PICTURES: Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park, Makassar , Ujung Pandang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park, is located just about 1.5 hours drive from Makassar. Known as the butterfly kingdom, the mascot of the national park is butterfly.

The national park first explored by Wallace in the midst of 19th Century. And afterwards there were other researchers visited it. The national park consists of karst, river, and forest.  The main attraction is the river, waterfall, lake , cave and butterfly observation.  Wallace describes his visit to Bantimurung : “During my four days’ stay at the falls, I was so fortunate as to obtain six good specimens. As this beautiful creature flies, the long white tails flicker like streamers, and when settled on the beach it carries them raised upwards, as if to preserve them from injury. It is scarce even here, as I did not see more than a dozen specimens in all, and had to follow many of them up and down the river’s bank repeatedly before I succeeded in their capture. When the sun shone hottest, about noon, the moist beach of the pool below the upper fall presented a beautiful sight, being dotted with groups of gay butterflies—orange, yellow, white, blue, and green—which on being disturbed rose into the air by hundreds, forming clouds of variegated colours.”

Now the butterflies are not as many as when Wallace visit, however we can still see various kinds of butterflies here. There are about 250 species of butterflies inhabit the forest. The path to explore Bantimurung already good, suitable for family. 

The
Waterfall which is located about 10 minutes walk from the parking area.


The lake located about 20 minutes walk. Along the way you will meet some species of butterflies.


The path along the river where visitors can enjoy easy exploration from waterfall to the lake.


The karst cave can be explored with local guide.