Gunung Leuser National Park

From World travel guide

Gunung Leuser National Park is a large national park covered 950,000 hectares in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, straddling the border of the provinces of North Sumatra and Aceh.

[edit]

Understand

The park is named after its highest point, the 3,381m Mount Leuser (Gunung Leuser).

[edit]

Get in

A one-way bus fare on smaller, non air-conditioned buses from Bukit Lewang to Medan, 86 km by road to the north-west, was 6000Rp per person (in August 2005).

[edit]

Fees/Permits

[edit]

Get around

[edit]

See

Bukit Lewang. A famous orangutan refuge/rehabilitation center, that suffered from major flooding on November 2, 2003, which killed many people and destroyed the village when waters raised up to 20 meters in places. The Indonesian government completed a new diversion channel and breakwater in July 2005, and temporary housing now exists for villagers (nice homes, but without running water). Villagers still bathe in the river that runs through the area. Free sightings are available just by sitting across from the sanctuary and waiting patiently; orang utans that have been rehabilitated and released often come back to the sanctuary from the wild to be fed. The sanctuary charges 20,000 Rp to see a couple orangutans it has in cages (for scheduled feedings), but if you walk around the grounds before 730am or after 6pm, you can see these caged orang utans for free. Furthermore, if you want to walk into the jungle, they will request that you have a guide, so if you are travelling on a budget, a dry-season possibility is to hike for free along the river. You actually have a better chance of seeing monkeys and orangutans along the river that by trecking into the jungle, where sightings can't be guaranteed. However, be aware that several river crosses will be required as the river slightly shifts its course after every rainy season, so wear appropriate shoes. During the rainy season, such a trek is impossible and a boat is needed to cross over to the orang utan rehabilitation facility (rate 500Rp per person for a 7 meter crossing).

Tengkahan, which has elephants and very few tourists. Guides there charge 180,000Rp for guided jungle treks, though just seeing the elephants is very cheap (free if you know the right people), and rides on the elephants are negotiable. There is a nice hotel overlooking the river there which was going for 50,000 Rp per night in August 2005. Note, however, that fewer buses go to Tenggakkan than Bukit Lewang, so conditions are rougher and longer. It is about 2 hours by motorbike from Tengkahan to Bukit Lewang over dirt roads, as there is no direct bus service between Tengkahan and Bukit Lewang, despite being closer together than either is to Medan. Rates for arranging guides to drive you by motorbike to Bukit Lewang from Tengkahan were 220,000 Rp for 3 motorbikes and 3 guides to drive the bikes there and take them back. A face mask and cheap sunglasses will help with dust. The rainy season can make sections of this route impassable.

[edit]

Do

If you want to see wild orang utans, note that guides will sell their services to trek into the surrounding jungle for 1-2 days to search for them, often charging $65-80USD per night, besides provisions. Rates can be had for $35 per night with hard bargaining, but in reality, wild orang utans will see/smell you and flee before you even know they are there.

Other activities include using an innertube to float down the river (called cubing in Sumatera, pronounced "choobing"). Competitive rates in August 2005 were 5000Rp per tube if you aggressively bargain and only go for a short (2-3 hour) trip. Remember that you have to walk back up-river with tube in tow.

[edit]

Buy

[edit]

Eat

[edit]

Drink

[edit]

Sleep

[edit]

Lodging

As a tip, don't expect to pay higher than 30,000 to 40,000Rp for a basic room.

Jungle Inn, directly opposite the orange utan sanctuary. Offers reasonably priced rooms, but slightly inflated prices for food by Sumateran standards.

[edit]