Buniayu Cave is a tourist destination area known for its caves adventure. Located on an area of approximately 10 hectares, Buniayu is located in the village of Kerta Angsana, Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia.
Name origin
The cave was better known as Cipicung cave because its location is within the area of Cipicung village. It is known as Siluman cave by spelunkers. Since the Perum Perhutani took over the management of this area, on 26 February 1992, the name of the cave was changed to Wana Wisata Buniayu Cave. Buniayu name itself is taken from the Sundanese language which consists of the word "Buni" which means "hidden" and "Ayu" which means "beautiful". Therefore, Buniayu means "hidden beauty".
The entrance to Kerek Cave
History
Since 1992, the resort is operated by Perum Perhutani Unit III Jawa Barat (West Java) and Banten. There are two caves in the area, namely Goa Angin (Wind Cave) and Goa Kerek (Kerek Cave). Goa Angin or Wind Cave is used for general interest tourism, while Goa Kerek is used for special interest tourism.
Wind Cave
Wind Cave is a horizontal cave with the approximate distance around 300 meters or around 1.5 – 2 hours (backtrack). The cave is open to public because, to enter, the visitor would not require special equipment.
Tunnel
Depth of vertical hole: Non vertical
Area of chamber (room): Varies at some point
Horizontal alley length: ± 300m (travel time 2 hours round-trip)
Hallway width: 1 – 20 meters
Ceiling height: 2 – 25 meters on average from the cave floor
Waters
River width: 1 – 2 meters
River water level altitude: 0.5 – 3 meters (high intensity rainfall), 15cm (dry)
Diameter of the lake: None
Depth of lake: None
Waterfall height: None
Types of ornaments
Stalactite, shaped like a spear
Stalagmites, located always under the stalactites
Drapery, shaped like a shark's fin
Gourdam (baby gourdam, micro gourd), dome-shaped with a surface resembling a patch of rice fields
Canopy, shaped like an umbrella
Flow stone, shaped like a frozen waterfall
Column, shaped like a pillar (originally from stalactite and stalagmite that have been fused)
Types of biota
Crickets bat (megachiroptra)
Spider
Fish
Shrimp
Lizard
Swallow (Collocalia)
General condition of the tunnel
Wet with 60 – 70% humidity and temperature around 22 – 25°C
Climb angle between 30 ° - 45
The chamber inside Kerek Cave
Kerek Cave
To enter Kerek Cave, visitors will need special equipment. Kerek Cave is a cave with vertical entrance, around 30 meters tall. The distance from the entrance of the cave to the exit is around 2.5 kilometers or around 5 – 6 hours. With the number of cave floors collapsed as a result of water erosion, this cave is categorized as a cave with medium adventure level with quite high level of risk. Therefore, special equipment and professional guides are required. For that reason, this cave is only opened for visitors with special interest.
Tunnel
Depth of vertical hole: ± 32 meters (entrance)
Area of chamber (room): ± 1½ of soccer field
Horizontal alley length: ± 2.5km (travel time 5 – 7 hours to the horizontal exit hole)
Hallway width: 1 – 20 meters
Ceiling height: 2 – 35 meters on average from the cave floor
