Nature Reserve
North Sulawesi
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| World's smallest primate: Tarsier Spectrum |
Tangkoko Nature Reserve
Drive for 2 hours from Manado for a rendezvous with nature at Tangkoko National Park, a 3,000-hectare land of rolling hills that shelters endangered species. Get your binoculars ready as we hunt for Sulawesi endemic animals such as Tarsier Spectrum (the world’s smallest primate at the size of an adult’s palm), Black Macaque (Manado’s indigenous ape), and Cuscus (a member of the marsupial family) in their natural habitat. The tour takes about 8 hours, so you might consider staying overnight at a nearby guesthouse.
Dumoga Bone Nature Reserve
Discover the wildlife at Dumonga Bone National Park, 260 km away from Manado. Its 190,000 hectare of mountainous terrains and dense vegetations makes it an ideal home for tarsiers, maleo birds, anoas, hornbills, wild boars, and recently discovered giant fruit bats. Make sure to also explore the park’s equally diverse plantations, consisting mostly of fruit producing trees such as wild durians and nutmegs. The tour takes approximately 10 hours.
Tandurusa Conservation Park
If you have a tight schedule but would like to squeeze a little wildlife exposure in your tour itinerary, Tandurusa is the perfect option. You will find here the same animals as in the other two nature reserves—such as tarsier, babirusa, cuscus, black macaque, and anoa—except that they are locked up. (As cruel as it may sound, the animals were captured from the wild for their own good. The babirusa, for example, could have been killed by its fang’s uncontrollable growth if not for human intervention.) The conservation area can be reached by land within an hour from Manado, and takes less than 2 hours to explore. This tour is best combined with Minahasa Highlands Tour.
Drive for 2 hours from Manado for a rendezvous with nature at Tangkoko National Park, a 3,000-hectare land of rolling hills that shelters endangered species. Get your binoculars ready as we hunt for Sulawesi endemic animals such as Tarsier Spectrum (the world’s smallest primate at the size of an adult’s palm), Black Macaque (Manado’s indigenous ape), and Cuscus (a member of the marsupial family) in their natural habitat. The tour takes about 8 hours, so you might consider staying overnight at a nearby guesthouse.
Dumoga Bone Nature Reserve
Discover the wildlife at Dumonga Bone National Park, 260 km away from Manado. Its 190,000 hectare of mountainous terrains and dense vegetations makes it an ideal home for tarsiers, maleo birds, anoas, hornbills, wild boars, and recently discovered giant fruit bats. Make sure to also explore the park’s equally diverse plantations, consisting mostly of fruit producing trees such as wild durians and nutmegs. The tour takes approximately 10 hours.
Tandurusa Conservation Park
If you have a tight schedule but would like to squeeze a little wildlife exposure in your tour itinerary, Tandurusa is the perfect option. You will find here the same animals as in the other two nature reserves—such as tarsier, babirusa, cuscus, black macaque, and anoa—except that they are locked up. (As cruel as it may sound, the animals were captured from the wild for their own good. The babirusa, for example, could have been killed by its fang’s uncontrollable growth if not for human intervention.) The conservation area can be reached by land within an hour from Manado, and takes less than 2 hours to explore. This tour is best combined with Minahasa Highlands Tour.
Mountain Trekking
North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi
Mt. Klabat
Test your endurance by hiking the highest mountain in North Sulawesi (1,995 m). During the ascent, you will walk through lush tropical rainforests. By the time you reach the summit after some six hours of climb, have your cameras ready to capture a breathtaking view of the whole North Sulawesi. Trekking usually starts at 4 AM, but you can make it more memorable by leaving at night during full moon, and stay overnight to catch the sunrise. Camping site is available on the top of the mountain.
Soputan Volcano
Allocate 10 hours to reach the top of Soputan mountain (1,825 m) and discover a volcano at work, producing steam and spewing ash. Trekkers will go through plantations and a whole area covered by Edelweiss flowers, locally known as the ‘Eternal Flowers’. You may choose to camp overnight in Casuarina forest before making the final ascent at dawn. Soputan mountain is 60 km away from Manado.
Mahawu and Lokon Mountains
The two volcanic mountains stand facing each other, offering you two methods of ascent. Thanks to a newly-built road to Mahawu, you can reach the basecamp by car in 20 minutes and walk to the summit (1,350 m) in 10 minutes. If you have time and prefer a traditional trekking experience, then Lokon (1,580 m) is for you. Or, you can choose to hike all the way to Mahawu peak. At the summits, prepare to marvel at the majestic view of other volcanoes, Tomohon town, and Lake Tondano. The trekking starting point is an hour drive from Manado.
Test your endurance by hiking the highest mountain in North Sulawesi (1,995 m). During the ascent, you will walk through lush tropical rainforests. By the time you reach the summit after some six hours of climb, have your cameras ready to capture a breathtaking view of the whole North Sulawesi. Trekking usually starts at 4 AM, but you can make it more memorable by leaving at night during full moon, and stay overnight to catch the sunrise. Camping site is available on the top of the mountain.
Soputan Volcano
Allocate 10 hours to reach the top of Soputan mountain (1,825 m) and discover a volcano at work, producing steam and spewing ash. Trekkers will go through plantations and a whole area covered by Edelweiss flowers, locally known as the ‘Eternal Flowers’. You may choose to camp overnight in Casuarina forest before making the final ascent at dawn. Soputan mountain is 60 km away from Manado.
Mahawu and Lokon Mountains
The two volcanic mountains stand facing each other, offering you two methods of ascent. Thanks to a newly-built road to Mahawu, you can reach the basecamp by car in 20 minutes and walk to the summit (1,350 m) in 10 minutes. If you have time and prefer a traditional trekking experience, then Lokon (1,580 m) is for you. Or, you can choose to hike all the way to Mahawu peak. At the summits, prepare to marvel at the majestic view of other volcanoes, Tomohon town, and Lake Tondano. The trekking starting point is an hour drive from Manado.
