Located in the middle of West Jakarta, this could be the best getaway place from the city and relax in a very natural environment. Here you can hear sound of birds and crickets and breathe fresh air.
Walking in this 15ha urban forest feels like being in a real forest. Trees surrounding the forest are tall and thick enough to cover the entire area that you can’t see buildings or hear noises from the city. Being my first time visiting Srengseng Urban Forest, I felt like I was in Dago forest minus the cold temperature. The temperature was warm but it’s not as hot as being in the middle of the traffic (of course). According to Jakarta.go.id, this place once was a landfill, which slowly transformed into a forest in a similar way to how World Cup Park in Seoul was built.
Srengseng Urban Forest (Hutan Kota Srengseng) can be reached within 900m walk from Kelapa Dua Sasak Transjakarta Bus Shelter (Corridor 8). From Kelapa Dua Sasak Shelter, you could also take a Mikrolet M24 which goes through Haji Kelik street and passes by the forest. Just make sure that you take the one on the left side of the road when you go out of the bus shelter.
The entrance fee to Srengseng Urban Forest is Rp. 1,000 per person (around 10¢). If you bring a vehicle, an extra amount is charged, which is Rp. 2,000 (20¢) for a car or Rp. 1,000 (10¢) for a motorcycle. Parking lots are available inside so you don’t have to park on street.
A sign stating “Hutan Kota Srengseng” (Srengseng Urban Forest). This forest is located in Srengseng district, in West Jakarta. 
Take a look at the depth of the forest. It’s refreshing.
One of the main attraction in the forest is the artificial lake which functions as a reservoir for the nearby Pesangrahan river. The lake’s size is about one third of the forest’s area so you wouldn’t miss it. There is a land in the middle of the lake, which is not accessible by public. In my opinion, the best place to sit and relax is on the western side of the lake where trees cover the place from sunlight and you occasionally get cool breeze coming from the lake. The north-eastern side is also good if you want to enjoy a wider view of the lake with the forest in background.
Pathway to the lake. This is not the main path though. 
North side of the lake. People like to fish there. 
Eastern side of the lake. The land full of trees on the right side of the photo is located in the middle of the lake and not connected by land. 
Land in the middle of the lake. That land is inaccessible for people. 
A shot on trees in the middle of the lake. 
Land raised due to falling trees. 
That side across the lake is one of the best place to sit and relax.
On the west side, the forest is quite swampy. While in the lake area the sound of birds is more dominant, here you could hear sounds of creek and frogs more clearly. Going farther to the side is not so beautiful because you would reach the end of the forest, so you see walls, buildings behind the wall, and car noises. It’s not that natural anymore.
The areas in the northwest and northeast side of the forest, near the offices, are used for seedling and growing new plants. Those seedlings and young plants are for sale.
Tree with hanging roots can be seen on the northwest side of the forest. 
The southwest side of the forest is swampy. The ground is also soft and slippery so it’s better to keep on the paved track! 
Branch in swamp
During weekend, there are quite a lot of people coming. Teens, families, and fishing hobbyists. When I came to Srengseng urban forest, there was a gathering of dog lovers community too.
The forest also contains some facilities, though many of them are unmaintained and even abandoned. There are children playground, an outdoor performing stage, and an abandoned climbing wall. There is also a jogging track all around the forest, so you need not to worry on how to enter and walk through the forest. In fact, most of, if not all, recreational forests have tracks and pavements for people to easily walk by.
There is a playground near the entrance. You could also buy food and drinks at the food court nearby. 
An abandoned climbing wall. 
Sometimes the less traveled path is blocked by fallen tree trunk and not cleared by the forest staff. Some even intentionally left as is to prevent motorcyclists forcing to ride their motorcycle inside. 
The jogging track is made of paving blocks. Moss on the pavement makes it slippery during rain. 
A junction to swamp area or to west side of the lake and outdoor stage. 
Dogs brought by visitors. 
This is perhaps the tallest tree in the forest. Do you know what is the species of this tree? 
Meet the photogenic grasshopper. A native inhabitant of the forest. 
I saw two grasshoppers meeting. Oh and that’s not all. There are more of them!