North Kefa (TAEKAS)
The area North of Kefamenanu has the highest and the most interesting hills around, reaching 1000m altitude.
When you look North from Kefa, you can see a few limestone cliffs, on the West side, one is called Batu Lumpene, it shelters a cave, Goa Maria, which is located 500m West of the main road to Wini.
The Lumpene village and its Batu are thus easy to visit, and the Batu can be climbed in 20min, it s a refuge for goats....they might enjoy the views as much as us. Down on the road there is a nice kiosk to get some refreshments, approximately at the pass highest point.
Exactly North of Kefa, there is a very visible sharp pass between 2 limestone outcrops, an intermittent asphalt road is leading to this pass, passing through the important village of TAEKAS. These 2 outcrops are called Fatu Sene by the locals, and the village of Fatu Sene is situated just behind [Fatu (Timor)=Batu (Java) = Rock].
The town of Kefa is stretched along a 10km North-South axis, on the main road Soe-Wini.
South of this axis is the bus terminal, and North is the Alun-alun, also called Taman Kota
You can reach Taman Kota easily via the numerous Angkot/Bemo plying the route. Once in Taman Kota, follow the road North for 3km until you reach the main bridge.
Turn on the dust road on your right, just before the bridge, after passing a colorful cemetery, and after 1h you reach the busy villages of Noke and Taekas. Alternatively, an Ojek (Mototaxi) will take you to Taekas for 20k Rp
Taekas is the main starting point for treks in the area. From Taekas, there are dust roads to:
- Maubesi
- TunTun & Jak
- Fatusene, Amol and more
The pass above Taekas is a pleasant place for having a picnic. No path leads to the top of the rocky outcrops, but it's an easy climb if you don't mind the shrubs. At the top of this Fatu Sene pass, one road goes West to Fatu Sene village and the road Kefa-Wini (5km), and another goes East to the local Dawan villages of TunTun & Jak (5km), then join the Maubesi-Wini asfalt road. The landscape on this part really reminds Africa. Locals will propose a visit to another "Goa Maria" cave called Lubis.
Trek 1: Amol to Tuntun
To go to Amol from KEFA terminal, take an Angkot or a bus going to Wini (5k Rp), 30min. If you dont want to walk on a road for 30min, after Amol, the Angkot can drop you on a sharp road turn near the nice village of Kenbaum (20min). Local Antars (guides) will happily make you have a visit (Kunjungan) of their village and their nice church set up in a small valley. Start of the path to TunTun is not obvious, so ask the locals. The trail passing from the left to the right.. of a small Sungai for 30min, then climb steep for 1h in shrubs, there s a pineapple plantation at the end. The last part of the trail is almost flat, joining at last the Tun Tun dust road.
Trek 2: Taekas loop
Taekas offers a lot of options for day treks. There's a loop around Tun Tun mountain [also called Fa. Bifemnasa on some local paper maps, altitude 1183m]. Just take the right turn of the dust road going East up at the reservoir, you will go through Femnasi [or Femnasa] and its cemetary (Kubur). After 30min, you ll arrive at a huge & pleasant meadow at around 1000m altitude, following the road down will bring you to Tun Tun, and then going West to the shortcut back to Taekas.
Trek 3: Sunsea - Kampong Lama
This trek starts further North from Amol, near the border with the timorese enclave of Occusi. It reaches the Forest Post (POS) at the border. The trek is pleasant through corn fields and Pinang Siri/Goyava gardens at 900m.
Take a transport going to Wini (minibus/angkot) from Kefa terminal or old market (pasar lama in front of Jabalmart supermarket). Stop at either the village of Sunsea or Sunbaki.
From there take a dust road on your left, going up (1h30 each way) to Kampong Lama (old village), and the forest post [POS KEHUTANAN]. The old Kampong school is a must and could illustrate Andrea Hirata famous book and movie, the Rainbow Troops.
Careful: transport back to Kefa is patchy. Be prepare to wait or book an ojek in advance (30k Rp) to Kefa.
Trek 4: Taekas to Fafunasi via Tunnoe
Reach Taekas by ojek, walk 15min East to Femnasi, then reach the grassy pass described in the Taekas loop, wild horses are grazing there, follow the crest eastwards until reaching a small lake, a trail is running through shrubs for about 1h. Try to follow the ridge until reaching a wooden fence, which you should follow down, pass a nice stream, a dead village and then a nice open space with great views, Maubesi in the South & Wini and the sea in the North. The dust road of the Tunnoe is just 10min away, another hour brings you to the asfalt road Wini-Maubesi at the village of Fafinesu.
For other info, please refer to virtualtourist.com/