Last updated on June 24, 2026 by Eve Dawes
Selong Belanak Beach is located on Lombok's southern coast, a wide crescent of white sand that has become one of the most photographed places on the island. The water buffaloes walking along the shoreline at sunset are a big part of why it has become so famous and the reason we wanted to go. We visited as the last stop on a full beach day with a private driver and arranged the water buffalo photo session in advance through our guide. Here's exactly how it works, what's the best time for sunset, and where to eat once you're there.
This guide is based on our own visit to Selong Belanak Beach where we organized and experienced the water buffalo photo shoot first hand. No part of this visit was sponsored, but the clothing links below are affiliate links.
How to Really See Water Buffalo in Selong Belanak Lombok: What Nobody Tells You Before You Go
We did a lot of research on how to see the water buffalo at Selong Belanak Beach and there was no clear answer. Everyone seemed to say it was all down to luck. But this is what no one tells you, probably because no one knows unless someone tells them!
The water buffaloes in Selong Belanak are not a guaranteed wild sighting that you will just stumble upon walking along the beach. The farmer may do this occasionally, but if you want to guarantee you'll see it, it's a paid setup. Most tourists don't realize this, they only hear that buffaloes sometimes walk along the beach and appear in the hope of getting lucky.
We knew how popular water buffalo sightings are at Selong Belanak Beach in Lombok, there are even photos at the airport, so we knew they would be surrounded by people as soon as people saw them, so we headed to the other end of the beach for the farmer to meet us. Some people tried to join us, but our guide was very good at leading them away.
Yes, you can take a photo of them from afar if you are lucky enough to see them, but if you want to interact with the farmer and buffalo safely, you will need to arrange this with the local farmer through a contact as your driver (details below). They took the herd out specifically to take photographs at sunset. If you want the vaccine, you should arrange it in advance rather than showing up and waiting. And please do not approach the herd without doing this and having the farmers express their permission. While domesticated water buffalo are generally friendly, weigh up to 2,000 pounds, can charge up to 30 mph, and have huge horns, don't waste your time!
TIPS: We booked our day through a private driver @lombokte_adventure, who prepared everything in advance, coordinated directly with the farmer, and prevented other tourists from getting into our shot while we had it. Organizing it in advance gives you a much better chance of seizing the moment and interacting with these beautiful creatures, rather than missing the moment.
We also wish we had hired a local photographer. My husband normally doesn't like to be in photos, but he felt like he missed the experience because I was trying to take the photos, record video, and steer myself in terms of speed and direction so I wouldn't get hit by the herd of water buffalo.
If you have time, I recommend booking a full-day private tour with Lombok Tour & Adventures. You can customize your trip to get exactly what you want; More details about our Lombok Day Tour here. I am not affiliated with them and we paid in full. This is just an honest recommendation of an experience we really appreciated.
Best time to watch the sunset and see buffaloes in Selong Belanak Lombok
Plan to be at the beach between 4 and 7 pm. This window covers both the buffalo ride and the sunset, so you can show up, relax, and watch the sky change. The sunset itself tends to peak around 5 to 6 pm, painting the entire bay pink and orange, which is exactly when they usually bring out the buffalo, so the two times overlap rather than competing for your time. The sunset here is spectacular with the vast bay, mountains and crystal clear water.
Where to eat on Selong Belanak beach
As always, we did a lot of research on where to eat in Selong Belanak Lombok and decided on Laut Biru Bar and Restaurant, which sits right on the sand and is the obvious choice if you want to dine with a view of the sunset.
We finished our day there after the photo shoot, and it's set up specifically to see how the light changes on the water while you eat. The service was very friendly, the view was unbeatable, and there were some dogs and cats to make friends with.
If you're looking for something more casual earlier in the day, Selong Belanak Beach is lined with local warungs renting sun loungers and serving simple Indonesian dishes. A good option if you're spending the entire afternoon there rather than just stopping by for golden hour.
The verdict
Selong Belanak is worth the drive just to the beach, but the water buffalo photo is the real reason most people make the trip. Book in advance, time your visit in the late afternoon so the sunset and buffalo overlap, and end the day at Laut Biru with a drink in hand. It's one of our favorite moments of our entire trip to Indonesia and definitely worth planning for.
Follow @glamourandgains to learn more about our trip to Indonesia.
Frequently asked questions
Possibly, if you're lucky. But the most reliable way is to arrange it in advance, which is what we did. Book with Lombok Adventure.
Plan to arrive between 4 and 7 pm Sunset usually peaks between 5 and 6 pm, which overlaps with when the buffaloes usually come out.
Laut Biru Bar and Restaurant is located directly on the sand and is the best option for dining with sunset views. Local warungs along the beach offer more casual food and sun lounger rentals.
