Indonesia’s abundance of beautiful mountains and hills has been the country’s primary kind of tourist location. One of such mesmerizing hills is Wolobobo Hill in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province. Located in the island’s numerous highlands, Wolobobo offers one of the most desirable and beautiful tourism destinations, if not the whole province.
Flores is renowned for its abundance of hills and mountains, with Wolobobo Hill being one of them. The hill’s height is 1.700 meters above sea level, which renders the hill covered with clouds that contributed to the hill’s moniker, Negeri di Atas Awan (The Above-Clouds Country).
Location
Located in Ngada Regency, Flores, Wolobobo is located south of Bajawa, the regency’s largest town, and north of Mount Inerie, the tallest mountain on the island. As such, it is possible for tourists to use the same route to Mount Inerie in order to visit Wolobobo.
Route
Compared to Mount Inerie, it takes about 8.8 kilometers to go to Wolobobo from Bajawa, the closest town in the regency. Tourists can take the road to Wolobobo that spans Watujaji Bus Terminal, a major bus station in a road intersection that leads to Bajawa to the north, Aimere to the west, and Todabeloe in the east.
From Watujaji Bus Terminal, tourists can take the left turn in the first road intersection they’ve seen after departing from Watujaji, whereas the right turn will lead to Mount Inerie.
Amenities
Over the years, facilities in Wolobobo have been increased in order to cater to and serve the increasing number of visitors. To accommodate visitors who would like to take numerous pictures of this hill, stepping platforms made out of wood are constructed to give the feeling of walking and standing in the clouds.
There are several resting spots on the hill as well. Wolobobo Hills Café is located on the northwest side of the hill, where tourists can relax while enjoying a warm cup of coffee amidst the hill’s chilly temperature.
Furthermore, there is also the Wolobobo Rest Area on the north side of the hill, in case visitors just want to relax and enjoy the hill’s greenish luster. By having all of these amenities, visitors can really feel being catered to by the hill’s management and the hill’s own natural qualities.
When to Visit
Commonly speaking, no season prohibits you from visiting this hill. However, most people consider visiting Wolobobo to grab some pictures of sunrise or sunset from the hilltop.
For that reason, you need to consider your time carefully if you want to grab some pictures of either one of those timetables. While both sceneries are genuinely mesmerizing, it doesn’t hurt to come to the hill earlier to ensure that you’re not in a hurry.
How to Get to
To go to Wolobobo, you should rent a vehicle. Since there is no public transport to Wolobobo from Bajawa, it is better to rent one so that you can go and leave at any time you want. To rent a vehicle, the standard rent price is Rp100.000.
From Wolobobo, you can use Google Maps or ask the local citizens about the route to Wolobobo from Bajawa. Due to its relatively low height, it is easier to go to the hill with a vehicle compared to Mount Inerie. Moreover, the road has been paved, making it even easier to go to Wolobobo.
Upon arriving at Wolobobo, you can park your vehicle in the parking lot and immediately go to the hill by foot through the paved road. To enter the hill, the standard price for all tourists is Rp5.000.
Conclusion
For hill climbers, especially for those who enjoy sunsets so much, visiting Wolobobo Hill during sunsets will surely be an unforgettable experience. The green luster of the hill, the chilly temperature of the hill, the mesmerizing views of both the hill and its neighboring Mount Inerie, and the beautiful natural surroundings of Wolobobo are the reasons why the hill is becoming more and more popular each year. Be sure to visit the hill next time you’re visiting Flores!
