Geographically,
the Leuser Ecosystem lies between 3-4.5° North and 96.5-98° East. It covers
approximately 2.6 million hectares of tropical rain forest, encompassing
890,000 hectares of designated national park, as well as extensive areas of
protection and production forests. The ecosystem contains two major volcanoes,
three lakes, and nine major river systems that flow to the east and west coasts
of the island.
The
first official statement of intent to protect the Leuser Ecosystem was signed in
1934. The Leuser International Foundation (a non-profit non-government
organization) was established in the late 1990's when the ecosystem was
seriously under threat from illegal logging and wildlife poaching.
Mount
Leuser National Park is one of the largest national parks in the world,
containing over 1.094.692
hectares of virgin rainforest. The park is home to orangutans, gibbons,
monkeys, elephants, tigers, and among the last of the Sumatran rhinoceros.
There are research facilities for the study of primates, birds and insects, the
Orangutans rehabilitation center at Bukit Lawang being the most popular with
tourists. It is possible to raft Alas River from Ketambe to the Indian Ocean on
a 4 - 5 day expedition. The journey takes us through exciting white-water
rapids to the calmer, crocodile-infested waters of the lowlands. Basic
accommodation is available at Ketambe.
The
Leuser National Park of Gunung Leuser is probably the wildest in Indonesia,
located in Southeast Aceh, can be reached from either Kutacane, or Takengon.
This magnificent national park has a wealth of flora and fauna. The Leuser
Ecosystem is an outstanding wilderness in Aceh northern Sumatra. It is one of
the richest expanses of tropical rain forest in Southeast Asia. More than 2.5
million hectares in size, it is the last place on earth where elephants,
rhinos, tigers, clouded leopards, and orangutans are found within one area.
Mount
Leuser National Park is one of the biggest national parks in Indonesia (950,000
hectare). Actually, it's a collection of various nature reserves and forests:
Nature Reserve Mount Leuser, Nature Reserve Kappi, Nature Reserve Kluet,
Sikundur Langkat Wildlife Reserve, Ketambe Research Station, Singkil Barat and
Dolok Sembilin. Most parts of the national park lie in the region Aceh Tenggara
(SE Aceh). Other parts are situated in the region east Aceh, south Aceh, and
Langkat.
Mount
Leuser National Park comprises more than 100 kilometers of the Bukit Barisan
Mountains. Because of that, the park consists of steep, almost inaccessible
mountainous terrain. The altitude ranges from 0 meter, in Kluet (South Aceh),
to 3,381 meter, on top of the mount Leuser (Southeast Aceh). The Alas River
cuts the park into an eastern and western half. Apart from mountains we find
several other ecosystems: beach forest, swamp areas, lowland rainforest, alpine
and mountain forest. In Bukit Lawang is the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Station
and in Ketambe stands the Ketambe research station.
The
Leuser Ecosystem has an enormous level of biodiversity. It contains at least
127 mammal species, including the Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran
rhinoceros, and Sumatran orangutan. About 8,500 different plant species grow in
the beach, swamp, lowland, mountain and alpine ecosystems of the Leuser
Ecosystem. Of the 10,000 plant species recorded in the West Indo-Malayan
Region, 45% are found in the Leuser Ecosystem. Spectacular plants such as
Rafflesia (the largest flower in the world) and Amorphophallus (the tallest
flower in the world) are among the plants protected there.
SUMATERA ORANG UTAN
ECO-TRIP
Working together with
our friend from a travel agent partner in Medan, here we presented a special
trip to visit the orang utang rehabilitation center of Bohorok, part of the
Leuser national park. Most of this orang-utan were conficated from local people
who treated them as pet. Here at the rehabilitation center, ranger and experts
training this tamed beast to survive in the natural habitat again.
Day 1 : Medan –
Bohorok ( L,D)
• Arrive at Medan airport, meet and
greet at the airport then depart for Bohorok
• ( Southern part of Leuser National
Park ). Drive north – westward to Bohorok (about 3 hours drive from Medan), to
see Orang Utan rehabilitation at Bukit Lawang in Bohorok Village where Orang
Utans are trained to return to their natural habitat. En route passing through
several small towns followed by vast view of rubber and oil palm plantations
with some countryside landscape. Arrive in Bohorok, first walk along the
riverbank to the crossing point and cross the river by small canoe to the Orang
Utan rehabilitation center, check in to Eco Lodge. Walk around the hill through
the rain forest to see the activities of those illegally captured and young
orang utans which are trained to return to their natural habitat. Return to the
lodge For dinner and accomodation.
Day 2 : Bohorok –
Leuser National Park Trekking (B,L,D)
• After breakfast, commence / start
fullday trekking and hiking in the tropical rain forest around the station,
accompanied by local ranger, for wildlife viewing. If you are lucky you may
encounter Orang Utan, leaf monkey, macaque, gibbons, siamang and abundant bird
life. Afternoon, return to hotel for overnight.
Day 3. Bahorok –
Medan(B)
Brekfast at the
Lodge, Affter brekfast drive back to Medan via the same route as from medan to
Bahorok. Arrive in Medan . End of journey
Included:
• Air conditioned mini bus: Polonia
Airport – Bukit Lawang .- Medan.
• Meals as indicate in the itinerary (B
= breakfast, L = Lunch D = dinner)
• Bukit Lawang exploration
• Ranger
• English, German , Spanish Speaking
guide.
• Entrance fee and donation
Not included:
• Domestic/International ticket +
airport tax
• Travel insurance
• Lunch and Dinner (see the itinerary)
• Porter, laundry, telephone
• Alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses
• All kinds of expenditures incur due
to flight cancellations/delays or due to other causes beyond our control
(“force majeure”)
