Empowering
Sumba’s Future
Education. Health. Opportunity.
When Chris Burch acquired NIHI for his sons, Nick, Henry, and Sawyer, he imagined more than a resort. He envisioned a place where values could be lived, not just taught. A sanctuary where adventure meets purpose, and where family, responsibility, and meaningful contribution are as integral as the surrounding natural beauty. That vision has since evolved into something far greater than a destination. NIHI is now a haven of wild luxury and deep connection, a place where impact is woven into every experience. The Burch family remains deeply involved, with Nick, Henry, and Sawyer each bringing their heart to a venture shaped by intention and guided by care.
Burch Family Foundation proudly supports:
Sustained by the Burch family’s devotion, and continually uplifted by the generosity of NIHI’s global guest community, the Burch Family Foundation is more than philanthropy. It is a living expression of care, connection, and the enduring value of giving back.
“I have witnessed Chris Burch give with quiet grace and extraordinary heart. What he has created at NIHI, born of love for his sons and a profound care for the people of Sumba, has touched lives in deeply lasting ways. His generosity has powerfully expanded the legacy of the Sumba Foundation, bringing clean water, restoring health, and igniting transformation across the island, offering more than aid:
a lasting light toward a brighter future.”
– James McBride –
Co-Founder & CEO – NIHI HOTELS
The Sumba Foundation
Is constantly evolving to meet the current and future needs of the Sumbanese people, building a solid foundation of better health and basic education for the community, creating employment and small-scale business opportunities for future generations.
Sumba Hospitality Foundation
Sumba was poised for a surge in tourism development, with potential to create indispensable job opportunities. Many sumbanese youth did not have access to the relevant education. And that’s how Inge founded the Hospitality School and Foundation.
English Goes to Kampung
Is a grassroots organization founded by english teacher and activist, Roswita Asti Kulla. Recognizing education as a vital tool to alleviate poverty and gain access to job opportunities, EGK’s mission is to make education more widely accessible on sumba island.
Nihigram
Listen to the natural sound of hooves pounding the sand along Nihiwatu Beach as our Sumba horses runs 2.5 km stretch of shoreline. Palm tree shadows stretch across the beach, and the herd runs exactly as nature intended, free, wild and at one with nature. 🤍
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#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_
Morning begins with palm tree shadows stretching across the sand. Day-old turtles make their first journey to the ocean while the surf rolls in. As the sun sets, locals wash their horses in the sea, and life moves to the rhythm it always has.
These are the moments that make NIHI more than a destination, they’re the memories you’ll carry long after you’ve left. 🤍
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#nihigram by @scottybauer_
Mornings begin with horses running freely along the shoreline, mist drifting over the hills, and the gentle rhythm of the ocean in the distance.
A refreshing swim, breakfast by the sea, and nowhere else to be but here.
It’s the kind of place that reminds you to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and soak up the beauty around you.
Perched above the Indian Ocean, Raja Mandaka is the owner’s private villa and the crown jewel of NIHI. Designed for complete privacy, it overlooks Nihiwatu Beach, where horses gallop free on the white sand and sunsets melt into the horizon.
From sunrise swims to evenings spent listening to the waves below, every moment here feels worlds away.
@nihi’s padel game just went up a level as professional padel player @denise.hoefer.3005 takes to the court. Surrounded by lush tropical beauty, and with our herd of horses as her audience, Denise shows us how to have fun on the Edge of Wildness.
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#nihigram by @hafido_hk
Wake to horses wandering the shores of Nihiwatu Beach, spend your afternoons by your own private pool in your villa retreat, rally beneath the golden glow at the Ride & Racquet Club, and watch the sun catch the magic of @nihi as it melt into the horizon.
@nihi takes you beyond the resort and connects you with the soul of the island. By exploring the traditional villages and experiencing a rich and unique culture that harks back to a forgotten time, you’ll find a forever place in your heart for Sumba.
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#nihigram by @tarashupe
An evening rally at @nihi’s brand new Ride & Racquet Club, where tennis meets equestrian life. Passing horses become your audience as you play surrounded by Sumba’s wild beauty while listening to the sound of the ocean nearby in between serves.
Some mornings, the horses leave more than footprints. They leave silhouettes that stretch across the sand, fleeting works of art shaped by the morning light. Another unforgettable day at the Edge of Wildness.
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#nihigram by @childsphotos
Your day at NIHI begins with a little bit of magic. A refreshing morning swim, the sound of waves rolling in, and the sight of NIHI’s horses galloping freely along the shoreline below.
On some mornings, a local farmer’s herd of water buffalo wanders across Nihiwatu Beach, while newly hatched sea turtles make their first journey to the ocean. These are the moments that make life on the Edge of Wildness so extraordinary, where nature quietly sets the rhythm of the day and no two mornings are ever quite the same.
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