Last Updated on June 24, 2026 by Eve Dawes
Selong Belanak Beach sits on Lombok’s south coast, a wide, white sand crescent that’s become one of the island’s most photographed spots. The water buffalo walking the shoreline at sunset are a huge part of why it’s become so famous and the reason we wanted to go. We visited as the last stop on a full day of beach hopping with a private driver, and arranged the water buffalo photoshoot in advance through our guide. Here’s exactly how it works, the best timing for sunset, and where to eat once you’re there.
This guide is based on our own visit to Selong Belanak Beach, where we arranged and experienced the water buffalo photoshoot firsthand. No part of this visit was sponsored but the dress links below are affiliate links.
How to Actually See the Water Buffalo at Selong Belanak Lombok: What Nobody Tells You Before You Go
We did so much research on how to see the water buffalo on Selong Belanak Beach and there was no clear answer. Everyone seemed to say it all came down to luck. But here’s what nobody tells you, probably because no one knows unless someone tells them!
The water buffalo at Selong Belanak aren’t a guaranteed wild sighting you’ll just stumble across walking the beach. The farmer may occasionally do it but if you want to guarantee seeing them, it’s a paid setup. Most tourists don’t realize this, they just hear that buffalo sometimes walk the beach and show up hoping to get lucky.
We knew how popular the water buffalo sightings at Selong Belanak beach Lombok are, there’s even photos at the airport so we knew they’d be surrounded by people as soon as people spotted them, so we headed to the other end of the beach for the farmer to meet us. A few people tried to join us but our guide was really good about ushering them away.
Yes, you can take a photo from a distance of them if you’re lucky enough to see them, but if you want to interact with the farmer and buffalo safely, you’ll need to arrange it with the local farmer via a contact like your driver (details below). They brought the herd out specifically for photos at sunset. If you want the shot, you need to arrange it ahead of time rather than showing up and hoping. And please do not approach the herd without doing this and the farmers express permission. While domesticated Water Buffalo are generally friendly they weigh up to 2,000 pounds, can charge at up to 30mph, and have massive horns, don’t mess around!
TIPS: We booked our day through a private driver @lombokte_adventure, who set the whole thing up in advance, coordinated directly with the farmer, and kept other tourists from walking into our shot while we got it. Arranging it ahead of time gives you a far better chance of actually getting the moment and interacting with these beautiful creatures, rather than missing the timing.
We also really wish we’d hired a local photographer. My husband doesn’t normally like being in photos but he felt like he missed out on the experience because he was trying to take the photos, video, and direct me speed and direction wise so I didn’t get run over by the herd of water buffalo!
If you have the time, I highly recommend booking a whole private day trip with Lombok Tour & Adventures. You can customize your trip to get exactly what you want, more details on our Lombok Day Tour here. I’m not affiliated with them and we paid in full, this is just an honest recommendation from an experience we really appreciated.
Best Time for Sunset and Buffalo Photos at Selong Belanak Lombok
Plan to be on the beach between 4 and 7pm. This window covers both the buffalo walk and sunset, so you can show up, relax and watch the sky change. Sunset itself tends to peak around 5 to 6pm, painting the whole bay in pink and orange, which is exactly when the buffalo are typically brought out, so the two moments overlap rather than competing for your time. The sunset here is spectacular with the vast bay, mountains, and crystal water.
Where to Eat at Selong Belanak Beach
As always, we did a lot of research on where to eat at 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 dinner with a sunset view.
We ended our day there after the photoshoot, and it’s set up specifically for watching the light change over the water while you eat. The service was so friendly, the view unbeatable, plus there were some cats and dogs for me 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 whole afternoon there rather than just popping in for the golden hour.
The Verdict
Selong Belanak is worth the drive for the beach alone, but the water buffalo photo is the real reason most people make the trip. Book it ahead of time, time your visit for late afternoon so sunset and the buffalo overlap, and end the day at Laut Biru with a drink in hand. It’s one of our favorite moments of our entire Indonesia trip, and definitely worth planning for.
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FAQ
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 7pm. Sunset typically peaks around 5 to 6pm, which overlaps with when the buffalo are usually brought out.
Laut Biru Bar and Restaurant sits directly on the sand and is the best option for a sit down dinner with sunset views. Local warungs along the beach offer more casual food and sun lounger rentals.
