[Andhy] Zero Zone

Citarik : Beautiful River for Rafting

The Citarik River which located in Sukabumi is part of Gunung Halimun National Park and commonly known as one of the most well-know rivers for exciting rafting in West Java, Indonesia. That place can be reached approximately 3 hours until 4 hours from Jakarta by car. Me with my 17 others friends went there for refreshing using 3 cars starting from Wisma Mulia, Jakarta at 8 AM. After long journey we passed place called lido and found the huge traffic caused by unmanaged traditional supermarket and public transportation called “angkot”. After that, we passed the mountainous road with steep and narrow road. Along the way there were plantations of rice, banana, corn, vegetables, and the oil palm plantation. Finally, at 11.30 AM we arrived at Caldera Base Camp, one of rafting agent at Citarik River. At Caldera Base Camp, we had lunch as a packet of rafting service from Caldera. The menu of that lunch was traditional sunda food, called nasi timbel (timbel rice). Nasi Timbel consists of rice with fried chicken, tempe, tahu, and many kind of vegetable.

Full of lunch food, we got our rafting equipment which consist life jackets, paddles, and helmets for security. After that, we were divided into 4 teams. as we consist of 18 peoples, 2 teams consist of 5 peoples and 2 teams other consist of 4 peoples. A minute after that we were given explanation related to Citarik River like the rule of rafting and the security which should be done when rafting. Then, we went to the starting point. The starting point actually located 4.5 km from this caldera camp. We went there by open colt car. The road was very steep and with many curves. Therefore, we screamed in the whole dangerous trip .

Arrived at starting point, we should walk along the rice plantation to the boat in the edge river. After that we went into the boat. Teams which consist of 5 people would be guided by one guide but the teams which consist of 4 people would be guided by 2 guided as complemented. Then, we tried the rule of rafting which given like RIGHT, LEFT, etc. As all of the team squad was ready, we started the Rafting. The length of the rafting trip was 9 km and would be needed time approximately 2 hours with the name code for this route was alligator. At that time, the water level was 65.

At the beginning of the trip, we always had “splash war” using our paddles with other teams. The Citarik River has many rocks and the hard stream which give us more challenge and also excitement. Many of other team fell out of boat jumped over big stream. But, don’t worry, it’s totally safe if you follow the rule from the guide. Later on, we had a quiet stream. That means the water is deep. Our guide told us if we can jump and swim into the river. Me and 2 of my friends jumped into the river and swim .

Along the river, we saw many flowers, beautiful birds, and big lizards (biawak). At the other side of river we saw the child who swim in the river with some peoples were looking fish in the river. At the middle of the trip, our guide added the air into the boat by pumped it into the boat because our boat hit so many big rock .

After more than 2 hours in the boat, finally we arrived at the finish point. Hm…very tired. At that place, we were given fresh coconut. That fresh and delicious coconut recharge our energy . Satisfied with fresh coconut, then we went back into the Caldera Camp which located 4.5 Km the finish point using the same car. Well actually the road also very steep and with many curves like the road when we were going to the starting point but at that time, all of us were tired so there were no creamed again ha..ha..ha..

Then we toke a bath at that Caldera Camp and went back to Jakarta.