Orangutan- the unique tourism of Indonesia
Hello guys, now our topic is orangutan tourism, the unique tourism of Indonesia
Why does this sound like an interesting topic?
Because besides Komodo Dragons that only live on Komodo island.
Orangutans also only live in Indonesia and Malaysia ( but 80% in Borneo, Indonesia ).
read also
Trip to Komodo Island- how to go there
Orangutan, the unique tourism of Indonesia-Where do Orangutans live?
There are two islands in Indonesia where the Orangutans live.
Those islands are Sumatra and kalimantan ( Borneo ).
Both islands is the only place of orangutans live
Each island has its own species of orangutan, that’s named after the island.
So Sumatran orangutans live on Sumatra and Bornean orangutans live on Borneo.
Orangutan tourism in Sumatra
As we mentioned before there are two places to see Orangutans in Indonesia.
One is in Sumatra and the other is in Kalimantan.
In Sumatra you must visit Bukit Lawang or Taman wisata Bukit Lawang.
Orangutan,the unique tourism of Indonesia -Taman Wisata Bukit Lawang
Taman Bukit Lawang is located in North Sumatra and is part of the Gunung Leuser National Park area.
Here, you will be invited on an adventure through the jungle, including visiting the original habitat of orangutans.
Almost the entire area of Bukit Lawang is covered by dense Dipterocarpaceae forest.
And also with several rivers and waterfalls.
There are rare and distinctive plants.
Namely giant umbrella leaves (Johannesteijsmannia altifrons).
And Rafflesia flowers (Rafflesia Atjehensis and R. Micropylora)
And Rhizanthes Zippelnii which is the largest flower with a diameter of 1.5 meters.
In addition, there are unique plants, namely figs or strangulation plants. So interesting.
Orangutan in Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang is an orangutan rehabilitation site that has been established since 1973.
And became a Sumatran orangutan observation site in 1991.
No wonder when visiting there, many orangutans live freely in the wild which is their natural habitat.
This is because 90 percent of the tourist area is forest.
The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) is the most endangered of the two orangutan species in Indonesia.
If compared to its ‘brother’ in Borneo.
The Sumatran Orangutan is physically and behaviorally different.
This species is currently only found in the northern and central provinces of Sumatra.
Is rapidly losing its natural habitat. Due to forest clearing for plantations and settlements as well as illegal logging.
Exploring the Forest
While exploring the Bukit Lawang forest.
Tourists will be accompanied by a guide who will provide information about the orangutans there.
Bukit Lawang has a beautiful environment.
If you want to enjoy it, tourists can go trekking in the forest.
However, visitors must prepare their stamina so they don’t get tired easily.
This is because walking through the forest will take up and down paths.
What to do when you meet Orangutan
During trekking in the forest.
It’s a good idea to keep a safe distance if you meet Orangutans.
Especially when visiting during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to preventing the orangutan habitat from being disturbed.
It also avoids transmission of the virus between humans and protected orangutans.
By the way not only Orangutans that you will meet in the jungle
If you are lucky you may also meet civets, Kaua Raja birds, long-tailed monkeys
Or other animals that you may have never met before.
How to go to Bukit Lawang
The Bukit Lawang area is located in the Bukit Lawang Plantation Village, Bahorok, Langkat Regency, North Sumatera.
If you land in Jakarta then you have to continue the journey to the city of Medan.
From the city of Medan, you will continue the journey to Bukit Lawang.
The distance from Medan to Bukit Lawang is about 120 KM.
You don’t have to worry about transportation problems.
Because, you can get there easily using any vehicle, either public or private transportation.
Entrance fee
The entrance fee for foreign tourists is IDR 150.000 ( Monday-Saturday ) and IDR 225.000 ( Sunday and another national holiday)
But as a foreigner, I think you will need a guide to help you when exploring the jungle
So you need to spare more money just in case there is something unpredictable
Hostel In Bukit Lawang
1.Wak Ngah Lodging on Jalan Orangutan rate about IDR 40,000
2. Rain Forest Guest House on Jalan Orangutan, starting from IDR 50,000 to IDR 200,000
3. Fido Dido Bukit Lawang on Jalan Orangutan, starting from IDR 100,000 to IDR 275,000
4. Batu Mandi Guest House, starting from IDR 100,000 to IDR 350,000
5.Tangkahan Inn in Batang Serangan, starting from IDR 75,000 – IDR 350,000
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