Bali has so much more to offer than only partying or going to the beach. Besides the beautiful beaches, the nightlife, the wonderful Temples and the breathtaking nature, Bali offers a big variety of wildlife.
The wildlife varies from little rare birds to big mammals.
Birds
Bali has a total of 280 different species of birds flying around on the island. For bird spotters this is the perfect location to capture a picture of the very rare Bali Myna. This bird is almost extended and can only be found in the wild in the West Bali National Park and the small island Nusa Penida. Other birds that can be spotted are the sacred kingfisher, sea eagles, crested tree swifts, long-tailed shrikes, java sparrows, dollar birds, stork-billed kingfishers and many more. This makes it a true paradise for the bird loving visitors.
Monkeys
Bali has two different species of monkeys, the Crab-Eating Macaque and the Javan Langur. To see the Macaques, just go to the Ubud area and visit the Monkey Forrest. The name reveals it already monkeys will be everywhere. The monkeys will approach you if you have any food with you, so be careful if you have any food in your purse or backpack. They will find a way to take it from you. If you want to feed the monkeys, give them bananas or other fruits, don’t give them peanuts, bread or any other kind of food to keep the monkeys healthy. The macaques are also living at the Uluwatu Temple. Watch out for your hat, sunglasses, jewelry or flip-flops because the monkeys will steal it within a second. To get it back you can trade some bananas for your belongings. The Javan Langur is more rare on Bali. To find these monkeys you have to go to the Bali Barat National Park, in the west of Bali. The monkeys have an orange color when they are born but within the first year there color will become blacker. These monkeys are known by their lion looking manes and are really adorable to see.
Other wildlife
Besides the many birds and the monkeys, Bali has much more wildlife. When you decide to go to the rainforest and the mountains, the chances are big that you will see the Javan Rusa deer or a wild Boar. The biggest mammal that lives in the wild is the wild Banteng. This animal is used by humans mostly as working animal and for their meat. The Banteng is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Another small, cute animal that can be seen in the wild is the Asian palm civet, which is very famous for the production of Kopi Luwak, the most expensive coffee in the world. This little animal is hard to find in the wild so it makes it extra cool to spot one. Some very big snakes can be spotted as well, the king cobra and the reticulated python. These snakes are normally harmless to humans, but be careful if you see one. The stories go around that the reticulated pythons like the taste of human flesh..
Marine life
Bali is known for its beautiful underwater world. The island has several amazing diving spots like Tulamben, Amed Menjanang and Nusa Penida where the most exotic fishes, corals and more can be seen. Beautiful corals, big hawksbill turtles, giant manta rays, giant sunfishes, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks and many more beautiful creatures can be spotted during a dive. If you don’t like to dive, snorkeling is a really good alternative. Just rent the gear and find out the beauty of the ocean.
If you don’t want to be adventurous or don’t have all the time for it, Bali has a big safari and marine park where you can see all the animals. Or try the Bali Zoo; this zoo has a wide number of animals. But before you make a decision to go to one of the two, check online if there are special offers at the moment to save you some money.