Spectacular Sekumpul
Visit this cascading cacophony in the jungle of North Bali – if you’re up for a 350 stair workout
Sekumpul Waterfall in North Bali is considered by many to be the most spectacular waterfall in Bali. I read somewhere it was described as Pandora – the world of Avatar. Sekumpul is around 30 kilometres from Lovina Beach and will take an hour by car to get there. Sekumpul has around 350 steps down through the jungle to the base of the falls (80 metres high). Being in my 60s, I trained for 3 months to prepare. I did many climbs of the 140-step tower at Whitfords Nodes in Perth Western Australia. My training was rewarded with a wonderful visit in July!
Arriving at the ticket office, I paid my 150,000 IDR entry fee for the “Medium Trek”. The long trek includes another 3 waterfalls, but I was worried I might run out of steam. I was then met by a local gentleman who said “Hi, I am your guide. Hop on”, indicating a motor bike he was riding. Shock, horror – I haven’t sat on the back of a motorbike for more than 40 years! I hung on for grim death as we travelled about a kilometre along a cobblestone path that was not much more than a metre wide. The path wound up and down some small hills and at one point we had trouble passing a bike coming the other way!
Arriving at the start of the steps, we left the bike and began the climb down into the green shady jungle. Along this jungle path, my guide pointed out clove, cacao (chocolate) and jasmine trees. The view at the first lookout took my breath away! Everything was so green and verdant with thick jungle everywhere I looked. We climbed on down through the shady jungle, serenaded by the roar of the falls and I became even more astounded at the beauty and magic of the place. All the steps were solid and not slippery and most of the stairs had handrails.
The jungle surrounding Sekumpul Waterfall is lush and dense. It’s characterized by a thick canopy of tropical trees, vibrant green foliage, and a variety of exotic plants. The area is covered in a dense layer of trees, vines, and undergrowth, creating a rich, green landscape. Ferns, mosses, and other epiphytes are common, clinging to the trunks and branches of larger trees. It is home to a wide range of tropical plant species, including banana plants, bamboo, and various types of palms. Flowering plants like orchids and hibiscus add splashes of colour to the greenery. The jungle is alive with the sounds of birds, insects, and other wildlife.
Arriving at the bottom we waded through an ankle-deep stream up to a secondary waterfall (Hidden Waterfall) in a green, shady chasm which was magic in its own right, then headed across a knee-deep stream to the base of Sekumpul. The closer we got, the louder the roar of the falls became. With the thunder of the falls and the mist droplets floating down, I gazed in awe.
My guide explained that in the wet season, the left side of the falls turned brown as it was fed from a river. The right side remained white as it was fed from a huge underground spring. We soaked up the atmosphere for ten minutes and then commenced our return journey.
The trip back up took maybe 20 mins, punctuated by 2 or 3 rest stops to allow my breathing and heart rate to recover. The first 80 steps were very steep and of metal construction. I didn’t swim at either of the falls and had returned to the ticket office in about 80 minutes – add another 40 minutes if you don’t take the motorbike ride to and from the office.
I must say – my training had paid off and although strenuous, the climb was not beyond me.
Sekumpul lived up to its reputation!
WOW!
Watch The Sekumpul Video
Shorter Video
