Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park

Administratively, Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park is located in an intersection area of 3 districts, Sumba Barat, Sumba Tengah and Sumba Timur district. This area has been pointed as a national park by Foresty Minister in 1998. Most topography in this area are steepy hills and situated at 600 meters above sea level.

Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park is representative of spring-emetic forest lowland in Sumba. Most of the forest area in the national park such as cliffs, which emerged from sea level until 600 meters high. Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park has a diversity of high value which is about 118 plant species including suren (Toona sureni), taduk (Sterculia foetida), kesambi (Schleichera oleosa), pulai (Alstonia scholaris), tamarind (Tamarindus indica), walnut (Aleurites moluccana), guava forest (Syzygium sp.), mountain pine (Casuarina sp.), and lantana (Lantana camara).

Animals living in Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park as many as 87 species of birds including seven species endemic of Sumba Island are cempaka cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata), julang Sumba (Rhyticeros everetti), pigeon Sumba (Treron teysmannii), flycatcher Sumba (Ficedula harterti), kepodang-sungu Sumba (Coracina dohertyi), and honey Sumba (Nectarinia buettikoferi). Sumba looming bird and bird cockatoo cempaka is the most rare and endangered, especially on Sumba Island. Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park also has 57 species of butterfly, including seven endemic Sumba Island is Papilio neumoegenii, Ideopsis oberthurii, Delias fasciata, Junonia adulatrix, Athyma Karita, Sumalia chilo, and Elimnia amoena.

Manupeu Tanah Daru has not been designated as a National Park, so the facility for visitors is still limited. The facilities available is homestay which is managed by the community around the national park. Most tourists who visit to Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park is generally associated with time remaining on the cultural tour on Sumba Island.

Interesting locations to visit:

Matayangu Waterfall and Lapopu Waterfall, located in Waimanu Village and Katikutana Village.

Several cultural attractions in Sumba include:

Waikabubak adjacent to Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park found many ancient tombs carved. The ancient cemetery is a symbol of social status and public health (Kadung Tana, Watu Karagata and Fur Sensitive Mila). Pasola, an attraction ritual is very interesting and exciting, because it looks some people ride a horse decorated colorful, fight each other to knock down with wooden spears. The attraction is held in Lamboya and Kodi in February, March in Gaura and Wanukaka.

The best visiting season:

March to June and October to December each year.

How to reach:

Kupang-Waingapu by plane about an hour, then from Waingapu-Lewa-Waikabubak by road use car for about two hours, which continued to Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park (Langgaliru Village, Katiku Loku Village and Watumbelar Village).