Everything you need to know to visit the Mentawai tribe - the flower people in Indonesia
A few days spent deep in the tropical forests together with the natives is a huge experience that will offer you a different picture of life. You will not only understand how these people secure their food using traditional methods, but you will also participate in their daily activities and experience way of life in harsh conditions directly with your own hands.
Who is the Mentawai tribe?
Firstly, it should be noted that we are talking about one of the oldest tribes in all of Indonesia, which has inhabited the Mentawai archipelago under the island of Sumatra since the 5th century BC. Until now, the tribe has preserved the traditions of its ancestors and has its own language, culture, customs and beliefs. These people are sometimes referred to as “flower people”, which is precisely related to their faith. They are animists and consider every plant or animal that can be found in nature to be a living creature. They live a simple and modest life finding joy in daily activities.
How to get to the Mentawai tribe?
The trip to the “flower people” must be started on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Several companies fly to Padang from Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) or the capital, Jakarta. After arriving at the airport, you can travel to the city of Padang by a comfortable air-conditioned train for only 10,000 rupiah (0.6 euros). You can buy the ticket directly at the station.
This city is quite a popular tourist destination, so accommodation is not a problem. We stayed in the LOBLUS homestay, which we happily recommend. It is rare that you come across such a cheerful and enthusiastic host. Dilah is very helpful, she will lend you a scooter or give you a lift wherever you need to go.
The Mentawai tribe inhabits the island of Siberut, which does not have an airport, but you can easily get there by boat. There are 2 types of ferries available. You can either take the slow 10-20 hour ferry, which runs only once every two weeks, or take the popular fast boat owned by Mentawai Fast company. The boat operates only 3 times a week – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and the voyage lasts 4-6 hours. We recommend following the Mentawai Fast page on Facebook, where they offer up-to-date information in case of cruise cancellations or schedule changes. The current price of a one-way ticket between the ports of Padang and Siberut is 280,000 rupiah (approx. 18 euros).
And then what? After all, the natives live deep in the jungle. Exactly. Therefore, it is essential that someone helps you organize the logistics on the island of Siberut. And therefore…
Do I need a guide to visit the Mentawai tribe?
Definitely yes. The logistics on the island are complicated – you need to know the right people who are familiar with the shamans. It is necessary to bring your own food to the jungle and don’t forget that the natives struggle with English. Therefore, we definitely recommend getting a local guide. Make sure to book them in advance so that they can arrange on all the details before your arrival.
How to get a good guide to the Mentawai tribe?
On the Internet, you can find a few articles and contacts for guides who organize a trip directly from the city of Padang, but according to our experience, it is not worth it. We recommend going to the tribe with someone who grew up there and speaks the Mentawai language. This will save you the cost of a boat for a guide from Padang or a second local guide. You won’t find many contacts on the internet for these “local” guides, but we had the opportunity to meet about three of them and their professionalism and knowledge is excellent. They value their customers and are honored to be able to show them a piece of their home. We definitely recommend you to contact Laijet (laijetmentawaiadventure@gmail.com), who will take care of your comfort during your entire stay.
What does the program/itinerary look like in the Mentawai tribe?
It’s up to you how many days you want to spend in the jungle. Most tourists choose an itinerary for 3 nights and 4 days. We spent 3 days and 2 nights with the tribe and managed to do almost all the activities.
Day 1
Upon arrival on the island of Siberut, you will be greeted by a guide who will take you to tea and give you practical information. Then you board a small boat and sail for about an hour deeper into the tropical forest. You then have to wander through the mud (literally) until you find your host’s house. We walked at a snail’s pace for a maximum of half an hour. As soon as you step into the residence, you will meet the family and relax with a cup of tea or a cigarette. It will be late in the afternoon, so you have time to look around the house and learn about the values, beliefs and customs of the tribe and get to know the family you will be staying with. After dinner, the mosquito nets are unfolded, your bed is installed and you stretch out on a simple wooden mat.
Day 2
You might be woken up by the squealing of pigs or the early crowing of roosters. After breakfast, you will go on an adventure and participate in the day-to-day activities of the tribe. You walk to the forest to find the right tree, from which the shaman will remove a thin strip of wood from under the bark. Afterwards, you will move to the river, where this wood will become a kind of fabric that the natives still wear as underwear. After a few hours in the sun, it will dry and you can wrap it around yourself.
Time to go for a trip to the jungle, where you’ll find lunch. The shaman moves through thick palms and bushes until he finds the tree he needs, which is called Sago. He peels off the bark with an ax and looks for worms that live the decaying wood. He collects them in a leaf, wraps them, and lunch is ready. Worms are a very popular delicacy here and are eaten in three ways. We tried the live version, which tastes like coconut to some tourists. However, the most popular are the grilled worms, which the locals eat like crisps. They also cook the worms with bamboo and serve them in the form of soup.
After rest and warm conversations about the culture of the Mentawai tribe, the housewife will invite you to go fishing in the river. You put on a skirt made of banana leaves, take a fishing net in your hand and the hunt for fish, shrimp or frogs can begin. Fishing is exclusively women’s business. If you feel like it, you can continue swimming in the river or relax after an active day.
Day 3
Today morning belongs to men’s activities. Did you know that the Mentawai tribe hunt monkeys? Today, you will go to the jungle with the shaman and maybe you will see one. They didn’t take us hunting because we only spent one day here, but getting deeper into the forest must be a great experience. You might even stop at another shaman’s house along the way and meet another family. And how are monkeys hunted? With a bow and a poisonous arrow. After returning from the trip, the host will show you how this poison is made. First, he collects all the ingredients around the house, then mixes them and juices them. He then paints individual arrows with this solution.
After lunch, you can prepare a traditional dish called Sago. A dough is made by mixing Sago tree powder and coconut. This is poured into a palm leaf, closed and put on fire. The heat will stick the mass together and create something similar to our bread.
You may have noticed the beautiful tattoos that the Mentawai tribe adorn their bodies with. It is of great importance to them and shows their identity, social status or origin. If you are interested, they will also tattoo you. If you don’t feel like getting a tattoo, they will make you a beautiful bracelet.
Day 4
Early in the morning, you will say goodbye to your host family and head back to the village on Siberut Island the same way you came here. At the port, you will board a ferry that will take you back to Padang.
What to bring to the Mentawai tribe?
You will only need a little for this trip. Take a small backpack with a change of clothes, sneakers, sandals, a headlamp, external charger, mosquito repellent and toilet paper. We definitely recommend that you equip the guide with rubber boots that will save you in that terrain. It is also a nice touch to bring something to your host family. Cigarettes, tobacco, tea and sugar are valued here, so the family will be definitely happy with these things. If you bring cookies and candies, the ground will fall after them within five minutes
How much does a trip to the Mentawai tribe cost?
At the outset, it should be noted that you are really going to a remote area, and therefore, the cost of the trip is quite substantial. We recommend you go on a trip in a group of several people, when the price is lower. For a 3-day guided trip directly from Siberut Island, you will pay between 2-4 million rupiah (between 125 and 250 euros) per person. If you go to the Mentawai tribe with a guide from Padang, you will definitely pay more.
Would we recommend a trip to the Mentawai tribe?
Hundred per cent. Stepping out of your comfort zone, spending time with the natives and experiencing life without stress or the concept of time is an incredibly powerful experience.