Sumba is an island rich in wilderness and ethnographic treasures… making it a key trading ground for Chinese, Arab and Dutch merchants for its sandalwood and slave trades in centuries past. A tribal community steeped in shamans and ancestral worship and an only recently passed headhunting culture, the island still faces the ravages of malaria, malnutrition, and poor education.

One man has made it his life’s work to save this wild island he loves. Bringing up his young family on its remote isolated shores since 1988. Drawing in friends from all over the world to support his efforts and building the original Nihiwatu hotel in an effort to walk the fine line conservation capital in tourism can bring to primitive communities in need.

Listen to the conversation with Sumba Foundation co-founder, Claude Graves, as we discuss the impact and needs facing this last Eden. An island fighting to preserve its incredible history whilst desperately needing to define its future.

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