What time do the flying foxes actually leave the mangroves?

In the last 20-30 minutes before full darkness, roughly aligned with local sunset at 17.45-18.20. Exact timing shifts slightly through the year with day length, so aim to be anchored and waiting at least 20 minutes before sunset.

Are these bats dangerous or likely to bite tourists?

No. Flying foxes are fruit-eating bats that forage on fruiting trees, not insects or blood, and boats stay at a distance from the roost rather than allowing close contact. There is no expectation of physical contact with the colony on this tour.

Can I see the flying foxes without booking a full-day trip?

Yes, many operators can arrange a shorter afternoon-only departure focused on the sunset viewing. Ask specifically for this option when arranging your boat, since it is not always advertised as a separate product.

Is the return boat ride in the dark safe?

Boats returning after dusk typically use navigation lights and the captain's knowledge of the route back to Riung's pier. Confirm your boat has working lights before departing, and bring a torch or headlamp as a personal backup.

What is the best month to see the largest number of bats?

The colony is present year-round rather than migratory in a way that affects visibility, so the sighting is reliable across seasons. Sea conditions for the crossing itself are generally calmer in the dry season months, which affects comfort more than the size of the colony you'll see.

From which island do you watch the flying foxes at sunset?

You stay on the boat off the mangrove edge of Ontoloe island flying fox colony, not on land. Captains usually anchor a few hundred metres from the trees, lining up the bats’ flight path with the fading light over the sea. This is why the boat tour to flying fox island is described as a scenic cruise, not a landing trip on Riung bat island itself.

Boats silhouetted at sunset with bats overhead

Ontoloe at dusk

Thousands of them, for the better part of an hour.

The late-afternoon boat trip that times its last stop at Ontoloe for the moment the colony lifts off.

The sunset tour departs around 15.00–16.00 and times its final stop at Ontoloe for dusk, when thousands of fruit bats leave their mangrove roost between 17.30 and 18.30.

Departs 15.00–16.00; colony leaves 17.30–18.30.
Quoted separately from the day boat.
A different product, not an add-on stop.

The evening

How the timing works

Getting there too early is the common mistake. There is nothing to see until the light goes.

Flying foxes lifting off a mangrove island at dusk

The departure

Between 15.00 and 16.00. Anything earlier and you sit off the mangroves waiting for the light to fail.

Kalong Island — representative. Photo: Khoirul Amri / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The flight

They leave to feed as the light drops, in a stream rather than a burst. It builds and keeps building.

Photo: Komodo Luxury.

Bay full of moored boats below savannah hills

The ride back

In the dark, in a sheltered bay, twenty minutes from the harbour. Bring a torch and something warm.

Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

Aerial view of a small green island ringed by turquoise shallows — Photo: Komodo Luxury.

Why it happens

They are fruit bats, not insect hunters

Flying foxes roost communally in the mangroves through the day and leave at dusk to feed on fruit and blossom inland. The mass departure is a feeding commute, not a display.

They are not aggressive and have no interest in the boat. Stay off the island and watch from the water.

Frequently asked questions

Ready to put dates on it?

Riung boats are arranged locally, at the pier. For the Komodo leg or a full Flores itinerary, the reservations desk answers on WhatsApp.

Book with Komodo Luxury

Thousands of them, for the better part of an hour.