Senada Phinisi
Senada Phinisi
The bats leave at dusk, the group watches from the deck
Updated 26 October 2026
Kalong Island bat sunset from the deck is day 1 of the Senada Phinisi route. In July the sun sets at 17:57, and about 15 minutes later thousands of flying foxes stream out of the mangroves while the group watches from the boat.
What leaves the island at dusk
Kalong is a small islet between Komodo and Rinca, and its mangroves are the roost of thousands of flying foxes. When dusk comes they pour out over the water for about 30 minutes, off to feed.
They go about 15 minutes after sunset, so the group arrives early. The sun goes down as early as 17:35 or as late as 18:55, month by month: 18:27 in January, 17:57 in July. The table gives every month.
This is not a landing stop. The show is watched from the boat. Nobody climbs, nobody changes shoes, and nobody needs to be fit to take part.
It comes on day 1 of the 2-day and 3-day routes, after the Rinca walk, and it is the end of the first day on the water.
| Month | Sunset | Bats fly from about |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18:27 | 18:42 |
| February | 18:26 | 18:41 |
| March | 18:15 | 18:30 |
| April | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| May | 17:49 | 18:04 |
| June | 17:50 | 18:05 |
| July | 17:57 | 18:12 |
| August | 18:00 | 18:15 |
| September | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| October | 17:55 | 18:10 |
| November | 18:01 | 18:16 |
| December | 18:14 | 18:29 |
Computed for the location and accurate to a few minutes.
Bats overhead, the group on the deck
Everyone comes up at once. The sundeck with its bean bags is the front row. The covered parts behind it are for those who have had enough sun, and the children sit where they can see over the rail.
The sky is for all, and the camera is for each. Some of the group will film it, some will watch it, and one cousin will count the bats and lose count at two hundred.
Photographs on this page are Komodo frames from other trips and not from this boat: flocks against a dusk sky, over dark hills. Bring the long lens and a full battery, and keep a steady hand.
Ask us about charging points before you plan around one.
Photo taken on a Komodo Explorer trip · 5 photos
Dinner once the sky empties
Dinner is on board on night one. When the last bats have gone, the light goes with them. The group goes down to the indoor dining area, which has the Senada Phinisi sign on the wall.
The sundeck is still there after dinner, with the stars, if the sky is clear. The karaoke set and the TV with the Bluetooth sound system are there for those who want to sing, and not a promise that anyone will. Nobody has to.
Where the boat rests for the night is for the weather and the captain to settle on the day.
The next morning begins early, with the Padar walk at sunrise, so the group should keep the evening short.
When the sky decides
Bats keep their own timetable and the weather keeps another. Cloud can hide the sunset, rain can hide the bats.
We promise the stop, not the sky. The stop is on day 1 of the 2-day and 3-day routes, and the captain decides where the boat sits for the show. The bats' timing and the weather decide the rest.
A day with a poor sunset is still a day with a Rinca walk behind it and a dinner in front of it. The bats are one more thing to share.
Arrive early, bring a layer, and watch the sky, not the clock.
FAQ
When do the bats fly?
They start leaving some 15 minutes after sunset, and the flow goes on for about 30 minutes. Across the year the sun sets from 17:35 to 18:55, and the July time is 17:57. The bats' timing and the weather decide the rest.
Where do we watch from?
From the boat. Nobody goes ashore at Kalong. Everyone watches from the boat, and the sundeck has the widest view. Nobody climbs or changes shoes. The captain decides how the boat sits for the show.
Is the boat at anchor?
The captain decides how the boat sits for the show. Which spot the boat takes for the night depends on that day's weather and on the captain's decision. The group watches from the deck either way.
Is it every night?
No. Kalong is on day 1 of the 2-day and 3-day routes, at sunset. The 4-day sample route keeps it on day 1 too. The bats' timing and the weather decide what the sky does that evening, and we promise the stop, not the show.
Check availability for Senada Phinisi
Senada Phinisi is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia. We confirm your cabins, take the payment and arrange the pickup. The boat sails with its own crew of 7.