Climbing Mount Tambora On Sumbawa Island Is Re-opened

MATARAM - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has reopened the Mount Tambora hiking trail on Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara starting April 5 after previously being closed due to extreme weather since January 24, 2022.

Head of the Tambora National Park Office, Yunaidi, explained the results of monitoring weather conditions in the field and based on data and information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BKMG) it was stated that the weather in the Bima and Dompu areas was expected to improve.

"As of April 5, 2022, all official hiking trails in Tambora National Park will be reopened for climbing activities and the like," he said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, April 5.

There are four official hiking trails, namely Doro Ncanga and Pancasila in Dompu Regency, and Piong and Kawinda Toi hiking trails, in Bima Regency.

Even though it has been opened for climbing tours, Yunaidi said, his party still enforces the COVID-19 health protocol and limits the number of climbers by 30 percent of the tourism capacity of Tambora National Park.

"We also enforce regulations for climbing and camping activities in the Tambora National Park area, not more than three days and two nights," he said.

In addition, Yunaidi continued, tourists who climb are asked to maintain cleanliness, order, security and comfort as well as the preservation of the area by not cutting down trees or twigs and not carrying out vandalism or other activities that disrupt the ecosystem.

Every climber must report to the officer and register at each climbing entrance and pay for the entrance ticket to the Tambora National Park area in accordance with the provisions set by the government.

"We ask all employees of the Tambora National Park Office, forum guides and porters as well as climbing management partners to socialize the climbing policy," he said.

Mount Tambora is an active volcano on Sumbawa Island, NTB, with an altitude of 2,850 meters above sea level. The mountain is located in two districts, namely Dompu Regency which covers the western and southern slopes, and Bima Regency which covers the eastern and northern slopes.