12 Oct 2023

Paradise Found – Exploring Wakatobi National Park

WA for Wangi-wangi, KA for Kaledupa, TO for Tomia, and BI for Binongko - put these island names together, and what do you get? Welcome to the ultimate tropical paradise, nestled at the heart of the world's precious Coral Triangle: WAKATOBI!

In the early morning, some of us set off from Heritage Adventurer on a birding and naturalist walk on Hoga Island, the epicentre of Operation Wallacea's scientific research. Meanwhile, others went on an explorative Zodiac cruise and visited Bajo Sampela Village, a remarkable stilted community built on the water by the Baj ethnic group, known as the 'sea gypsies'. The villagers here warmly greeted us, and we experienced their profound connection to the sea.

As we strolled through the village, we met welcoming residents and enthusiastic children. Their smiles were infectious, and their eagerness to share their way of life was heartwarming. It was clear that the sea was at the heart of their daily existence - shells were tossed into the waters below creating unique middens beneath houses, seaweed was laid out to dry in the sun. Canoes with in-board motors were neatly stored, ready to whisk them away to the open waters for fishing, both for sustenance and trade. It's a way of life deeply intertwined with the ever-changing sea. Several houses accommodated multiple families, with a handful even available for homestays.

Secluded from the mainland, Kaledupa Island was home to a school, medical outpost and mosque. We rounded off the morning with a refreshing dip and snorkel, excited to explore Jacques Cousteau's "underwater nirvana" Wakatobi National Park which did not disappoint, before we continued our voyage northward.

Image © S. Bradley, Heritage Expeditions