The Wildlife Spectacle You Will Never Forget
As the equatorial sun begins its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in deep layers of tangerine, crimson, and gold, something almost primordial stirs within the dense mangrove canopy of Kalong Island. One by one, then in staggering waves, thousands of giant flying foxes — the largest bat species on Earth, with wingspans exceeding 1.5 metres — launch themselves into the evening sky. The spectacle is breathtaking: a living river of silhouettes streaming across the blazing sunset, their wings cutting through the warm tropical air as they set out on their nightly journey to the forests of Flores and Rinca to feed on wild fruit.
Known locally as Pulau Kalong — literally "Bat Island" — this small, mangrove-fringed islet sits at the eastern gateway of Komodo National Park, between the harbour town of Labuan Bajo and the dragon-inhabited wilderness of Rinca Island. The island itself is uninhabitable, its surface entirely claimed by tangled mangrove roots and the roosting colonies of Pteropus vampyrus, the giant fruit bat. During daylight hours, the bats hang in dense clusters from the branches, their dark forms blending into the shadows. It is only at twilight — that magical window between 5:30 and 6:15 PM — that the colony erupts into motion, creating a natural phenomenon that has been compared to the great wildebeest migration in its sheer visual impact.
Experiencing Kalong Island from the deck of Behike Cruise is an exercise in refined wonder. Our captain positions the phinisi at a respectful distance from the mangroves, close enough for you to hear the leathery rustle of wings but far enough to leave the colony undisturbed. As the bats take flight, our crew serves sunset cocktails and freshly prepared Indonesian tapas — imagine sipping a chilled gin and tonic while thousands of ancient creatures glide silently overhead against a canvas of liquid fire. Many guests describe it as the single most surreal evening of their lives. There is no zoo, no documentary, no IMAX screen that can replicate the feeling of standing beneath this living sky.
Kalong Island is also an important ecological anchor within the park. The flying foxes serve as critical pollinators and seed dispersers across the Lesser Sunda Islands, sustaining the tropical forests that give Komodo its legendary biodiversity. By visiting responsibly with Behike Cruise, you support an eco-conscious approach that keeps this ecosystem intact for future generations. The island is best visited as the final stop of a full day exploring Rinca's Komodo dragons and the underwater gardens of nearby Manta Point, making it the perfect cinematic finale to an extraordinary day at sea.