Kalong for a group: the bat flight and the evening plan

Kalong is a mangrove islet between Komodo and Rinca where thousands of flying foxes roost. At dusk they leave in a long stream that lasts roughly 30 minutes, and the first of them go about 15 minutes after the sun is down. It is not a landing stop. The group watches from the deck, so every age and fitness level can take part.

Sunset at Kalong moves through the year from 17:49 to 18:27. In July it is 17:57 and in November 18:01. The table lists the month you are booking, with the time the bats are likely to start.

Arrive early. A boat that reaches the roost after the stream has begun misses the best part, and a team that has been told to be on deck at the hour will be.

Kalong is the first evening of the route. It is on day one of the 2D1N, 3D2N, 4D3N and 5D4N, after Kelor and the Menjerite snorkel, with dinner on board after it. The sample run-of-show is: arrive and anchor in good light, a toast on deck, the flight at about sunset plus 15 minutes, dinner when the stream ends.

The captain chooses the anchorage and the timing, by weather and park rules, so treat the times as a sample and tell the team the plan the evening before. A toast works best before the bats start, while there is still light to see faces, or after dinner when the deck is dark and quiet.

For a company dinner or a celebration, the occasion page for weddings and celebrations sets out the evening as a run-of-show. Bats and bright lamps do not mix, so ask the crew in advance how the deck lights are handled during the flight.