About Bali’s diverse landscapes

Magnificent coasts, majestic mountains, shimmering lakes, wild jungle landscapes, fertile rice terraces and raging rivers. All of this is brought together under the resounding name of Bali on only 5633 sqm.

bali rice terrace

Above all the Gunung Agung is enthroned. No one unites the faces of Bali better than the holy volcano, for his repeated eruptions brought not only thousands of deaths and destruction, but also fertility and a new beginning. The Gunung Agung and his smaller siblings Gunung Abang and Gunung Batur created the clear mountain lakes inland, which today fascinate the crowds of tourists. Today, on the slopes of the volcanoes and around the mountain lakes, where desolate moonscapes dominated the scene just a few decades ago, a wide variety of crops – from sweet potatoes to strawberries – thrive in the often mist-covered, cool mountain region on productive soil. The serpentine-like roads meander towards the coast for many kilometres, and the climate gets noticeably warmer when you pass the first rice terraces. These are artfully hewn into the slopes, each square metre of which has been eroded from the mountains in sweaty work – the most impressive works of art man has created in nature. The colours change with the seasons: the shimmering surfaces of the freshly irrigated fields turn into lush green, which after harvesting turns into yellow-brown fields. The fertile heart of the island is littered with countless coconut groves, small rivers and irrigation channels.

While the fertile heart of the island is consistently cultivated, you can still experience untamed jungle in the central west. In the most sparsely populated region of Bali lies the extensive Bali-Barat National Park (Taman Nasional Bali Barat) with its secrets and natural wonders. It combines steppes, monsoon forests and tropical rainforests as well as mangroves and a dazzling underwater world. It is a refuge for many pontiffs and animals that have disappeared from many parts of the island.

Sand beach bali

South and southwest of Bali

In the southwest between Negara and Tabanan you can experience rice fields on the long strip between the mountains and the coast in a completely different way. The?ache landscape is criss-crossed by countless fertile fields, which are adorned by bizarre scarecrows. Water buffaloes pass through the granary of Bali and those who want to make their way to the coast have to find their way in the labyrinth of small country lanes that connect fields and tiny settlements. Those who stay on the main roads can discover mosques and sacred buildings of the few Christian communities in Bali.

The south is Bali’s undisputed tourist mecca. Along the endless beaches, the tourist metropolises of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak (in the southwest) and Sanur (in the southeast) have settled. Lively streets full of restaurants and bars fill up with noisy traffic in the evening and party people at night. The dry peninsula of Bukit Badung forms a contrast. The climate on this flat limestone plate, which was originally connected to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, is completely different from that of the surrounding beaches: hot, dry and relatively barren. But the rough cliffs and the thundering sea lure numerous surfers into the rocky bays.

The East of Bali

Continuing eastwards you will see the majestic face of St. Gunung Agung. But not only with the panorama, but also with the design of the coast, the volcano had its fingers in the play once again. With his eruptions he provided for the changing appearance of the beaches – from some pearl-white shimmering bays a beach in glittering black robes became in shortest time. Just a few metres behind the many small bays there is a stony and steeply rising landscape dominated by lava. Due to the drought, this area is not very rich in field crops, so the inhabitants devoted themselves to salt mining.

The North of Bali

If you want to see deciduous trees again and have no objections to dark beaches, you will go to the quieter north of the island. Here the landscape is greener and the mountains retreat a little further inland. If you take a closer look, you will discover vineyards hidden between the tropical plazas.

Flora and fauna in Bali

On and around Bali, there is a lot of things that thrives and flourishes. Some things like the common farm animals or deciduous trees are already known, other animals and plants can only be found in the zoo or botanical garden, and a few species actually only occur on the island of the gods.

Fauna in Bali

The sea around Bali and its offshore islands offer in some places (e. g. near Pula Menjangan and around Nusa Penida) still intact reefs full of soft and hard corals populated by a wide variety of fish. In addition to the colourful small fish such as Napoleon lips, trumpet-‘ emperor, parrot and anemone lips as well as numerous sea snakes and rays, the bizarre moonfish – up to 2.5 m long bony fishes – and impressive swarms of manta rays can be found in the rugged bays of Nusa Penida. Also different shark species prefer their circles off the coasts of the islands. Turtles roam the ocean, lay their eggs on the beaches of Bali and Lombok and are fortunately protected today. Only the coasts of Lombok are visited once a year by the holy Palolo worms. And dolphins and flying fish accompany many a boat trip.

