Orangutans possess a unique connection with humans due to our numerous similarities. 97% of this primate’s DNA is identical to that of humans. In addition to genetical connections, orangutans display both social and solitary behaviors, and their social structures have become an existence of apes’ life style through their long evolutionary and adaptation process. When we talk about a genetic similarity of 97 percent, then we have to be able to understand the zoonotic potential that exists. So being knowledgeable, responsible, and ethical is extremely important to any decision-making in tourism activities such as jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang, specifically inside Gunung Leuser National Park.
SUMECO (Sumatra Ecoproject) is a wildlife conservation organization based in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra. We are committed to conducting ethical and responsible tourism activities to support the preservation of the biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park. It is reasonable to assert that excessive jungle trekking or nature tourism, without a tangible benefit to the environment, cannot be deemed ethical or responsible tourism.
Ethical tourism is among the most rapidly expanding businesses globally and significantly contributes to the economic growth of several nations. The rise of ethical concerns in tourism necessitates a more responsible and sustainable approach to the sector. Ethical conduct in tourism pertains to the evaluation of the repercussions of activities on society, culture, and the environment. The process includes making decisions that consider the impacts of all activities on stakeholders, including visitors, employees, employers, local communities, and the states themselves.
This jungle trekking will be held in Halaban Ecotourism, where this place is an area besieged by deforestation and poaching. Wild Sumatran orangutans and elephants graze freely around the boundaries of Gunung Leuser National Park in this region. The primary excursion will be searching for wild Sumatran elephants and orangutans in this area.
Halaban Ecotourism is a new tourist destination and was designed in mid-2023 to create more awareness about protecting the Gunung Leuser National Park area from encroachment. A little community flanked by multiple oil palm plantation firms need special attention and maintenance. Halaban Ecotourism has approximately 20 unique wild elephants, with no more than 1400 wild Sumatran elephants remaining on the entire island of Sumatra.
Halaban is located 105 km from Bukit Lawang, 4 hours away by car. Halaban is a village located close to the border between the provinces of North Sumatra and Aceh. Halaban is expected to become an ecotourism destination in the future, providing easy access to wild Sumatran elephants while also providing jobs for the local community in the fight against illegal logging activities both inside and outside Gunung Leuser National Park. For the ecotourism future in this village, SUMECO and Gunung Leuser National Park are teamed up on making Halaban Ecotourism as one ecotourism destination where to see wild elephants in Sumatra.
sumatran
tiger
in Gunung Leuser National Park
This jungle trekking option offers the possibility of encountering a wild Sumatran tiger. However, let’s be frank, the probability of encountering them is low, but they do inhabit the area. The Sumatran tiger, scientifically known as Panthera tigris sumatrae, is one of the six surviving sub-species of tigers and is currently listed as a critically endangered animal.
Currently, there is a population of approximately 400 Sumatran tigers residing in fragmented areas of lowland forests, peatlands, and mountain rainforests. The majority of these regions have undergone deforestation for the purpose of creating agricultural land or plantations, resulting in a decline in the habitat available for these large felines.
Jungle
Trekking
The Halaban Ecotourism jungle trekking offers two options for starting the activities. One option is to begin from Bukit Lawang, which involves a 4-hour drive. Alternatively, visitors can choose to stay at the nearby Besitang Hotel and travel 30 minutes from there to reach the trekking destination.
The first day of the trek will always start at 9 am, it doesn’t matter, if you will be transported from Bukit Lawang at 4am or from your nearby hotel named Hotel Besitang or even staying overnight in the Halaban village that is just 5 minutes from staring point. The trek will take 6 to 7 hours walk, excluding stops when watching the animals such as wild Sumatran orangutan and elephants. Then the walk will go to reach the jungle campsite, which will be prepared by trekking crew. You will have lunch in the jungle, then you will have dinner and stay overnight (sleep) at the campsite.
The next day of the trek will be continued with a walk through the jungle to look for all the animals inside the park. It doesn’t matter how many days of the trek you will do, the end will always return to the village by walk. Jungle trekking in Halaban is different from that in Bukit Lawang, as it’s known. In Bukit Lawang, you will return by rafting to the village or accommodation, while in Halaban, as a new ecotourism village, it is not well developed yet to accommodate tourists inside the village.
Price:
- 1 day jungle trekking costs 125 EUR per person (min 2 people).
- 2 days and 1 night jungle trekking, costs 190 EUR per person (min 2 people).
- 3 days and 2 nights jungle trekking, costs 290 EUR per person (min 2 people)
- 4 days and 3 nights jungle trekking, costs 390 EUR per person (min 2 people).
- 5 days and 4 nights jungle trekking, costs 490 EUR per person (min 2 people).
We focus on quality, and you must inform us three days in advance for jungle tours (trekking) to see wild Sumatran elephants in Halaban. The activities inside Gunung Leuser National Park through Halaban will cover the exploration of biodiversity, especially the endemic species. During the activities, an expert on local wildlife will assist you with species identification. The price includes transportation (4 hours driving from Bukit Lawang to Halaban and 4 hours driving from Halaban to Bukit Lawang or 5 hours driving from Halaban to the airport), food, a tent, a guide, documentation during the expedition, and expertise on local wildlife. A nocturnal hike is included in all packages.
