Shaped like a delicate orchid, the island of Sulawesi is almost as large as Great Britain and is strikingly beautiful.
Although no part of the island is very far from the sea, its inland communities have scarcely been touched by the western world, with indigenous cultures and beliefs vividly untouched through the ages.
Wildlife of Sulawesi
With towering mountains and a dense jungle interior it is also known for its wildlife: with 60% of Indonesia’s 127 indigenous mammals, including the pig deer, the dwarf buffalo and the world’s smallest primate, the Tarsier.
Activities and local culture
The diving off the northern coast is also thought to be amongst the best in the world but, for most visitors, it is the many diverse ethnic communities that are the most exciting aspect of Sulawesi.
Getting there
The island is generally reached by plane from Jakarta, flying into Ujung Padang (Makassar), but from here we usually drive north to the Tanatoraja region, with easy access to the coast, interesting Toraja sites and unspoilt tracts of virgin jungle.