So, you’re prepared to drag your mountaineering boots out of storage and guide an journey to expertise Sumatra’s steamy jungle wilderness? We don’t blame you.
This UNESCO-listed National Park in Northern Sumatra is marked with pure wonders at each flip. It’s dwelling to numerous endangered species, together with Sumatran tigers, rhinoceros and elephants, and it’s one of many solely locations on earth the place orangutans nonetheless thrive within the wild. I not too long ago bought to test it out on an unbelievable in a single day trek by way of Gunung Leuser National Park on the 9-day Sumatra Adventure in Indonesia.
Here’s the lowdown on every part you’ll be able to count on – and every part it’s good to know – about spending two days trekking in Gunung Leuser with skilled guides.
1. You’ll expertise unbelievable wildlife encounters
Gunung Leuser is likely one of the most biodiverse forests on the planet and residential to the world’s densest inhabitants of orangutans. Approximately 5,000 orangutans name this park dwelling. So you could be assured that trekking right here will serve up some distinctive wildlife recognizing alternatives.
I can’t make any severe guarantees – wildlife encounters are unpredictable at finest, in spite of everything – however you do have a (actually) good probability of seeing orangutans on this journey. And let me inform you, witnessing orangutans swinging from the vines above you can be a sight you gained’t quickly neglect. The skilled native guides accompanying my group alongside the trek had been so dedicated to creating positive we got here face-to-face with these mild giants of the forest that they even ran forward seeking them earlier than main our group to satisfy them.
Plus, you’re more likely to share your trek with Thomas Leaf monkeys, macaques and different vine-swinging wildlife. You can even look out for peacocks on the forest flooring, and preserve your eye on the skies to identify rarer hornbills and different birdlife.
2. You’ll get nearer to nature
This isn’t your common strolling observe with well-worn paths and signposts alongside the best way. This is the true jungle expertise – it’s wild and distant, and it’s most likely not like anything you’ve skilled. You’ll have the ability to lean in your skilled native guides to cleared the path and chop by way of the odd vine or overhanging shrubbery the place essential. But it is best to know, it’ll be sweaty, muddy and type of… leechy? There, I stated it. In all honesty, the rugged nature of this trek actually defines the journey, so embrace the gritty essence of it. And in case you put on acceptable mountaineering gear, the leeches aren’t so unhealthy – I promise.
3. You’ll disconnect (in the easiest way)
There’s no wi-fi within the jungle. Shocking. But there’s one thing particular about immersing your self in nature and one thing much more particular about not having cellphone reception to instantly inform your Instagram following all about it. You’ll embark on this trek realizing it’ll be crammed with memory-making experiences; realizing that you simply’re going to witness some very particular issues however what you gained’t essentially realise till you get there’s simply how refreshing disconnecting from actual life could be.
When I stepped out of the jungle on day two, I left my wi-fi switched off a bit longer than essential, not fairly able to dive again into actuality.
4. You’ll dig into some tasty native eats
You’re mountaineering in among the world’s most distant wilderness, sharing the world with endangered Sumatran tigers and elephants, so that you’d be forgiven for considering that the catering in your trek could be minimalist to say the least. But you’ll be flawed. We refuelled frequently and tucked into among the most delectable native eats throughout this trek, similar to all true adventurers ought to.
Our native guides carried loads of snacks like fruits and crackers, and our picnic lunch and dinner beneath the jungle cover featured stir-fried noodles, tempeh, curried greens, rice and extra. Bon appetit!
5. You’ll sleep beneath the cover
After a day spent trekking by way of the jungle, recognizing orangutans swinging above and consuming the entire finest Sumatran picnic treats my coronary heart desired, the icing on the cake was attending to camp on this lush UNESCO paradise. You can neglect your night meditation music – as an alternative, you’ll be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the jungle round you. Think crickets singing, leaves rustling and the tender sound of a operating stream in case you’re fortunate sufficient to camp by the water. I woke as much as a selfmade breakfast of nasi goreng ready by our guides and smiled to myself as I loved my previous few hours within the jungle, realizing this journey is one few others will ever expertise.
Our scorching tip: in case you haven’t watched the Our Great National Parks sequence hosted by Barack Obama but, skip to episode 5: Gunung Leuser, Indonesia. If this weblog isn’t sufficient to make you wish to guide your spot on our Sumatran Adventure, like, yesterday, this episode actually might be.