Ultimate Gunung Leuser and Fundraising (9 Days)

Travel Type:	Small groups and Family Friendly (12 years plus).
Expedition Grade:	Moderate to Difficult in parts
Activities:	Orangutan viewing, Elephant riding, wildlife viewing, bird watching and more
Accommodation:	Local Hotels and Tents
Transport:	Car and on foot.
How this helps Orangutans:	You will be supporting the Australian Orangutan Project (AOP), the SOCP (Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program) and the SOS (Sumatran Orangutan Society) in their work protecting Orangutans and their environment as well as other environmental research.
Price:	(2012) AUD$2950 and (2013) AUD$3100 ex Bali / Jakarta / Singapore or Kuala Lumpur
Trip Duration (days):	Nine (9)

PROJECT SUPPORTED 

Participants in this expedition are expected to help raise funds (a target of AUS$1300 per participant) by getting friends, family and colleagues to adopt orphaned Orangutans as well as help protect the habitat of this endangered species through on the ground foot patrols that prevent poaching and illegal logging. Details of how to achieve this goal and further info will be sent once you have booked. The group will also look to provide much needed vitamins and medicines for vet services.

HIGHLIGHTS

OVERVIEW

You can make a difference and help the most endangered Orangutan on the planet, the Sumatran Orangutan. Through this specially created itinerary you will not only get an understanding of how the pressures of exploding human demand is impacting the environment but will also come away with the knowledge that we can change this and possibly reverse the impact. 

By 2011, OO had raised over $60,000 for the Orangutans in the Tanjung Puting National Park with donations to the Australian Orangutan Project (AOP) and OCCQ (Pangkalan Bun).In 2012, OO is now giving you the chance to help us with the Critically Endangered Sumatran Orangutan by fundraising for various organisations such as the AOP, the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS), the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (SOCP) and the Orangutan Information Center (OIC).

This Fundraising Expedition will give you unparalleled access to some amazing sites. Included are the Halaban Reforestation Centre where you will help reforest a reclaimed 500 hectares of rainforest. You will also have access to the thoughts of Ian Singleton at the Quarantine Centre at Batu Mbelin.

The backdrop to this expedition is the Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP), one of the most famous parks in Asia for travelers and scientists. Its massive size of over 1 million hectares is home to 4 of Asia's great mammals, the Sumatran Tiger, Orangutan, Rhino and Elephant. It has over 80 mountain peeks, 360 rivers and runs from sea level to over 3400m asl. Gunung Leuser is also home to an enormous population of other wildlife including the Thomas Leaf Monkey, Pigtail Macaque, Longtail Macaque, Gibbons, Lizards, Turtles, Hornbills and more. We will ride elephants, raft rivers and observe wildlife in their natural settings. Your home on this trip will be a mix of both basic guest houses, hotels and tents. You will be escorted from one destination to the next by an experienced OO local guides.

First we will travel to the Reforestation Center at Halaban north of Medan. From there we head to Tangkahan for an elephant ride and then trek through the Gunung Leuser National Park for 3 days to see the Orangutan in the wild. We will then try a bit of whitewater rafting and finally visit the Quarantine Station at Batu Mbelin to see how young Orangutans are reintroduced back into the wild.

While we will have the opportunity to see these amazing creatures, we will also be helping their plight. Through this expedition we will be adopting as many Orangutans as possible and we will be protecting land that ensures the habitat of the Orangutan remains intact. Further, a direct donation to the Quarantine Centre at Batu Mbelin will be presented to them from funds raised by this trip.

After Sumatra, we head back to Bali. For those that want an adventure on the way back, we will be offering an action packed extension to another part of Indonesia. (This will soon be released).

Your home on this trip will be a mix of both basic guest houses, hotels and tents. You will be escorted from one destination to the next by an experienced OO local guide.

If you are interested in adventure and giving back to the world at the same time, then you have got to be part of this expedition.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive Bali / Jakarta / KL or Singapore. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for overnight accommodation.

