Tropical Beauty of Kakaban Lake as an Awesome Holiday Destination

Kakaban lake is a sea water trapped in Kakaban Island, plus water from the soil and rainwater since 2 million years ago. Kakaban lake is a prehistoric lake that is the transitional era of Holosin. The extent of about 5 km² and rocky cliff as high as 50 meters. This condition causes the trapped seawater that can not get out, until it becomes lake.

Kakaban lake is located in the middle of Kakaban Island. Kakaban Island is located in Derawan Islands, Derawan District, Berau District, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Kakaban Island is one of the world's heritage.

Stingless Jellyfish in Kakaban Lake (image taken from indonesia.travel)

Tropical Beauty of Kakaban Lake

Paradise of Stingless Jellyfish

The tropical beauty of Kakaban Lake as an awesome holiday destination is something that must be visited by someone who expects a vacation experience in a tropical climate.

Kakaban lake is the paradise of jellyfish. In the world, there are only two lakes that are inhabited by jellyfish, Kaban lake is one of them. This lake is in the middle of Kakaban Island. Kakaban Island is an atoll island that has a brackish watery lagoon in it. This lagoon is called Kakaban lake. From the aerial view, the combination of Kakaban Island and Kakaban lake in the center becomes similar to a glasses lens.

Kakaban Island from Aerial View (image taken from kompasiana.com)

Kakaban Island is one of 31 islands in Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Kakaban Island has an area of about 774.2 hectares. Kakaban occupies the fourth position after Derawan, Maratua, and Sangalaki as the largest island in Derawan Islands.

The special thing that can be found by visitors on this island is the jellyfish habitat at Kakaban lake. There are millions of jellyfish living here. According to experts, the sting on the jellyfish in Kakaban lake has weakened after evolving for millions of years. This makes the jellyfish in this lake to be harmless.

There are four types of stingless jellyfish that live in Kakaban lake. The four species are aurelia aurita, mastigias papua, tripedalia cystophora, and cassiopea ornata.

Natural Beauty on the shores of Kakaban Lake (image taken from cumilebay.com)

This vast lake is surrounded by heaps of trees. At the edges, visitors will be able to see the brownish jellyfish. Once entered into the water, visitors will be immediately greeted by thousands of jellyfish swimming around.

Diving with Jellyfish in Kakaban Lake (image taken from seasia.co)

Because of this privilege, Kakaban lake not just a tourist destination. Researchers also often come to this place to conduct a variety of research.

Prohibition and Suggestions

There are some prohibitions and suggestions that must be obeyed by visitors in this lake. All that for the sake of the lake and also the ecosystem in it. The prohibitions are:

Visitors are not allowed to swim in the lake after swimming on the beach or sea. So, swim first in the lake, then to the beach or the sea.
Visitors are prohibited from littering. Bring bags to keep the trash.
Visitors are prohibited from capturing, kneading, lifting, or carrying jellyfish out of their habitat. Gently hold the jellyfish in the lake water.
Visitors are prohibited from using sunscreen while swimming in the lake.
Visitors are prohibited from wearing fins/frog legs while swimming in the lake.
Visitors are expected to swim or dive quietly. Enjoy the natural phenomenon that exists. Do not panic because the jellyfish in this lake will not sting.
Visitors who are less skilled in swimming skills are expected to use a float.
Visitors should use swimming goggles to keep a good view while diving or browsing the jellyfish inside the lake.
Visitors should use mountain slippers. Choose a flexible and strong. This is because the road terrain is quite slippery. When exposed to water, mountain slippers dry faster than shoes.

How to Go to Kakaban Lake

Toward Kakaban lake is not too difficult. If visitors come from outside Kalimantan, visitors can board the plane for Sultan Haji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport, Balikpapan.

From Balikpapan City there is a direct connecting flight to Kalimarau Airport, Berau. From Kalimarau Airport, visitors to Berau City by using airport taxi. After that, visitors to Tanjung Batu Port.

Visitors can also depart from Kalimarau Airport directly to Tanjung Batu Port by private vehicle or rental car. The travel time from Kalimarau Airport to Tanjung Batu Port is about 2.5 hours.

From the Tanjung Batu Port, visitors who want to Kakaban Island first to Derawan island by speed boat. The travel time is about 15-30 minutes.

From Derawan Island, visitors can continue to Kakaban Island by using spead boat again. The travel time is about 1-1.5 hours, depending on the condition of sea water.

Visitors can also purchase tour packages to Kakaban Island that are widely available in hotels or inns in Derawan Island.

Arriving at Kakaban Island, speedboat soon docked at the dock offshore. The dock is connected to a wooden bridge extending inland.

Wooden Gate at Kakaban Island (image taken from travel.idntimes.com)

In this bridge there is a wooden gate as a welcome greeting. Before getting to the lake, visitors must walk for 10-15 minutes first by crossing the forest on Kakaban Island.

Facilities and Accommodation

Kakaban Island is one of the uninhabited islands, no shops, not even an inn. So, visitors who want to visit should stay at Derawan Island, then visit the Kakaban island.

On this island there are facilities to change clothes, also toilets. Because in this place there is no shops, then visitors should bring a little food and drinks, as well as plastic bags for the trash.

If there are visitors who have a snorkeling hobby, then there is a snorkeling equipment rental on Derawan Island.