The Madakaripura waterfall in East Java is a real must visit. This is in our opinion the most beautiful waterfall in Asia, and therefore you must visit it too! From Malang (the starting or ending point for the Bromo and Ijen tour) it is only a 2 hour drive to the Madakaripura waterfall, so plan an extra day for this! Because it is barely visited by tourists, this is still a real hidden gem in Java. Quickly discover this beautiful waterfall, put it on your list and enjoy our beautiful pictures.
Content of this blog:
Why is Madakaripura such a special waterfall?
Madakaripura is located in a very deep gorge surrounded by incredible green nature. The path to the Madakaripura waterfall goes right through the insanely beautiful cliffs that are meters high and therefore very impressive. At the same time, you can see that the walls are covered with moss and exotic plants, which gives an extra dimension. You can walk very far into the green gorge, and even the road leading to it is so beautiful. Eventually, the path leads you to the phenomenal waterfalls.
You do have to walk a bit through the waterfall, where of course you will get soaked from head to toe. If you want to keep your clothes on and not walk in swimwear, it is recommended that you put on a poncho. They sell these everywhere during the walk to Madakaripura. You can put your camera or phone in a drybag, or hide it very well under your poncho, but there is still a risk of it getting wet.
How do you get to the Madakaripura waterfall?
So from Malang it is about a 2-hour drive to Madakaripura. From Probolinggo, it’s a little less than an hour. This is the Google Maps location of the Madakaripura waterfall.
You come out first at the parking lot. Here men with motorbikes are waiting, which you can hop on the back of for a small fee. It is a 5 – 10 minute drive to the entrance, but this is really too far to walk by yourself.
From the entrance you can walk to the Madakaripura in 20 minutes. It is a beautiful walk along the gorge and the small river. Occasionally you have to cross the river, so it is advisable to wear sandals or waterproof shoes. Eventually you end up at the waterfall, where you walk under the “shower”, before seeing the rest of the gorge on the other side. It is truly insanely beautiful, and you can walk even further. Be sure to allow more than an hour for this.
The history of the Madakaripura waterfall
Madakaripura Waterfall is often associated with Gajah Mada, a famous military leader of the Majapahit kingdom, who is said to have spent his last days here.
Photography tips for the Madakaripura waterfall
The best photos of the Madakaripura waterfall are taken in the morning when the light falls through the gorge. Get a waterproof case for your camera and be prepared for the waterfall’s drops on your lens. A wide-angle 16-24mm lens is ideal for capturing the imposing gorge and waterfalls. We shot our photos with a 24mm lens and that was actually just not wide enough. With a phone, it’s best to use your wide angle lens here to get as much of the beautiful scenery in the photo as possible.
You can also fly a drone through the gorge of the Madakaripura waterfall. Be very careful when doing so, though, because an accident is in a small corner. Also be careful of the waterfall’s rushing water.
