Cengkeh Afo
An ancient clove tree on the slopes of Mount Gamalama, regarded as a legendary tree that broke the Dutch spice monopoly and a symbol of the history of the Spice Islands.
The Cengkeh Afo tree grows in a clove garden at an altitude of about 700 metres on the southeastern slope of Mount Gamalama. It is said to be around 400 years old and is one of the oldest known clove trees in the world. According to legend, in the 18th century the Frenchman Pierre Poivre smuggled clove seedlings from here to Mauritius, breaking the Dutch East India Company's monopoly on cloves. The original 'Afo 1' has died, and the surviving trees are descendants of the old tree. They stand among extensive clove and nutmeg groves, with views over the town and the sea. It is about 30 minutes by taxi or motorbike from the city centre, and the final section must be walked, so it is best to ask a local guide to show the way.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Kedaton of the Sultanate of Ternate
- Sultan of Ternate Mosque
- Fort Oranje
- Mount Gamalama
- Fort Kalamata
- Fort Tolukko
- Laguna Lake
- Batu Angus