West Bali National Park

Jembrana is perhaps the most ethnically heterogeneous regency in Bali. The Loloan area ispopulated by a Malay-speaking populace of Bugis descent. There are also many Balinese Christians, because part of Jembrana was converted into a settlement area for Balinese who converted to Catholicism and Protestantism at the start of the century. And there are, of course, plenty of traditional Balinese communities, particularly in the rice-growing areas of the regency. The natural scene is no less varied than the cultural one. Jembrana contains a large mountainous northern half which is part of west Bali National Park, while in the south there are 71 kilometers of beaches. The sand on the coastline is mostly volcanic, hence black, but there are also some beautiful white coral beaches especially at Medewi, and some mangrove forests. Southern Jembrana also has some of the most beautiful rice terraces on the island, while the mountainous northern half is part of West Bali National Park. West Bali National Park is situated in two regencies : Jembrana and Buleleng. The entrance on the Jembrana side of the park is at Melaya on the Denpasar- Gilimanuk road. Visit this place if you're looking for pristine tropical nature. The park is the last natural habitat of the endangered jalak putih-fewer than fifty are believed to be left in the wild, where they are threatened by poaching. The park is also home to banteng and the deer-like Menjangan. The National Park contains a broad range of natural environments, from mangrove coastal forest to savana and rainforests. To enter the National Park one must first go to the park office in Cekik. Experienced guides in the office offer trekking , diving and snorkeling (see Buleleng article). But diving and snorkeling on the Jembrana side of the National Park are not recommended for beginners.