many went across the bay on Zodiacs for a short walk in the forest around a crater lake at Satonga. The reflections of the forest on the still waters of the lake in the early morning were beautiful and serene. Worth the early wake-up! After a hearty breakfast, we repositioned in the bay and went across to the village of Kananga for a welcome reception and cultural display. Then it was back on board for lunch and underway for our final destination, Bali.
As the sun rose, we boarded our Zodiacs and made the short trip to the long-anticipated land of dragons. On a trip bookended by giant reptiles, a visit to Komodo National Park proved to be one of the highlights on a trip full of spectacular sights. Our onshore orientation was quickly interrupted by an appearance by one of the hulk lizards that make this park famous. As we strolled through the forest, we encountered multiple Komodo Dragons and learned a little more about their lives on the island with each encounter. The forest also brimmed with other wildlife from Timor deer to ornate sunbirds. In the afternoon we traded the wildlife above water for those below. Snorkeling off a gorgeous pink beach was an unforgettable experience. The reef teemed with life in abundance and variety that is truly hard to comprehend. It was a true privilege to experience a prime example of what the Coral Triangle has to offer.
This morning, we arrived at the beautiful beach of Puru Kambera on the north coast of Sumba Island. Guests were treated to some beautiful snorkeling among some relatively healthy coral and many schooling fish. It was also a great opportunity for us to take a walk along the beautiful sandy beach and up into the dry forest behind it to do some birdwatching. Over lunch, the ship repositioned into the port of Waingapu where we disembarked National Geographic Orion and boarded buses for an afternoon of culture. The people of the village were incredibly warm and welcoming and put on a great performance of song and dance. After the performance, we had an opportunity to do some shopping for souvenirs, as there were many beautiful Ikats on display for sale.
