Sumba Island

Sumba Island, located in Eastern Indonesia, is a province of East Nusa Tenggra. Unlike the steep mountainous terrain of many Indonesian islands, the landscape is low, limestone hills, with its rugged undulating savannah growing more maize than rice. Sprinkled throughout the countryside are hilltop villages with thatched clan houses clustered around megalithic tombs, and populated by herds of cattle and buffalo, Sumba almost resembles Southern Africa.

Sumba has an interestingly unique culture, with many traditional rituals and sacrificial rites taking place annually. The greatest concentration of those who worship spirits, both ancestral and those of the land, is found in West Sumba, where two-thirds of the population hold tightly their traditional beliefs. It is here where the fascinating Pasola festival takes place, a fantastical spectacle of bareback horsemen “battling” one another with hand-carved (albeit blunt) spears.

But it’s not just the authentic, ancient culture that makes Sumba so appealing, white sandy beaches enveloped by gorgeous azure waters surround the island. Puru Kambera Beach, Tarimbang Bay and Watu Mandorak cove are all places worth visiting, and the most amazing things about the beaches here is that you will probably be left to enjoy them on your own. For the more adventurous, the Tanggedu Waterfall boasts breath-taking views guaranteed to leave you feeling at peace.