Camping and Canoeing at Ilomata River Gorontalo

TheIndonesia.id - The Ilomata River Camp special interest tourist attraction in Ilomata Village, Bulango Ulu District, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province, was officially opened to the general public, Tuesday, February 1, 2022.

The Regent of Bone Bolango Hamim Pou was present to inaugurate this special interest tour, the result of the Ilomata Village government and the Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park Center (TNBNW) collaboration.

“I applaud the village government to create a village-based tourism concept like this. Residents do not expect mass visitors in this place because the segment is special interest tourism. Those who will come here are certain people who want to be at one with nature,” said Hamim quoted by Antara news agency.

He asked residents to serve local food whose raw materials are obtained from the local area so that tourists can get panoramic views, culinary delights, and local indigenous culture in one package.

Ilomata Village Head Abdulrahman Usman said this initiative is part of the village tourism development program to encourage the community's economy by utilizing pristine forests and rivers. "Incidentally, the location that we think is suitable is in the TNBNW area and it turns out that they also agreed, that's why this tourism collaboration was born," he said.

This tourist attraction was initiated in 2018 starting with village funds of IDR 50 million, as well as PLN CSR funds disbursed through the TNBNW. The facilities available are camping tents laid out on wood platforms on the river bank, canoes, toilets, and local cuisine. The fee charged is IDR 300,000 ($21) per tent for a capacity of four people.

"In this package, visitors can have breakfast and can do canoeing for two hours," he said.

Ilomata River Camp can be reached by motorcycle from Gorontalo city in about 1.5 to 2 hours, crossing three large and small rivers. When using a car, visitors must park their vehicle about two kilometers from the location and continue by walking or riding a motorbike.

To go to Gorontalo City in Gorontalo Province, you can book a flight from Makassar, South Sulawesi. Makassar has direct flights daily from Manado, Denpasar (Bali), Jakarta and Surabaya.