Tetebatu Monkey Forest: How to See Lombok’s Black Monkeys
Most travelers in Indonesia get their monkey fix in Bali, but if you’ve spent any time at the Ubud Monkey Forest, you know it can feel more like a circus than a wildlife encounter. In Lombok, it’s done differently. The Ebony Leaf Monkey also known as the East Javan Langur is the island’s most fascinating resident, and seeing them requires some effort, a bit of patience, and two feet on the ground at the base of Mount Rinjani in the Tetebatu Monkey Forest.
As of right now, tracking the Ebony Leaf Monkeys is not an official stop on our standard 4-day Lombok Loop itinerary. But after our team got boots on the ground and experienced this jungle trek firsthand, it instantly shot to the top of our priority list.
Tetebatu Monkey Forest Overview
- Location/Base: Most monkey tours start from Tetebatu Village which is about a 1.5 to 2-hour from Kuta and 1.5 hours to 2 hours from Senggigi depending on traffic.
- Best Time to Visit: Arrive between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM. This is when the monkeys are most active and feeding before the heat arrives.
- The Guide: Technically, you can enter the forest alone, but we highly recommend a guide. These monkeys don’t hang out by the entrance. A guide is essential for spotting them and navigating the unmarked trails. By using a guide you’re also supporting the local community.
- Total Cost: 150,000-250,000 IDR per person (This includes the 30K Tetebatu Monkey Forest entry for the black monkey along with the waterfall and rice field tour).
Getting to Tetebatu Monkey forest
The drive from Kuta took takes around 1-1.5 hours by motorbike or car (traffic dependent). This drive is incredibly scenic with most of the road following rice fields which lead towards Mount Rinjani. The road condition is good however once you enter the Tetebatu area they do become thin and caution should be taken on corners if you’re riding a motorbike.
Arriving in Tetebatu Town
We arrived to Oktavia Warung which is a popular warung at around 11 am and the restaurant was fully booked. We were then seated at a nearby hut to enjoy some Nasi Goreng and Mi Goreng which was delicious! After we finished eating the real fun began as we met with our guide ‘Ezi’ who we highly recommend who gave us a brief and we headed towards the Tetebatu Monkey Forest Gate.
Guide Price: 150,000-250,000 IDR per person.
Tetebatu Monkey Forest Gate Entry
From the restaurant it is a short walk through the village and back streets/bamboo forest (this is why a guide is great) before we made it to the sign which showed the starting point to the Tetebatu Monkey Forest Gate.
If you don’t have a guide you will need to walk to the Monkey Forest Gate and pay the 30,000 IDR per person before entering the forest. You will find someone nearby the small ticket stand at the entry sign. This entry fee is used to maintain the forest (keeping it free from plastic) and helps prevent the encroachment of agriculture into the langurs’ territory.
The terrain is level and there are many different tracks throughout this forest. We walked in and continued for about 10 minutes when we were alerted that another group had spotted the monkeys which was great news for us! We then spent 15-20 minutes watching the monkeys jump through the forest canopy.
Due to the recent rain the forest was damp and the trail was muddy which was slippery in areas but nothing too extreme however wearing enclosed shoes is advised.
Beware: It is best to keep your distance from the monkeys and don’t stand directly underneath them or you might be treated to an unwanted shower!
The Illusive Ebony Leaf Monkeys
In our experience, the Ebony Leaf Monkeys are the complete opposite of the inquisitive grey macaques. These guys are genuinely wild and incredibly shy. During our trek, we spotted a large troop of around 20 to 30 adults. The black monkeys really make you earn the view because they prefer to stay high up in the safety of the dense jungle canopy. They are most active during the day, spending their time swinging through the upper branches to forage for their diet of fresh leaves, flowers, and wild fruits.
If you’re lucky like us you might spot something that looks completely out of place against the adults black fur and that is their babies. The infants are actually born bright orange (very similar to the Dusky Leaf Monkey found in Thailand), making them look like little neon flares moving through the trees. You will probably spot the babies before you see the adults due to the color!
During our time in the forest we also spotted some macaques. The two species genuinely do not get along and we witnessed this first hand with the Ebony Leaf Monkeys chasing the macaques and causing the jungle to erupt with screams and screeches. The macaques very quickly retreated to the forest floor.
Tip: Bring binoculars as these monkeys rarely come down low.
Local Tip: Don’t bring food. While the Black monkeys are shy, the grey macaques also found here are opportunists. Keep your bags zipped up.
Continuing on to the Tetebatu Waterfall & Rice Fields
After you finish looking at the Ebony Leaf Monkeys we highly suggest to continue with your guide to the Tetebatu Waterfalls. The waterfalls can be reached in about 20 minutes following the roads and trails.
Bring swimwear as you’re able to swim in the waterfall. It’s a great place to cool off after the monkey sighting and there are many fruits and medicinal plants along the way in which the guides love to explain their uses. We planned our visit during the wet season in February and we found the surrounding area to be bursting with colour and the waterfall flowing well.
Read: Where to stay in Tetebatu
More Lombok Travel Guides
I hope this guide to finding the Ebony Leaf Monkeys in Tetebatu Monkey Forest has helped you plan your visit to one of the coolest wildlife attractions on Lombok.
Looking for more things to do in Lombok? Check out our guides or join us from Senggigi every single Thursday or Kuta every Friday on the Lombok Loop– an epic motorcycle journey around our island that we call home!
