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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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Nihigram

After an unforgettable first Healing with Horses retreat on the Edge of Wildness, we’re delighted to announce that Candice Webster will return to NIHI Sumba in 2027.

Our inaugural retreat brought together the extraordinary energy of Sumba, our Sandalwood horses and Candice’s intuitive approach to equine healing for five deeply transformative days of connection, renewal and discovery.

In 2027, we return to the herd for two intimate retreats:

1–6 June 2027
8–13 June 2027

Spaces are limited. Each retreat offers the opportunity to slow down, reconnect and experience the profound relationship between horses, nature and self.

Full details and enquires are available via the retreat page, linked in our bio.

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Open post by nihi with ID 18136851688594839
After an unforgettable first Healing with Horses retreat on the Edge of Wildness, we’re delighted to announce that Candice Webster will return to NIHI Sumba in 2027.Our inaugural retreat brought together the extraordinary energy of Sumba, our Sandalwood horses and Candice’s intuitive approach to equine healing for five deeply transformative days of connection, renewal and discovery.In 2027, we return to the herd for two intimate retreats:1–6 June 20278–13 June 2027Spaces are limited. Each retreat offers the opportunity to slow down, reconnect and experience the profound relationship between horses, nature and self.Full details and enquires are available via the retreat page, linked in our bio.

A true @nihi journey that has only just begun.

Cherish is a graduate from the Rote Hospitality Academy. Today, he is proudly part of the team at @nihirote, welcoming guests from around the world and sharing the beauty, culture and stories of the island he calls home.

@rote_hospitality_academy is proud to help create opportunities for Rote’s next generation, providing the skills and pathways to build their futures on the island.

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A true @nihi journey that has only just begun.Cherish is a graduate from the Rote Hospitality Academy. Today, he is proudly part of the team at @nihirote, welcoming guests from around the world and sharing the beauty, culture and stories of the island he calls home.@rote_hospitality_academy is proud to help create opportunities for Rote’s next generation, providing the skills and pathways to build their futures on the island.

Where culture runs deep and nature remains wild.

From ancient traditions and the enduring bond between the Sumbanese people and their horses, to untouched coastlines, rolling hills and endless horizons, Sumba is a place shaped by both its people and the land they call home.

At NIHI, every journey is a chance to experience the island as it has been for generations: raw, beautiful and deeply connected to its roots.
.
#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_

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Where culture runs deep and nature remains wild.From ancient traditions and the enduring bond between the Sumbanese people and their horses, to untouched coastlines, rolling hills and endless horizons, Sumba is a place shaped by both its people and the land they call home.At NIHI, every journey is a chance to experience the island as it has been for generations: raw, beautiful and deeply connected to its roots..#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_

Mornings to dream about.

Wake to the sound of rolling waves, swaying palms, and birdsong as the island slowly comes to life. Here, peace isn’t something you have to search for, it’s all around you. In the quiet, away from the everyday, you’ll find space to reconnect with nature, with the moment, and with yourself.

The simplest mornings often leave the greatest impression.

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Open post by nihi with ID 17992317710823307
Mornings to dream about.Wake to the sound of rolling waves, swaying palms, and birdsong as the island slowly comes to life. Here, peace isn’t something you have to search for, it’s all around you. In the quiet, away from the everyday, you’ll find space to reconnect with nature, with the moment, and with yourself.The simplest mornings often leave the greatest impression.

Experience one of NIHI Sumba’s most magical moments: swimming with horses at Nihiwatu Beach.

Deeply woven into Sumbanese culture, the local people have bathed their horses in the ocean for generations. More than just an adventure, it’s a rare opportunity to connect with these incredible animals while experiencing a tradition that has been passed down through the ages.

Join the daily swimming with horses experience and discover one of Sumba’s most beautiful and authentic rituals.

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Experience one of NIHI Sumba’s most magical moments: swimming with horses at Nihiwatu Beach.Deeply woven into Sumbanese culture, the local people have bathed their horses in the ocean for generations. More than just an adventure, it’s a rare opportunity to connect with these incredible animals while experiencing a tradition that has been passed down through the ages.Join the daily swimming with horses experience and discover one of Sumba’s most beautiful and authentic rituals.

The soul of Sumba lives in its traditions.

Here, culture isn’t something preserved behind glass. It’s woven into every thread of ikat, passed from one generation to the next through age-old stories and legends, and carried proudly by the people who call this island home.

The bond between the Sumbanese people and their horses runs deep, shaped over centuries and celebrated in the ancient Pasola festival, where tradition, courage and community come together in one of Indonesia’s most extraordinary cultural events.

Even today, these timeless scenes can still be found along the beaches of Sumba, where horses roam freely and the island’s heritage continues to live on.
.
#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_

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Open post by nihi with ID 18104273003142643
The soul of Sumba lives in its traditions.Here, culture isn’t something preserved behind glass. It’s woven into every thread of ikat, passed from one generation to the next through age-old stories and legends, and carried proudly by the people who call this island home.The bond between the Sumbanese people and their horses runs deep, shaped over centuries and celebrated in the ancient Pasola festival, where tradition, courage and community come together in one of Indonesia’s most extraordinary cultural events.Even today, these timeless scenes can still be found along the beaches of Sumba, where horses roam freely and the island’s heritage continues to live on..#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_

The first light spills across the ocean, the mist slowly lifts, horses wander freely along the shoreline, and the world seems to move a little slower.

This is the magic of mornings at NIHI, quiet, wild, and beautifully untouched.

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Open post by nihi with ID 18006457205761555
The first light spills across the ocean, the mist slowly lifts, horses wander freely along the shoreline, and the world seems to move a little slower.This is the magic of mornings at NIHI, quiet, wild, and beautifully untouched.

No notifications. No playlists. No endless scrolling.

Just birds singing, waves rolling onto the shore, and the kind of silence that reminds you what peace actually sounds like.

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Open post by nihi with ID 17960021640173219
No notifications. No playlists. No endless scrolling.Just birds singing, waves rolling onto the shore, and the kind of silence that reminds you what peace actually sounds like.

As the sky melts into brilliant shades of gold, amber, and fire, there’s no better place to be than on horseback along the shores of Nihiwatu Beach as the sun slips below the horizon. This is NIHI Sumba.
.
#nihigram by @lucaspinhel

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Open post by nihi with ID 17973908124082420
As the sky melts into brilliant shades of gold, amber, and fire, there’s no better place to be than on horseback along the shores of Nihiwatu Beach as the sun slips below the horizon. This is NIHI Sumba..#nihigram by @lucaspinhel

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