From Wikitravel

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.

Contents 1 Understand 1.1 History 1.2 Landscape 1.3 Flora and fauna 1.4 Climate 2 Get in 3 Fees/Permits 4 Get around 5 See 6 Do 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 10 Sleep 10.1 Lodging 10.2 Camping 10.3 Backcountry 11 Stay safe 12 Get out

Understand

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

History

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Climate

Get in

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

Fees/Permits

Get around

See

• Bukit Lawang. 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 Rp.20,000 to see a couple orangutans it has in cages (for scheduled feedings), but if you walk around the grounds before 7.30am or after 6.00pm, 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 Rp.500 per person for a 7 meter crossing).

• Tengkahan, which has elephants and very few tourists. Guides there charge Rp.180,000 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 Rp.50,000 per night in August 2005. Note, however, that fewer buses go to Tengkahan than Bukit Lawang, so conditions are rougher and longer. It is about 2 hours by motorbike to Tengkahan from Bukit Lawang over dirt roads, as there is no direct bus service between Tengkahan and Bukit Lawang, despite being closer together than either is to Medan. Rates for arranging guides to drive you by motorbike to Tengkahan from Bukit Lawang were Rp.220,000 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.

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 US$65-80 per night, besides provisions. Rates can be had for US$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 Rp.5,000 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.

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Lodging

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

Camping

Backcountry

Stay safe

Get out

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