Maheswari
Maheswari Phinisi
Kalong Island at sunset, and the flying foxes
Updated 20 October 2026
Maheswari reaches Kalong for sunset on day 1 of the 2D1N and the 3D2N, and on day 3 of the 4D3N. Sunset falls at 17:57 in July and 18:01 in November. The flying foxes leave the mangroves about 15 minutes later. The show is watched from the boat.
Kalong on the first evening
On the 2D1N and the 3D2N, day 1 ends at Kalong. The day runs from the Kelor trek, lunch, the Manjarite snorkel and a snack to sunset at Kalong and dinner. On the 4D3N the sunset comes on day 3, after the Strawberry Rock trek and a snack.
Sunset falls at 18:27 in January, 17:57 in July and 18:01 in November, and the table below gives all twelve months. The full day does not reach Kalong. The first day is strung together so that sunset becomes the closing note of an afternoon spent mostly on the water.
The captain decides the order of the stops, and the weather can change it. Settle on deck with the day's last drink in your hand. Anyone who wants the best light for photographs should say so when booking, because arrival at Kalong depends on a day's sailing that the captain shapes from the weather.
| 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 |
Times are computed for the location and are accurate to within a few minutes.
The flying foxes and the hour they leave
Kalong is a mangrove islet between Komodo and Rinca where thousands of flying foxes roost. They leave in a long stream at dusk, about 15 minutes after sunset, over about 30 minutes.
The bats keep no timetable to the minute, so be on deck early. Kalong is watched from the boat, since there is nothing to land on, and the swimming is done earlier in the day.
A long lens and a charged camera help. Keep your phone for the colour of the sky and let the camera with the lens take the bats. If the sky is overcast, the bats still leave, and you see them against the cloud. Thousands of animals leaving one roost at once is a sight that a first visit rarely prepares you for, and the lens matters less than the patience.
Photo taken on a Komodo Explorer trip · 5 photos
Dinner after the bats
The evening runs as sunset at Kalong, then dinner, then free time. So do both nights of the 3D2N.
Dinner follows the bats, and what happens after dinner is yours: the deck, the cabin, or the sound system turned low. The crew set the dinner hour by the sunset time of your month and by how the evening has gone on deck.
Where the boat spends the night is the captain's decision that day.
For a family, the free time is the best part of the evening. Children fall asleep early after a day that began with a pickup at 10:00, and parents get the deck to themselves.
What to put on for the evening
Cover your arms and legs once the sun goes. Dengue, chikungunya and malaria are present in the region, and the mangroves are the place where you notice mosquitoes first, so bring your own repellent and a long-sleeved top.
Bring a light layer for the deck, and sandals you can slip off at the cabin door. Sunblock goes in the day bag and out of the evening one.
Charge the camera before the stop. Kalong is a place to wait, and the minutes before the bats leave are for getting the exposure right. A light shirt with sleeves does more than any cream. Then wait.
FAQ
When do the flying foxes leave?
About 15 minutes after sunset, in a long stream that lasts about 30 minutes. The flight is not timed to the minute, so be on deck before sunset. The sunset table gives the time for your month.
Is Kalong a swimming stop?
No. The show is watched from the boat, and the water stops of the route come earlier in the day. Bring binoculars if you have them.
What time is sunset in my month?
Sunset at Kalong falls at 18:27 in January, 17:58 in April, 17:57 in July and 17:55 in October. The table above gives all twelve months, computed for the place. Name your month and we send the figure.
Is Kalong on the full-day route?
No. The full day goes to Padar, Pink Beach and Komodo and returns to Labuan Bajo the same day. Kalong is on the 2D1N, the 3D2N and the 4D3N. The full day returns to the harbour after the Komodo trek.
Do I need a mosquito repellent?
Mosquitoes are present in the region, and dengue, chikungunya and malaria occur there. Cover your skin at dusk and bring repellent if you want it. A long-sleeved top is the simplest protection.
Check availability — Maheswari
Maheswari is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia. We arrange the pickup, take the payment and keep your booking in order. The boat sails with its own crew.