Mangku Sakti Waterfall is an epic waterfall in the East Lombok Regency. This one is unique when compared to the other more popular waterfalls near Rinjani like Tiu Kelep and Sanjang Gile for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, the water which flows through Mangku Sakti is sourced directly from the sulfur-rich volcanic lake atop Rinjani. The blue and white water also continues to tear down into rapid rivers through bending limestone rapids.
Best of all, you’ll almost certainly have this waterfall to yourself, since almost no tourists visit it!
If you’re looking for more adventures or travel inspiration for Lombok, don’t miss my mega-guide to the Best Things to do on Lombok.
How to Get to Mangku Sakti Waterfall
Mangku Sakti Waterfall is located at the foothills of Mount Rinjani, nearby the small village of Sajang. When I visited the waterfall, I was staying at Sembalun. This is the closest main town to Mangku Sakti, taking around 20 minutes by motorbike to reach the start of the dirt road.
If you’re coming from Senaru instead, expect roughly 45 minutes by bike to reach the same point on the dirt road.
However, once you reach the turn off onto the rough, dirt road, you’ll need to ride for a further 30 minutes. This road is very worn, sandy and you’ll need to cross some makeshift plank-bridges over huge holes. It’s a bit of an adventure to reach, which makes you have to earn Mangku Sakti.
If you don’t have your own bike, or you’d prefer a local guide, then there is one operator that organizes good value tours to Mangku Sakti Waterfall, including lunch and transfer. Click here to check the updated price.
Just follow the Google Maps directions on the pin below, named “Parking Area Mangku Sakti Waterfall”. Google will ask you to walk to the final segment, however, you can take the left turn for another 5 minutes on the bike down the steep hill until you reach the actual car park.
FULL LIST: BEST WATERFALLS IN LOMBOK – INDONESIA
Mangku Sakti Parking Area
It seems as though this Lombok waterfall attraction has been completely abandoned as of September 2019. The ticketing huts and stalls are in ruins, with waterfall signage ripped and torn. It’s a sad relic from an obviously once bustling tourist attraction.
However, with tourism back on the rise on the incredible island of Lombok, I’m sure that Mangku Sakti will regain its popularity. For now, it’s a secret off-the-beaten-path waterfall for the truly adventurous travelers to find.
Mangku Sakti Waterfall Trail
The path down to Mangku Sakti is overgrown but still visible. After walking for 5 minutes, you’ll reach a section which has been impacted by a landslide. It’s a pretty sketchy crossing, but we managed to make it across by holding onto the thick vines. It might look as though the path is completely unpassable at first. However, you just need to walk across the broken section and then head down, not up and around the landslide as it first seems.
After another 10 minutes, you’ll hear the roaring power of Mangku Sakti and the rapids. Climb the rock to your left, following the sound of the waterfall until you get your first glimpse of Mangku Sakti Waterfall in the distance.
What to Expect at Mangku Sakti Waterfall
Once you finally arrive, you’ll see the whitish-blue rapid river carving its way down the Rinjani Slope. I visited this waterfall int he dry season, and it was absolutely tearing its way through. There’s no way I would consider swimming in this section.
Waterfall Height: 20 Meters
However, further up the trail, you’ll see the main attraction: Mangku Sakti Waterfall. It’s a large and fairly wide waterfall that plunges into a roughly 1.5-meter deep pool. You can certainly swim here, but the power of the waterfall is pretty strong in the deep section, which causes the water to pull you around a little.
Climbing Inside the Waterfall!
Probably my favorite thing about this epic waterfall is that you can actually climb up and inside the waterfall! There’s a rockfall wall on the right side of the waterfall that seems to be proper way up. However, I was skeptical about taking this route since I was unsure about rock movement following the earthquake.
Instead, I decided to climb up and into the waterfall from behind the falls, entering from the deep water. It’s a little tricky and definitely slippery but worth it to get views from a little cave behind and inside Mangku Sakti.
Lombok Black Monkeys at Mangku Sakti Waterfall
We’d spotted the rarer Lombok Black Monkeys a couple of times before, at Rinjani and at Tetebatu, and now again at Mangku Sakti. However, only got a glimpse of them as they shied away as soon as I reached for my telephoto lens.
Flowing Rapids
While not good for swimming, admiring the rapid turns of water down the limestone gulleys is something you might want to do after checking out the main waterfall segment.
We kept walking down the rapids and found sections of blue water holes, but the flow was too strong to consider taking a dip.
Sembalun Accommodation
Where to Stay in Sembalun
Sembalun village isn’t exactly the most touristy location on Lombok. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any great guest houses or hotels available.
- Bukit Tiga Lima Boutique Hotel – the location is hard to beat with impeccable views over the surrounding rice fields. The 3-star hotel features triangular rooms with BBQ facilities and an included breakfast. Perfect for couples wanting to relax away from the bustling center.
- Radiya Guesthouse – one of the best-value accommodation options in Sembalun. The rooms are small, but very clean and have everything you need. There’s unlimited free coffee and tea, as well as a free breakfast included.
- Sembalun Kita Cottage – set among the mountains the Sembulan Kita Cottage offers its guests incredible views from its rooms, hot water, free breakfasts, and the option of sleeping in a 100-year-old traditional Indonesian house.
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