Moramo Waterfall : The magnificent multi-level Waterfall

Overview

Situated within the Tanjung Peropa Nature Reserve at the  Sumber Sari Village, Moramo District, in the Konawe Regency, some  60km from Kendari, capital city of South Sulawesi,  is the Moramo Waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Indonesia.

Formed by thousands of  years of natural processes, the waterfall truly offers a magnificent view of rushing water cascading over huge granite boulders with  heights  somewhere between a half  to 3 meters. The beauty of the  Moramo waterfall even led the local Konawe people to believe that angels frequently descend from heaven to bathe in its refreshing stream. The enchanting beauty of the waterfall is often enhanced  with the appearance of colorful rainbows crowning over  the rushing waters.

With a total area of 38.937 hectares,the  Moramo Waterfall is surrounded by the splendors of lush green sceneries accompanied by  the soothing sounds of chirping birds and other harmonic music of nature. Here, you can also see some fascinating creatures such as butterflies, black monkeys, anoa, different kinds of birds, and more.

The most fascinating  feature of the Moramo Waterfall is its multi-level stages which cascade the waters from an approximate height of 100 meters. The waterfall consists of 7 main stages with over 60 smaller sub stages. Among these stages, small ponds are formed which make a perfect place for bathing or just playing around. Another unique feature of Moramo Waterfall is that it is located in a karst area which makes that its rocks are  not slippery and are easy to climb.

The waterfall has its source in the Biskori River stream that flows down from the Tambolosu mountain range. The stream from the Biskori River is also used by locals to irrigate farms and plantantions as well as for other needs. The people who inhabit the area are mostly migrants from Java and Bali island who took part in the “transmigration” project and were re-allocated to South East Sulawesi.

Moramo Waterfall was first discovered by “transmigrants” from Java somewhere in 1980. Connecting roads were not built until 1989, and in 1990, the waterfall was officially opened as a tourist destination.

The Tanjung Peropa Nature Reserve itself is considered to have the largest marble (onyx) deposit in the world. It is estimated that there are over 860 billion cubic meters of marble in the area, making it the largest marble reserve in Indonesia.

Get There

The Moramo Watefall is situated approximately 45km,  or about an hour and a half drive south from Kendari. The only way to reach this area is by rented car, since there are no public transportation serving the route and the road is relatively  not in very good condition.

Stepping out of your car, you still need to walk about 2 km after passing the main entrance. But you do not need to worry, since you will be provided with a conveniently paved footpath and presented with the beauty of the tropical forests.

Your trip will also include some wooden bridges and stone stairs which will make your adventure a bit more dynamic. Your fatigue will truly pay off once you hear the roaring sounds of water and the magnificent Marimo Waterfall come into view.

To Do

Along the 2km road from the main entrance, you will be greeted by rows of hundreds of years old topical trees. There is also a small waterfall with crystal clear water that  you will encounter before you reach the great Moramo Waterfall.

Among the many ponds formed by the stages in the Moramo waterfall, there is one which is particularly wide and deep enough to swim. The water is refreshingly clear and calming which is perfect for swimming or just to soak yourself in the beauty of nature and release all the tensions of daily city life.

Within the Tanjung Peropa Nature Reserve surrounding the waterfall you will also get to chance to see some  unique animals of Sulawesi’s forests such as the  anoa, babirusa, toucans, and more.

To Stay

Considering its  proximity to Kendari, you can simply stay in Kendari . Here are some of the accommodation options you can find in Kendari:

Putri Wisata Hotel
Jl. MT Haryono No. 104 Kendari

Hotel Athaya
Jl. Syech Yusuf No. 100 Kendari
Phone: +62 401331033

Hotel Aden
Jl. A Yani 54 Kendari 93117

Hotel Garden Palace Kendari
Jl. H. Abdul Silondai No. 1 Kendari
Phone: +62 815 24 75755

Indonesia Travel