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Sumba Foundation

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The Sumba Foundation® is constantly evolving to meet the current and future needs of the Sumbanese people.

We invite you to discover what The Sumba Foundation is doing across the island.

A stay at NIHI® Sumba combines the ultimate in luxury comforts with the opportunity to authentically immerse oneself in the island’s magnificently preserved, ancient tribal culture. The spirit of Sumba imbibes a plethora of vibrant, local traditions and rituals, which embody the rich symphony of local daily life.

Group of young Sumbanese schoolchildren dressed in crisp white shirts and red uniforms, standing barefoot and in sandals on a rural path at sunrise, symbolizing the Sumba Foundation’s impact on education access in remote communities.
Joyful group of Sumbanese school children smiling and waving outside their classroom, capturing the vibrant spirit and educational impact of initiatives by the Sumba Foundation and Burch Family Foundation
Local Sumbanese man herding a group of buffalo along a sunlit jungle path, symbolizing traditional livelihoods and rural life supported by the Sumba Foundation’s community-focused initiatives.
A smiling schoolgirl in uniform enjoys her meal inside a classroom in Sumba, reflecting the educational and nutritional impact of the Sumba Foundation’s outreach programs.
Three young Sumbanese boys in school uniforms enjoying a midday meal from colorful lunchboxes, seated against a bright blue classroom wall—part of the school nourishment initiatives by the Sumba Foundation, Burch Family Foundation and NIHI Sumba.
A healthcare worker in scrubs and a face mask examines samples under a microscope at a Sumba Foundation clinic, highlighting the foundation’s ongoing efforts in malaria prevention and community health at NIHI Sumba.

Overview

During the development of Nihiwatu (1988 – 1994), our pioneering founders Claude and Petra Graves lived much the same as the villagers around them did, without running water, electricity, or clinics to go to if they were sick.

These setbacks inspired them to explore solutions for the core issues similarly affecting their neighbors: poor health, no access to water, widespread malaria and malnutrition, minimal education and no medical facilities within a day’s walk.

The philanthropic vehicle they would use to fulfill the needs of the community was their resort Nihiwatu and so they began involving guests in community efforts near the resort.

The Sumba Foundation® is constantly evolving to meet the current and future needs of the Sumbanese people.

They have built a solid foundation of better health and basic education for the community, and have evolved to tackle more of what is needed; even better education, new skills training, and creating employment and small-scale business opportunities for future generations.

The Sumba Foundation® is a small but highly effective organization that is fully committed to helping the people of Sumba prosper, and with our help, they will.

Access to potable water and establishing community-based wells and water stations.

Health Care, including but not limited to malaria control, transmission reduction and eradication, eye care, midwife assistance, and general health consultation.
Nutrition projects for infants and school lunches for primary school students to improve their diets including a health and hygiene curriculum.

Local economic opportunity projects in sustainable farming.
Learning Development, helping to provide English language skills and computer technology to the next generation

Get in touch

For reservations or more information, please contact our

Travel Designers

E. [email protected]
W. +62 811 3821 2910

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Open post by nihi with ID 18097956656068946
Start your morning with a game of padel in paradise, where the ocean breeze lifts your spirit and the sound of waves sets the rhythm. At @nihi, play becomes poetry, moments of laughter, movement, and connection woven together on the Edge of Wildness. Here, padel is not just a game, but a love story shared with nature, family, and friends.

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Open post by nihi with ID 17906422509200579
Under the New Moon at @nihi, we gather in a calm, sacred setting where the mind softens and the body unwinds. Listen to the gentle rhythm of waves rolling onto Nihiwatu Beach, while our horses wander quietly along the shoreline. Take a moment to set intentions for the cycle ahead, and create space for what’s ready to come.

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Riders charge across the field on horseback, hurling wooden spears in a dramatic contest between rival villages. The spectacle is intense, fast paced, and deeply symbolic.

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A tradition centuries old, Pasola remains one of the most extraordinary cultural experiences in Indonesia.

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Open post by nihi with ID 18074283818430481
Today was Pasola Gaura in Sumba. Once a year, the island’s ancient traditions come vividly to life as villages gather for Pasola, one of Sumba’s most powerful and sacred rituals. From @nihi, guests have the rare opportunity to witness this extraordinary cultural event. Riders charge across the field on horseback, hurling wooden spears in a dramatic contest between rival villages. The spectacle is intense, fast paced, and deeply symbolic. For the Sumbanese, Pasola is far more than competition. It is believed that when blood touches the earth during the battle, it blesses the land and ensures a prosperous rice harvest for the season ahead. A tradition centuries old, Pasola remains one of the most extraordinary cultural experiences in Indonesia.

Ocean views from another perspective bring a serene sense of majesty to the Edge of Wildness. Waves roll onto the shore, smoothing the sand as @nihi’s herd of horses meander gracefully against a backdrop of swaying palms. These are the picturesque moments in Sumba that leave you mesmerized by its untouched beauty.
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#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_

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Open post by nihi with ID 18141606967493053
Ocean views from another perspective bring a serene sense of majesty to the Edge of Wildness. Waves roll onto the shore, smoothing the sand as @nihi’s herd of horses meander gracefully against a backdrop of swaying palms. These are the picturesque moments in Sumba that leave you mesmerized by its untouched beauty. . #nihigram by @gedewahyuu_

WIN a 3 night stay at NIHI Sumba to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse.

One lucky winner and their guest will experience life on the Edge of Wildness, where horses roam the shoreline, mornings begin with the ocean, and every day feels a little untamed.

To enter:
• Follow @nihi
• Tag 2 friends in the comments
• Share this post to your story

Each comment counts as an additional entry.

Your escape to Sumba could be closer than you think. Closes 23:59 [GMT+8] on 30th April 2026. Full T&Cs available via the link in our bio.

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Open post by nihi with ID 18173938774381376
WIN a 3 night stay at NIHI Sumba to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse. One lucky winner and their guest will experience life on the Edge of Wildness, where horses roam the shoreline, mornings begin with the ocean, and every day feels a little untamed. To enter: • Follow @nihi • Tag 2 friends in the comments • Share this post to your story Each comment counts as an additional entry. Your escape to Sumba could be closer than you think. Closes 23:59 [GMT+8] on 30th April 2026. Full T&Cs available via the link in our bio.

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