Animals on Bali

The Balinese Tiger will no longer be seen on the island. A well-directed shot in 1937 ended the life of the last specimen. On a trip through the jungle you will meet many other species of monkeys such as macaques and black bonneted langurs and in the Bali-Barat National Park the rare Banteng, a small species of cattle, of which there are only a few left. The pretty muntjaks are more common. The animals better known as Barking Deer resemble a delicate mixture of roe deer and antelope.

Flocks of bats and flying dogs with astonishing wingspan populate the sky between dawn and dawn. Especially after dark, the many geckos and their larger relatives, the Tokehs, come out in the glow of the lamps to hunt insects. Those who believe in numerical mysticism should count with their barking sounds: Odd numbers promise in principle good luck, and anyone who has a seven-times screaming tokeh in the house is not only protected from all kinds of insects, but also completely protected from disaster

In addition to these lucky charms, the reptile world of Bali also has true dragons to offer: iguanas and monitor lizards, but in the wild both rather in smaller formats.

For bird lovers there is a lot to discover between the mangroves, in the forest and in the fields. The highlight, however, is the white feathered Balistar, native to Bali. Those who are less demanding will enjoy the white herons at Petulu.

Pest and tormentors should not be concealed either: mosquitoes (Indonesian nyamuk) are particularly noticeable during the rainy season in the form of stings, from which one should absolutely protect oneself. Leeches are a harmless but unloved gift in some waters. Relatively harmless scorpions hide under rocks and snakes twisting in the jungle and in the rice fields. Unfortunately, you can even meet in the best hotels from time to time at a cockroach (Indonesian kecua) and even some bigger spiders can come by.

Neither Bali nor Lombok has lethal poisonous spiders and scorpions for healthy adults.

Flora in Bali

Especially during the rainy season the green lungs of the island blossom and on the second holiday day at the latest, it becomes clear which master of the gardens the Balinese are really. Because what we only admire in botanical gardens and greenhouses in this country thrives on the island of the gods in the great outdoors – often in multiple sizes.

The Banyan trees are particularly impressive. The giants belong to the mulberry family. They often grow in holy places or are the centre of villages. Occasionally, this tree is mistakenly associated with the tree under which Buddha found his enlightenment. In fact, however, it is said to have been given to him under the Pepul tree. No problem, you will also find this on the island.

With colourful blossoms, plants such as the sometimes very tall Bougainvillea, the beautiful fire tree or the omnipresent Frangipani, which only begins to blossom in the third year after its sowing, are pleasing. Jasmine and hibiscus fill the air with their heavy sweet scent.

If you are more interested in the culinary aspects of the flora, you are sure to be pleased that mango’ guava and lemon trees grow here as well as clove’ cocoa and jackfruit trees, to name but a few of the delicious exotic fruits.

Coconut palms and banana trees are omnipresent. Whether as endless plantations along the main roads or as decoration on the beach. Sugar palm and Lontar palm are used in many ways: from the nectar of the sugar palm, brown sugar and palm wine are extracted, the leaves serve as roofing for the temples. The Lontar palm is used for the extraction of alcohol and to preserve Balinese literature. The sheets are described and then stitched together into small books.

In addition to coconut palms and other useful trees, bamboo is especially important for the construction of houses. In dense forests, the meter-high plant thrives until the trunks have reached the diameter of soup plates.

Most importantly, however – and in many areas hardly to be overlooked – are the rice plantations. Depending on their degree of ripeness, they change from reflective water surfaces with light green plants to rippling fields in rich green and then radiate a ripe yellow.

The mangroves on the coasts form a world of their own. The aquatic plants provide a threatened and fragile habitat that provides space for many aquatic animals, insects and bird species.

Balinese community and support in a village

Balinese Gods with their manifestations and their meanings

Pedana Bali

Religion and priests in Bali