Day 2: Early morning flight to Medan. You will greeted at the airport by an OO representative and transferred to SOS/OIC Replanting Centre at Halaban. Here over 500 hectares of reclaimed forest is being replanted. Palm Oil trees have been uprooted and the land is re-vegetated with endemic plants as well as plants that are important to the survival of the Orangutan. You will be shown around the grounds, shown replanting sites and the progress that is being made and also have the opportunity to do some planting yourself. We will overnight in a small cottage on the grounds. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Medan - Tangkahan. This morning we will continue our replanting until lunch. Afterwards we will drive to Tangkahan. Tangkahan is famous for its elephant safaris and wonderful jungle scenery. You will take a small punt across the river and check into the Mega Inn. After lunch we will go for a river walk and then tube down stream to a beautiful waterfall. We will then walk back to the Mega Inn for dinner. (B, L)

Day 4: Elephant Trek - Bukit Lawang. This morning we will head off to a nearby Elephant Rangers Station. There, elephants are used to help Rangers monitor the nearby jungle and also offer elephant treks. After helping the Rangers bathe the elephants we will take a walk with them atop one of the beautiful creatures. The Elephant trek will terminate at the Mega Inn where we will check out and then drive to Bukit Lawang, approximately 3 hrs away. In Bukit Lawang we will check into our accommodation and then head off to the afternoon feeding station for a close up view (hopefully) of some local Orangutans. In the evening you will meet your guide for the trek tomorrow and go through the plan for the trip. (B)

Day 5: Gunung Leuser National Park. Today we start our 3 day trek into the Gunung Leuser National Park. We will head into the hills on the other side of the Bohorok River. On the trek we will see Orangutans, Thomas Leaf Monkey, Pigtail Macaque, Longtail Macaque, Gibbons, Lizards, Turtles, Hornbills and more. Our camp site will be close to a stream or on the Bohorok River, overnight in tents. (B, L, D)

Day 6 : Gunung Leuser National Park. Today we will awake to the sounds of the jungle. After breakfast we will continue our trek deeper into the Gunung Leuser National Park, away from the more frequented locations of day trekkers. We will hope to see more Orangutans, mothers with babies and possibly a male. Our guides will point out various plants that are used in traditional medicine as well as poisonous plants that cannot be consumed safely by humans. Overnight in the jungle in tents. (B, L, D

Day 7: Gunung Leuser National Park - Bukit Lawang.  Today we will continue our jungle trek and head back towards Bukit Lawang sometime after lunch. Once in Bukit Lawang we will check into our room and then have free time to wander around town and maybe have a swim in the Bohorok River. (B, L)

Day 8: Bukit Lawang - Medan. After spending a restful night at our guest house we will rise early as we have a full day ahead. First is a Whitewater Raft on the Wampu River. The river snakes its way through pristine rainforests and deep canyons. We will make a stop off at a natural hot spring that spills into the Wampu. The grade for the river is maximum 3 which is perfect for people who have not done any rafting before. After lunch we will drive to the SOCP's Batu Mbelin Quarantine Center. The Center confiscates Orangutans that have been kept in captivity. These Orangutans are usually young orphans after their mothers have been killed during logging and land clearing for monocrops such as Palm Oil.

The quarantine station at Batu Mbelin and the reintroduction center in Jambi are both well-equipped, staffed by experienced personnel, and operate to the highest standards. The confiscated Orangutans are eventually released in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, an area providing ideal lowland rainforest habitat, that previously had no existing wild Orangutan population At present there are approximately 50 Orangutans that are cared for before their ultimate release into the wild. One of the driving forces behind the centers creation and the head of the Centre, Ian Singleton, will show us around the facilities, explaining how it works, the interaction between people and the environment, the Palm Oil industry and much more. This is a privilege few people get to talk with one of the pre-eminent experts on Sumatran Orangutans as well as see this facility and what it does to help. From there we will head to Medan and check into our hotel. (B, L

Day 9: Medan - Home. For those heading back to their original port we will transfer you to the airport and for those staying on to explore Indonesia further we bid you fair-well. (B)

TRIP EXTENSIONS

Why not think about seeing more amazing locations in Indonesia after your Orangutan Expedition? For more details about some of the exciting trip extensions on offer to other parts of Indonesia click here.

INCLUSIONS

To place a booking simply click the 'Book Now' button for your preferred date. Please note that secure online payment is provided by No Roads Expeditions.