Rafflesia is one of the largest flowers of the world, of which there are several types. The plant is parasitic, has no stem, roots or leaves, and takes its “food” from a vine that it grows on. It is pollinated by flies and other insects, which are attracted to the rafflesia by its special smell. No, it isn’t particularly pungent, at least the one I saw wasn’t. So where can you see the rafflesia flower?
All types of rafflesia are found in Southeast Asia, most of them in Malaysia and Indonesia, some in Thailand. I missed the chance to see it when I was living in Kuching for 4 months, even though the tourist office there (in the building of the old Courthouse) has up-to-date information about whether the rafflesia is in bloom or not.
See my detailed post about what to do and see in Kuching
or if you are a digital nomad, see my Digital Nomad City Rating of Kuching
I could, however, see a wonderful rafflesia in Indonesia, when I was staying in Bukittinggi on Sumatra. There, the guesthouse I was staying in (Hello Guesthouse) also has up-to-date info about the rafflesia. Actually, the local guides who live in the village near the rafflesia spots call the guesthouse the moment there is a new rafflesia in flowers.
From Bukittinggi, you will have to get to Batang Palupuh, a tiny village, where you will have to hire a guide. However, you must organise everything from Bukittinggi, to make sure everything is smooth. My guesthouse owner phoned the guide in the village, and he was already waiting for me when I got there by a Gojek motorbike (17k IDR). The guide himself took me back to town for 25k, and I paid him 100k for the “rafflesia tour”.
How easy is it to see a rafflesia flower?
The plant only blooms once a year, and only for few days. So this should mean that your chances are slim, especially because there are not many rafflesia. In fact, it is an endangered and protected species of plant.
However, you will still have a good chance of seeing one, even if your are only staying for a week or so nearby. How come, you may ask. Well, the local rafflesia guides want to earn money. When I was there, I saw a lot of rafflesia buds in different stages of development, and I have this strong feeling, that the guides help a little their own business by planting some more rafflesia than there would otherwise grow naturally. If this is true (I don’t know for sure), it is a good thing. There is nothing unnatural in what you as a tourist will see – these are real rafflesia in their natural habitat.
