I must say that it was unbelievable to find a quiet and clean mangrove forest in a buttling and polluted city like Jakarta. The mangrove forest is called Angke Kapuk Mangrove forest and it is located in Pantai Indak Kapuk (right behing the big Tzu Chi Buddhish school) in North Jakarta.
It is easy to reach the forest by car as it is within a walking distance from the Pantai Indah Kapuk highway exit There was a convenient and safe parking area near the forest entrance. The fee was Rp 25.000 for domestic visitors and Rp 250.000 for foreign visitors. (I know it is crazy)
There are 30 species of plants that are protected in this forest. 4 of them are mangroves which are called bakau, api-api, pidada, and kayu buta-buta in local language. 91 species of birds are also protected here. Bird watching towers can be found in a number of area in the forest.
Birte, my colleague, and I had fun here. We enjoyed the boat ride so much. (We rented the boat for Rp 150.000 per hour) If you live in Jakarta or Tangerang, this place is a perfect hideaway.