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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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A truly unique wellness experience awaits at NIHI’s Equine Sanctuary.

Beneath swaying palms and beside the sound of the ocean, retired sea horses become gentle partners in relaxation and healing. This deeply calming equine massage invites guests to slow down, reconnect, and experience the quiet presence of these remarkable horses.

Part of NIHI Spa’s Equine Wellness offering, alongside equine reiki and yoga, this experience can be included as part of your half or full day at NIHI Spa.

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Open post by nihi with ID 17895985644471275
A truly unique wellness experience awaits at NIHI’s Equine Sanctuary.Beneath swaying palms and beside the sound of the ocean, retired sea horses become gentle partners in relaxation and healing. This deeply calming equine massage invites guests to slow down, reconnect, and experience the quiet presence of these remarkable horses.Part of NIHI Spa’s Equine Wellness offering, alongside equine reiki and yoga, this experience can be included as part of your half or full day at NIHI Spa.

Raw, simple moments.

Two horses lingering at the water’s edge, their wet hooves sinking into the sand as waves roll in and out around them. No saddles, no riders, no destination. Just the quiet rhythm of the ocean and the freedom to simply be.

These are the moments that stay with you long after Sumba.
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#nihigram @lina_jyoga

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Open post by nihi with ID 18136243891577015
Raw, simple moments.Two horses lingering at the water’s edge, their wet hooves sinking into the sand as waves roll in and out around them. No saddles, no riders, no destination. Just the quiet rhythm of the ocean and the freedom to simply be.These are the moments that stay with you long after Sumba..#nihigram @lina_jyoga

When the early morning mist still sits over Nihiwatu Beach and you wake up to breakfast overlooking wild horses living free along the shore. There’s nowhere else on earth quite like this. @nihi is less a destination and more a dream you never want to leave.

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Open post by nihi with ID 18094518131595432
When the early morning mist still sits over Nihiwatu Beach and you wake up to breakfast overlooking wild horses living free along the shore. There’s nowhere else on earth quite like this. @nihi is less a destination and more a dream you never want to leave.

As the sun rises, Sumba and a daily life that harks back to a bygone era awakens. The island of Sumba is one that is raw in its beauty and rich with culture. @nihi takes you beyond the resort and into the culture of Sumba where you can feel the true soul of the island.
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#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_

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Open post by nihi with ID 18010047350723561
As the sun rises, Sumba and a daily life that harks back to a bygone era awakens. The island of Sumba is one that is raw in its beauty and rich with culture. @nihi takes you beyond the resort and into the culture of Sumba where you can feel the true soul of the island..#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_

Morning begins with the ocean stretched out before you. Set in an elevated position within the heart of @nihi, Wulla Marapu offers an expansive view of the full curve of Nihiwatu Beach. Designed for relaxed family living, Wulla Marapu is a three-bedroom villa that brings together Sumbanese heritage, tranquil open-air spaces, and the natural beauty of Sumba.

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Open post by nihi with ID 18554650756069528
Morning begins with the ocean stretched out before you. Set in an elevated position within the heart of @nihi, Wulla Marapu offers an expansive view of the full curve of Nihiwatu Beach. Designed for relaxed family living, Wulla Marapu is a three-bedroom villa that brings together Sumbanese heritage, tranquil open-air spaces, and the natural beauty of Sumba.

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Set beneath swaying palms at NIHI Spa, and accompanied by the soothing rhythm of the ocean, this unique Equine Wellness experience invites guests to slow down, reconnect, and experience the profound sense of peace that can arise in the presence of horses.

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Open post by nihi with ID 18119630620814056
From 1–14 June, we welcome visiting practitioner Carol Sharpe, NIHI’s renowned Horse Whisperer.Lie in the quiet presence of our horses as Carol guides a deeply restorative Reiki experience. Through gentle energy work and the horses’ calm, heart-centred presence, stress softens and you are gently returned to the present moment, where healing begins.Set beneath swaying palms at NIHI Spa, and accompanied by the soothing rhythm of the ocean, this unique Equine Wellness experience invites guests to slow down, reconnect, and experience the profound sense of peace that can arise in the presence of horses.

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Open post by nihi with ID 18456666946119636
Raw beauty, untamed adventure, and moments that stay with you forever. Welcome to @nihi. A place that stays with you long after you’ve left. Experience the magic in the spaces between nature and luxury. A retreat from the modern world out on the Edge of Wildness. Remote by nature, refined by design.

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From equine reiki and yoga to the signature horse massage, guests are invited to experience the gentle presence of these remarkable animals in a way found nowhere else. Whether enjoying a Spa Safari, spending a day immersed in wellness, or simply lying in stillness among the horses, every moment is designed to reconnect you with nature and yourself.

Be wild. Be free. Be well.
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Open post by nihi with ID 18089692376200001
Experience the place where Sumba’s raw beauty meets soulful renewal. Welcome to Nihioka, home of NIHI Spa.The journey is part of the magic. Ride on horseback along the coast, travel by jeep through rolling hills, or trek at sunrise past rice fields and villages before arriving at this secluded sanctuary by the sea.Beneath swaying palms and to the rhythm of the Indian Ocean, discover treatments designed to restore balance to body and spirit. Among Nihioka’s most unique offerings is its Equine Wellness experience, where retired horses guide guests through moments of connection, calm, and healing.From equine reiki and yoga to the signature horse massage, guests are invited to experience the gentle presence of these remarkable animals in a way found nowhere else. Whether enjoying a Spa Safari, spending a day immersed in wellness, or simply lying in stillness among the horses, every moment is designed to reconnect you with nature and yourself.Be wild. Be free. Be well..#nihigram by @catalinavonbonin @jonaways

Perched above the wild beauty of Nihiwatu, @nihi’s Putri Hillrise Villa looks out across endless ocean views, rolling coastline, and glowing sunsets. This two-bedroom sanctuary was designed for slowing down, switching off, and disappearing into nature. Drift between quiet mornings by the pool and evenings where the sky melts into the sea.

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Open post by nihi with ID 18077963453227632
Perched above the wild beauty of Nihiwatu, @nihi’s Putri Hillrise Villa looks out across endless ocean views, rolling coastline, and glowing sunsets. This two-bedroom sanctuary was designed for slowing down, switching off, and disappearing into nature. Drift between quiet mornings by the pool and evenings where the sky melts into the sea.

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