Swimming With Horses

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_

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
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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.

Feel the ocean breeze as it filters through the palm trees and hoofprints are left along the shoreline. At @nihi, your days unfold with our herd never far from view. Whether they’re wandering past as you’re dining at Nio Beach Club or taking a dip in our infinity pool, you don’t need to go searching for the magic here. It finds you.

Waking up at @nihi in the Year of the Fire Horse and seeing horses wander past your window and into your villa’s large private garden isn’t an everyday occurrence. It`s a sign. A reminder that unexpected moments are always possible, especially here. This is the kind of quiet magic that simply happens at NIHI Sumba and there is no better place to welcome the year ahead than on Sumba where horses are part of the island’s soul.

One of the most rewarding and heartfelt experiences at NIHI Sumba is visiting a local school with the Sumba Foundation tour. Through the tireless work of the @sumbafoundation, supported by @nihi, education, along with access to clean water and dedicated malaria clinics, has transformed daily life across the island.

Sitting in a classroom surrounded by eager students is a powerful reminder of why this work matters, and of the future it helps shape. Through school lunches, essential supplies, health and hygiene programs, English and computer classes, and scholarships, the foundation is opening doors that once felt out of reach.

As communities grow healthier, children are able to dream bigger and smile wider, and Sumba continues to prosper while preserving the traditions that make it so unique.

Golden hour at @nihi isn’t just a beautiful sunset that you watch. It’s an experience that stays with you. Horses move along Nihiwatu’s shoreline, water buffalo stand quietly by the tide, and the culture of Sumba unfolds in its most natural setting. This is how a day comes to a close on the Edge of Wildness.