Caves on Seram, Maluku, Indonesia

Pulau Seram, or Seram Island, is the largest island of Maluku. Maluku or The Moluccas in Indonesia are also known as The Spice Islands. Most of the limestone has been unexplored by cavers. Caves are known on the northern parts, around the coastal villages of Sawai and Saleman.

Kampung Saleman is a small Moslem fishing village and tourists are taken to see the evening bat flight from Goa Lusiala. The large entrance is clearly visible high in the cliff of Gunung Polesi behind the village. Each evening flocks of bats leave the cave in an impressive “bat flight”.

A good view of the 300m high limestone hills can be seen when travelling by boat between Sawai and Saleman.

Looking into a sea cave

Goa Hatu Putih (aka Goa Lasai) is about a 40 minute walk from Sawai, and is in Manusela National Park.

The entrance is in a rock on the hillside, and is a resurgence with 2 small streams coming out.

Fruit bats in entrance chamber, note the eye shine

There are also some non-edible birds nests.

There is quite a lot of stal inside - stalagmites and stalactites

There are some bats inside as well as invertebrates such as spiders, whip spiders and ants.

We visited a short sea cave

Goa Akohi is a famous show cave in south Seram, in Tamilouw which is east of Masohi.

The ticket office - info centre is called Lovely House. The cave is managed by Dinas Pariwisata (Tourism Office).

Looking down on the cave entrance

Very unassuming entrance, a concrete blockhouse

Electric lighting was installed and used for the first time in March 2007, powered by a generator located next to the entrance.

The cave is full of spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Large concrete square stepping stones form a path down through the cave. The cave is really beautiful. The cave guide finds nothing wrong with touching the stal and using them as handholds.

Unfortunately the concrete entrance blockhouse which was built 2006, covers the natural entrance. This seems to have severely restricted the air flow in the cave, as most of the cave is completely dry and very hot and stuffy. After a while everyone was hot and uncomfortable.

The lighting has been installed very badly, as many of the lights dazzle the visitor, and cables are laid without care.

Some delicate formations

The staircase back to fresh air

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

Caves on Saparua, Maluku, Indonesia

Saparua is a small island off the coast of Ambon, in Maluku (The Moluccas), Indonesia. Known as the Spice Islands, you can still see spices such as nutmeg and clove growing in Maluku. Saparua is one of the 3 Lease Islands, which lie northeast of Ambon.

Ouw is a village in the south easternmost corner of the island and is famous for pottery. Many of the rural houses are made from the sago plant. This house is at Ouw and is very near Ouw Cave.

Concrete steps lead down to Ouw cave.

Inside the dark chamber, locals wash their clothes in the sizeable river. The water is very clear.

The people use smoky kerosene lights. Unfortunately they just leave the empty plastic bags and containers from detergent and toothpaste in the cave.

This lady has certainly done a lot of washing

The cave apparently leads to the coast which is not far away.

On the northwest side of the island, before you reach Kalur, is Goa Puteri Tujuh or Seven Princess Cave. From the road, a track led through farmed land with coral karst rocks scattered in the fields.

Steps lead down to the entrance, which is a large chamber filled with pools of incredibly clear water.

There are supposedly 7 pools, one for each princess. Each pool is separated by rock walls which apparently are dry at times of low water. The water was so clear that at first I didn’t realise it was water, and wondered why the rocks below were green. I took several pictures but they don’t do any justice to the place. Again the locals use this cave for washing and for getting water.

More locals come in

Beyond the village of Kulur are 2 caves, Goa Mandi and Goa Minum (washing and drinking caves). The first cave is used for washing and a concrete platform acts as a bathing place.

Goa Mandi

Father and daughter

Surprisingly there are fish in the water, which is a bit murky presumably from all the soap and shampoo used.

The second cave, Goa Minum, is used as a water supply and concrete steps lead down to a pump.

The water is so clear.

There is a water tank outside the cave, set up by Mercy Corps 2002.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission