Goa Mimpi

Useful Information

Location:	(-5.016256, 119.681574)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. Lamp IDR 15,000, Petromax IDR 60,000. [2023]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch Coleman Lantern
Dimension:	L=1,415 m, VR=48 m.
Guided tours:	self guided, L=830 m.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park, Jln. Poros Maros-Bone Km.12, Kalabbirang, Bantimurung, Kalabbirang, Kec. Bantimurung, Kabupaten Maros, Sulawesi Selatan 90561, Tel: +62-411-3880252.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Goa Mimpi (Dream Cave) is located in Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park. It is also called Bantimurung Dream Cave. The park is a tropical tower karst and has numerous limestone towers with vertical walls and full of caves. The Maros-Pangkep Karst Area has currently 34 known caves. Goa Mimpi is the cave which is open to park visitors.

It is actually not very well developed, the trails inside are slippery, the wooden railings are partly broken, and there is no light. But it's possible to rent lamps at the cave entrance and to hire a guide. It's also possible to rent a Petromax which is then carried by the guide. We strongly recommend to use this option in addition to a personal lamp. The Petromax offers a very bright light, illuminates its surroundings very well, and create a very even illumination. Also, you can see more if someone else carries the light because there is less chance that you are blinded by your own light. To reach the cave it is necessary to climb a 900 m long trail and staircase up the karst tower through dense forest. The trail and staircase are made of concrete and quite comfortable.

The cave is known for numerous speleothems. It is home to swallows, bats, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and other troglobionts. The cave was named Dream Cave by Arief Wangsa, the Regent of Maros, during a visit in the 1980s. He said he felt like dreaming while he was in the cave, hence the name.

There is also another cave nearby named Goa Batu (Stone Cave). It is reached climbing a 10 m high staircase. The cave is only 30 m long and has a small waterfall inside. The caves are sometimes mixed up.

The park is quite famous for the butterflies, and also for the apes living here. There are also numerous waterfalls and a sort of water park.

The Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park is only 50 km from the Capital Makassar, and only 20 km from the airport.