Nusa Lembongan is one of Bali Province’s best destinations. Giving tourists the epitome of laid-back island vibes with all their luxurious amenities of five-star resorts, Nusa Lembongan is a must-visit while in Bali.
There are plenty of memorable and fun activities in Nusa Lembongan, but one of the most underrated day trips is a visit to the Mangrove Forest.
Mangroves are an endangered ecosystem around the world and are hugely important to the health of the planet.
Mangrove forests sequester more carbon than any other green ecosystem and are being wiped out across the world.
Nusa Lembongan’s Mangrove Forest is best experienced by a guided kayak ride. Tourists can rent kayaks and paddle themselves through the shallow waters or hire a guide who can navigate the waterway while tourists relax and take in the view.
The tour costs just IDR 150,000-200,000 per boat, depending on the provider, and each boat can accommodate up to four people.
While the activity is growing in demand with tourists, it’s still a hidden gem. Most tourists heading out on the waterfall feel like they have the forest to themselves.
Many tourists enjoy the gondola-style experience, which means they can relax into the experience.
With the striking mangrove roots tangling around one another and the green canopy above, a ride through the mangroves is pretty magical.
The local community also loves this activity. Having tourists out in the mangroves is an easy and enjoyable afternoon of guiding with very little overhead costs.
Plus, having tourists visit the ecosystem gives the wider community more incentive to protect the landscape and clean up any trash that may get washed in on the tide.
Nusa Lembongan has long been a shiny example of how effective waste management can completely turn the aesthetic of a place around.
Once upon a time Nusa Lembongan, much like Bali nowadays, was crumbling under its mounting waste management issues.
A community-initiated recycling center and island-wide waste management system were put in place just over five years ago.
The program has to be one of the best examples of community-managed system change in Indonesia.
Now, Nusa Lembongan is proudly home to the community-managed Lembongan Recycling Centre (LRC).
The recycling facility and its waste management services give community members an incentive to properly manage their waste.
Together with NGOs, the community has also cleaned up the mangrove ecosystem and worked to reforest much of the damaged landscape too.
Nusa Lembongan’s Mangrove Forest spans over 200 hectares and is a fantastic example of a well-managed mangrove forest.
The kayak ride can be taken any time of day, though many tourists prefer to do it in the afternoon, returning to the boat point as the sun is setting.
Exploring the mangrove forest is not the only must-do activity for nature lovers heading to Nusa Lembongan. Devil’s Tear is one of the most famous natural landmarks on the island.
It is exhilarating to stand on the rocky clifftop overlooking the swirling ocean and feel the spray of the waves smashing against the rocks below.
For tourists who are feeling brave, the Gala-Gala Underground House is a super cool subterranean home that was hand-carved into the Nusa Lembongan limestone in the 1980s.
Tourists are always amazed by how beautiful the undergoing home is, and it gives visitors a whole new view of the island.
Nusa Lembongan can be explored as a day trip from the main island of Bali but almost every tourist who visits for a day trip says that they wish they could have stayed longer.
There are plenty of stunning accommodation options on the island, many of which offer breathtaking ocean views.
Source: https://thebalisun.com/balis-nusa-lembongans-hidden-forest-is-a-wonderland-for-tourists/
