Royal Safari Garden Resort & Convention

Nestled in the Puncak Highlands in the Cisarua area, the Royal Safari Garden Resort & Convention is one of the top picks in the region for families. It occupies 3.5 acres of land packed with outdoor facilities geared towards families seeking to spend some time in touch with nature, including a proper zoo with elephant enclosures, camel rides, rabbit and bird areas, and reptile displays, as well as sports and recreational facilities such as paintball, tennis and badminton courts, loaner tandems and bikes, paddle boats, and fishing areas. Its 463 rooms are spread over a number of buildings and stand-alone bungalows -- some in better shape than others. The hotel has a slight safari lodge vibe throughout, with sculptures of elephants and giraffes in common areas, open structures offering garden views, and lots of wood finishes. This is a great choice for families with young kids, but couples seeking something more upscale and relaxing may want to consider the Pesona Amal Resort & Spa, offering a spa, contemporary rooms, and a serene mountain location. The Novus Giri Resort & Spa is another good option for families and couples, offering beautiful grounds, educational activities with animals, and a pleasant spa. The Taman Safari Lodge is a fun, solid alternative for families looking to visit Taman Safari Indonesia -- the hotel is located within the park and offers a wide variety of room types, from caravans to tree houses and regular hotel rooms.  

The hotel is located in Cisarua, an urban area in the heart of the Puncak Highlands. There are several restaurants and shops in the immediate vicinity, as well as a number of other hotels, but most guests come here to relax and make the most of the resort facilities. The area is a popular weekend getaway for families and couples from Jakarta, and traffic can be heavy in some areas. However, the atmosphere is generally relaxing and quiet, and offers easy access to local attractions. The hotel is about a 15-minute drive from Taman Safari Indonesia, a sprawling safari park popular with families. Mount Gede Pangrango National Park is about an hour away, as is the city of Bogor. The drive to Jakarta and the airport can take between two and two-and-a-half hours. 

The hotel has 463 rooms housed in a number of large buildings and stand-alone bungalows, all named after exotic animals. Decor ranges from simple with subtle safari details (such as animal prints on bed runners) to contemporary with full safari themes, including large mural images of animals, animal designs on pillows, and big paintings depicting savannah scenes. The hotel was undergoing renovations at the time of writing and some rooms had received some updates (including those in the Giraffe section), but the overall style is rather straightforward, with off-white tiled floors, generic wooden furniture, and few frills. All units have big windows, and a few rooms have balconies overlooking the grounds.Each room is outfitted with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a mini-fridge stocked with free water and sodas, and air-conditioning. Safes and electric kettles are also supplied. The smallest rooms are 258-square-foot Leopard units with a double bed and a twin bed, while the largest unit can sleep up to eight adults and five kids in three bedrooms and a living room. Bathrooms are clean but range from dated to modern, and come with basic toiletries and walk-in showers. A few units have shower/tub combos.  

The Royal Safari Garden offers tons of great outdoor features, ranging from zoo-like ones such as animal enclosures, camel rides, and educational activities with different species, to recreational programs for all ages, including paintball facilities, tennis and badminton courts, paddle boats, fishing, and loaner bikes and tandems. For a fee, parents can enroll their kids in the Safari Kids’ Camp, which offers night safari outings, barbecue nights, and storytelling sessions, among many other fun activities. The water park, mostly geared toward kids, features several waterslides of different sizes, plus kiddy areas with cute water features. Karaoke rooms and fish tanks for foot massages are also available on-site for a fee. Arumba Restaurant is the main eatery at the Royal Safari Garden and offers traditional Indonesian cuisine for all three main meals. Breakfast, which is not always included in the standard rate, includes a few continental options as well. Located on the rooftop of one of the main buildings, the Sky Garden serves up local and international cuisine in an open dining room with panoramic mountain views, while coffee and snacks are available at Mug & Co. The hotel also offers free outdoor parking and event space. Wi-Fi is free, but it can be slow and spotty.