Sumba Island is one of the destinations that is booming in recent years. because it was visited by several international artists such as David Beckham, Jennifer Lawrence and Dutch football player Arjen Robben. They visited a number of mainstay tourist destinations on the island which was called the most beautiful island in the world by a German magazine, “Focus”, in 2018.
To visit Sumba Island, you can use the sea route, namely through Bali. Meanwhile, flights from Jakarta do not have direct routes but must be transit. There are two transit options, either in Denpasar, Bali or in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. The flight to Denpasar, Bali from Jakarta takes 1 hour and 50 minutes, while from Jakarta to Kupang it takes 3 hours. Flights from Denpasar to Sumba and Kupang to Sumba take about 60 minutes. There are two airports on Sumba Island, namely Tambolaka Airport in Southwest Sumba and Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport in East Sumba. As for airlines, there are two serving routes to Sumba, namely Nam Air and Wings Air. The ticket price from Jakarta is around Rp. 2 million more per passenger. The unique landscape with the many hills, savanna, beaches and culture that is still preserved makes Sumba an interesting place to visit. Here are seven natural attractions in Sumba that are interesting to visit.
1. Bukit Ledongara
The first is on Lendongara Hill. Local residents call it by the name of the hill LDR. This hill is included in the area of Karuni Village, Loura District. The distance to the hill from Tambolaka, the capital of Southwest Sumba Regency is about 20 kilometres (km). The condition of the road to the hill was not very smooth because some of the asphalt was perforated. The green hilly area is increasingly soothing to the eyes, the scenery is beautiful with fresh and natural air, and it feels like being above the clouds. Rows of hills in the form of a savanna, each of us took out a cellphone to capture the beautiful moment. This place is perfect for the best photo spots, especially when the sun is about to return to its bed.
2. Pantai Kita Mananga Aba
The location of Kita Mananga Aba Beach is in the north and is still one sub-district with LDR Hill. If taken from Tambolaka, the capital of Southwest Sumba Regency, the distance is about 10 kilometres. On the beach, there are four small buildings with thatched roofs without walls, so that visitors can take shelter from the sun, while watching the beauty of the sea, with the background of Hotel Mario. If you want to enjoy the beauty of the beach while enjoying coffee and tea as well as delicious food, visitors can enter the Cafe Mario Hotel, which is a stone’s throw from Mananga Aba Beach. The price is affordable too. Visitors who want to travel to Mananga Aba Beach and Mario Hotel, only need to use a motorbike, private car or motorcycle taxi service and travel and can be reached in 15-20 minutes. The location of the beach is also close to Tambolaka Airport, which can be reached in 20 minutes, using four-wheeled vehicles.
3. Pantai Marosi
Marosi Beach is located in Lamboya District, West Sumba Regency or neighbouring Southwest Sumba Regency. This beach is located about 32 kilometres from Waikabubak City, the capital of West Sumba Regency. The condition of the road to the beach is not too smooth, because some points are still heavily damaged. However, this beach has crystal clear water, so tired when travelling for more than an hour can pay off. In addition to clear water, soft white sand when you enter between your toes. The large rock jutting into the sea gives it its own uniqueness. Coupled with rocks that seem to be stuck in the middle of the sand that makes this destination has its own characteristics. This beach is also surrounded by savanna and coconut trees that grow towering.
4. Kampung Adat Waru Wora
Not far from Marosi Beach, there is a traditional village that still maintains its authenticity. Its name is Waru Wora Traditional Village, which is located in Patijala Bawa Village, Lamboya District, West Sumba Regency. In this traditional village, there are 35 traditional houses inhabited by 102 families. The traditional house is in the form of a house on stilts with a roof that rises like a tower. Locals call it Uma Bokulu or big house. Before entering the traditional village, there are a number of large stone graves, which are on the left. The traditional house consists of three parts, namely the upper part for storing food ingredients, the middle for the occupants of the house and the lower part for livestock. The floors, roof frames and walls of the house are built using bamboo, while the roof is covered with reeds. Uma Bokulu is built using three types of wood, including Mayala wood, firewood, and jackfruit wood.
5. Bukit Cendana Hills
Bukit Cendana Hill is located in Cendana Village, Mamboro District, Central Sumba Regency. From Waibakul, the capital of Central Sumba to the hill it is about 42 kilometres, with a travel time of approximately one hour. The condition of the road to Bukit Cendana is very smooth because of the asphalt, so using any vehicle will definitely feel comfortable. Moreover, the location of the hill is right on the side of the road from Waibakul to Mamboro District. Cendana Hill’s landscape, at first glance, looks like LDR Hill in Southwest Sumba Regency. However, at Bukit Cendana, the expanse of the savanna is wider with views around the hills and the sea. The air was cool, even though the sun was directly overhead. Anyone who visits this hill will feel at home for a long time. This hill area has been well laid out by the local community. Starting from the entrance, several ornaments using bamboo and used mineral water bottles have been built along the incline to the hill. There are also three cottage buildings using bamboo and reeds, which are provided for visitors who want to relax. In the hut, visitors can also eat or rest while enjoying the beauty of Bukit Cendana. Cendana Hill is the best place to enjoy the sunset that brings the sun back to the contest.
6. Lambanapu cultural site
The Lambanapu Cultural Site is located in Lambanapu Village, Kambera District, East Sumba Regency. The location of the site is about 10 meters from Waingapu City, the capital of East Sumba Regency. This site is located among local residents’ settlements. Since 2016, archaeologists from the National Archaeological Research Center have been excavating an ancient site estimated to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old. During research on the site, various things were found. One of them, the analysis of the findings at the Lambanapu site is about the ancestral traces of the Indonesian people, especially Sumba. At the site, there are several boxes containing the skeletons of humans, and animals, grave jars or corpse containers made of clay, bronze bowls that serve as burial containers, beads and muti. All historical items are stored in a very modest size house which is guarded by a resident named Andreas Maramba Didi.
7. Bukit Tenau
Sumba’s natural tourism is always attractive, one of which is Bukit Tenau. After seeing the Lambanapu cultural site, tourists can shift to the east, namely at Tenau Hill. The location of the hill is in Mauliru Village, Kambera District. It is still one sub-district with the Lambanapu cultural site. The view offered by Bukit Tenau Sumba is a stretch of green grass that is soothing to the eyes. The landscape of this hill is different from the two hills in Sumba, such as the LDR Hill in Southwest Sumba and the Cendana Hills in Central Sumba. As far as the eye can see, tourists who visit Tenau Hill will only see a row of hills that are so beautiful and calming. The view that is presented is complete. In addition to the expanse of hills in the style of the Teletubbies hill, also rice fields, rivers and the sea are visible from above. Even the plane when it was about to land was clearly visible.
