Hiking to the top of Anak Krakatau

At first we anchored under the tall cliff in a bit of a bay off the northwest of Rakata. We were anchored just 50 m off the shore because it is very steep right up to the beach. This anchorage provides a great view of Anak Krakata which is only three miles north across the water. The water between the two islands is deep, more than 100 m in places. This is where Krakatau used to be. The eruption not only blew most of the island into the sky, it also blew an enormous hole in the sea. It's hard to get your head around the scale of that destruction.

 

In 1930 Anak Krakatau was born and has been growing steadily ever since. It is now 320 m high. In calm weather it is possible to anchor off the beach on the northeast of the island. From where we sat at anchor it looked like any other island, a beach bordered by a lush looking forest. But beyond the forest looms the black bare volcanic cone.

 

The beach is used as a fising camp. There's also a shelter from where a path leads through the forest to the first ashy slope. The forest is only about 100 m wide and soon there are only a few casuarina trees and tafts of tall grass left.

 

It's a steep slope, but not far to the first top. From there you can see a path all the way to the top of the imposing dark highest cone. As you go up further the heat increases. Here and there the rocks are steaming and when you grab a handful of gravel it feels warm.

 

At to the top you come to the rim of a large crater. Around the rim are many patches of smoking yellow smelly sulphur. Some areas are white and hot, the rocks here disintegrate underfoot like burned charcoal. Most rocks are black or red.

 

It is possible to walk all the way around the rim. One area is very hot and sulphurous, breathing here is a little unpleasant. Here and there the sulphurous rocks are very bright yellow and rather beautiful. The white patches are the hottest and you can feel the heat through the soles of your shoes.

 

The view from the rim of the crater is spectacular. Looking south Rakata looks very majestic, towards the northeast is the big volcano Sebesi. Looking down the slope the way we came we could see Jocara bobbing peacefully at anchor.

 

Anak Krakatau seemed quiet when we were there, but the forces of nature at play here are incredible.

Arriving at Rakata

For anchor off the beach at Anak Krakatau

Forest and grass give way to ashy lower slope

The crater

Steaming hot rocks and the colourful rim

The rim with Rakata in the background