North Sulawesi Overview
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Stunning Tropical Scenery
, Sangihe |
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Banka Island Pinnacles
, Indonesia |
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Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi |
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Manado Tua, Sulawesi |
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Gasses from Mahengetang
Volcano |
©Denise Nielsen
Tackett & Larry Tackett |
North Sulawesi is one of Indonesia's best kept secrets. Manado,
the capital, is easy to get to with direct connections from Singapore,
Malaysia and major Indonesian cities. Land-based accommodation
ranges from backpacker's hostels to sprawling beach resorts and
everything in between. Manado is the jumping off point for some
of the world's best diving at Bunaken
Manado Tua National Marine Park , Lembeh
Strait, Bangka Strait , and the Sangihe-Talaud Islands.
History
The Manado area is called Minahasa for its original settlers from
several thousand years ago. Portuguese merchants brought Christianity
in the 16 th century and the Dutch reinforced it during their occupation.
Today Manado is predominately Christian with a large ethnic Chinese
population.
North Sulawesi is relatively prosperous due to agriculture and
fishing industries. Much of the area's natural vegetation was cut
down by the Dutch to make way for income-producing coconut palm
plantations. Many still produce coconut crops while others are
harvested to make furniture. Outside of Manado, the area is rural.
Cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, coffee, and rice are cultivated on the
fertile volcanic soil.
Attractions
There are many options for single or multiple day trips. The area
has several picturesque volcanoes. If you're feeling adventurous
you can hike up to the crater of Mahawu volcano where you can see
grand views of Manado Bay and the surrounding area. Trails also
lead to the craters of Mt. Lokon and Mt. Klabat. White water rafting
is another option.
A drive through the highlands goes through a series of towns where
each specializes in doing one thing. One town grows peanuts, another
builds houses, another grows flowers, another weaves baskets and
yet another makes pottery. Along the way you can visit spice and
copra plantations. There's an orchid farm with thousands of species
including the rare black orchid found only here and in Kalimantan.
The highland towns, Tomohon and Tondano, have some of the most
interesting and colorful local markets you'll find anywhere. The
markets are the gathering place for the local pony carts that serve
as taxis. Lake Tondano is a crater lake in which goldfish are raised. Ikan
mas baker rica, or barbequed goldfish, is the specialty of
small lakeside restaurants.
Several walks lead to local hot springs and waterfalls. Roadside
vents give off sulfurous steam near Lake Linau, a lake that changes
color from blue to green and back. Near Kiawa village there are
Japanese caves dating back to World War II. At the village of Sawangan
you can view waruga , pre-Christian stone coffins carved
with characteristics of the deceased's life or death.
There are two national parks in the area. Nearby Tangkoko Nature
Reserve is home to the world's largest concentration of Crested
Black Macaques and to the Tarsier, one of the world's smallest
primates. The forest rangers keep tabs on them and know where to
find them. Hornbills and other birds are commonly seen in the early
morning hours. Pythons and the rare maleo bird are sometimes seen
here.
For a longer rainforest experience, there's Bogani Nani Wartabone
National Park (formerly Dumoga Bone National Park), a five-hour
drive from Manado. This park has macaques and tarsiers but also
a wealth of bird life, flora, and the rare, endemic babirusa (wild
tusked pig deer) and anoa, a dwarf buffalo.
By Denise Nielsen Tackett & Larry Tackett
Boats visiting these areas | Ocean
Rover |
