The single best family day out from Jakarta is not in the city at all. Two hours south, up in the cooler, greener Bogor hills, lies Taman Safari, a superb safari park where you drive right through the middle of the animals, and it is worth building your whole Jakarta stop around.
The magic is the drive through section. You go slowly through large open enclosures, either in your own car or on a park bus, while the animals roam freely around you. Zebras, deer and antelope wander right up to the windows, elephants amble past, and in the more secure areas you glide by lions, tigers and bears. For kids, having a giraffe or a deer peer in at them is pure wonder, and you can buy carrots to feed the friendly herbivores from the car.
Beyond the safari drive, there is a whole zoo area with animal shows, gentle amusement park rides, a baby animal nursery and encounters, easily filling a full day. And the cool mountain air is a genuine relief after the heat and haze of the city.
Hire a car with a driver for the day to handle the traffic and the mountain road, go on a weekday to avoid the local crowds, and bring layers, since it is cooler up there. It is the kind of day that becomes the highlight of a Jakarta stopover, and a reminder that Indonesia’s wonders are never far away.
The full Jakarta itinerary is in Jakarta With Kids. When you are ready, Work with me.
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