Imagine, Witness, Explore Supporting Communities and Wildlife Conservation 6 Days Earth 4 Orangutans Sumatran Jungle Adventure Imagine, Witness, Explore Supporting Communities & Wildlife Conservation
INTRODUCTION This small group adventure has been developed to take you on an intimate tour to one of the most unique places that North Sumatra offers. As you explore the Gunung Leuser National Park, a part of the broader Leuser Ecosystem, you ll discover that it s the only rainforest where Sumatran Tigers, Orangutans, Elephants and Rhino co-exist together. You will also have the exclusive opportunity to learn about the conservation activities Raw Wildlife Encounters is supporting with local communities and partners to help protect their backyard environment. Witness wild animals in their natural habitat, meet local communities and immerse yourself in the traditional culture. You will also be directly contributing to land restoration, where you also help plant some trees which will form a corridor for wildlife. Leave with lifelong friendships and memories that will inspire, educated and motivate you to take positive action in your daily life. Led by one of our wildlife leaders and supported by our experienced local guides, you ll be well looked after on this trip of a life time. FOLLOW US: /rawildlife @rawildlife @rawildlife @TheRangersofTangkahan #rawildlife #SumatranWildlifeAdventure #ImagineWitnessExplore
DAY 1: THE JOURNEY BEGIN Commence your tour by travelling to the border of the Gunung Leuser National Park to Batu Rongring Village. Today you will stop at a palm oil plantation on route, and learn about this monoculture crop. Once you have checked into your eco bungalow, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the largest trees recorded in North Sumatra. During the evening, learn about the conservation programs RAW is supporting within Sumatra, along with the land purchase this tour has been able to secure. Dine on a banquet of traditional food before you get a good nights rest. Pick up from hotel or airport and drive to Batu Rongring. Stop at palm oil plantation - talk and presentation. Check into Ecolodge. Lunch. Large tree and river experience. Dinner and presentation on Raw conservation programs. Accommodation: Rimba Lestari Ecolodge L D
DAY 2: BACK TO NATURE Today you will begin your day by spending time at the local primary school, where you will participate in some activities with the local Environmental Club. This club has been set up by RAW to help educate the children to become environmental ambassadors for their backyard. You will spend all morning at the school interacting and helping to construct eco friendly activities which relate to the local environment. We encourage you to also look at our RAW wishlist, where you can also donate much-needed items for the kids at the school. After returning to the ecolodge, you have two options after lunch. Visit a cave ecosystem (not recommended for claustrophobic guests) or you can relax at the ecolodge and go for a walk up the river and surrounding grounds. The cave ecosystems in Batu Rongirng are breath taking! You will learn about their importance along with some of the current threats these unique habitats face. After dinner you have the opportunity to go on a night spotlighting walk with the local guides and see what comes out at night time! Breakfast. Children s school visit and environmental program in the village. Lunch. Cave hike (optional) or bird watching and photography experience. Dinner. Option: Night Spotlighting Walk Accommodation: Rimba Lestari Ecolodge B L D
DAY 3: EXPLORE THE ANCIENT RAINFOREST Rise and Shine! Today you are off on a rainforest hike to one of the prettiest waterfalls that RAW has seen. You will explore the forest and keep an eye out for wild orangutans, monkeys, birds and evidence of sunbears, pigs and deer. Dine on a delicious picnic lunch and then come back to the ecolodge for an afternoon of traditional culture. Participating in the traditional medicine class will teach you about the local Karonese culture and why the medicine is so important for this culture. After your class has finished, you will plant some trees and plants in the back restoration of the ecobungalows. Breakfast. Hike to waterfall. Picnic lunch in the rainforest. Traditional Medicine Class. Tree planting in the bufferzone restoration area. Dinner. Accommodation: Rimba Lestari Ecolodge B L D
DAY 4: MEET YOUR RAINFOREST Today you spend time in your part of the rainforest, which was included in the current tour price. You will help restore this piece of land, which borders the Leuser Ecosystem, and leave a legacy to nature. You will learn about the different fruit trees you will plant and how wildlife will benefit from this land restoration program. You will also receive bi-annual updates on your land progress throughout the next 2 years. This land sponsorship is an incredible way to give back and help conserve critical ecosystems. Morning wake up at 5am and river walk to witness the rainforest come alive. Picnic breakfast. Return to lodge. Visit the Rimba Lestari Bufferzone project (Land purchase). Picnic lunch at the land site. Reforestation project. Free time (swimming or fishing). Traditional cooking: Assist the staff to collect the jungle food and help prepare dinner. Dinner. Accommodation: Rimba Lestari Ecolodge B L D
DAY 5: EXPLORE HOT SPRINGS Wake up early and go for a final sunrise hike into the forest, before saying goodbye to your rainforest getaway. On route to Medan, you will visit a small local community ecotourism program on the way back to Medan. Bathe in the local hot springs and spend the day exploring the river ecosystem, including a beautiful waterfall. After lunch and at your own time, you will then make your way back to Medan and check into the Grand Swiss Bel Hotel. Option: Instead of driving back to Medan, why not extend your visit for a few nights and visit one of our other highlighted destinations in Tangkahan or Bukit Lawang! See below details of these amazing locations. Breakfast. Depart Batu Rongring. Stop at Gluger Hot Springs. Picnic Lunch. Optional: Waterfall Swim. Depart for Medan (or 3 day tour extension option to Bukit Lawing or Tangakahan). Tour finishes. Accommodation: Grand Swiss Bel Hotel Medan B L D
DAY 6: DEPARTURE Today you will be taken back to the airport for your International flight.
OPTIONAL EXTRA ACTIVITY Tangakahan 3 days. Visit Tangkahan, a small eco village which has converted form illegal logging to nature based conservation efforts. This incredible destination is also home to orphan elephants, where you have the opportunity to meet these gentle giants. Day 1: Welcome to Tangkahan Drive from Batu Rongring to Tangakahan (2hrs) Check into Mega Inn Ecolodge. Dinner. Accommodation: Mega Inn D Day 2: Meet the CRU Elephants Breakfast Orphan elephant bathing River tubing to large waterfall Picnic Lunch Motorbike back to accommodation Free time Dinner Accommodation: Mega Inn B L D Day 3: Explore The Natural River Ecosystem Breakfast Explore Buluh River Enjoy the hot springs Lunch at Mega Inn Depart for Medan Drop to hotel or airport (late PM flight) Accommodation: - B L
Bukit Lawang 3 days. Home to man of the forest, the Sumatran orangutan, Bukit Lawang will bring you up close to one of our closest primate relatives and leave you in awe! Day 1: Welcome to Bukit Lawang Drive from Batu Rongring to Bukit Lawang (2hrs) Check into Ecolodge. Dinner (own cost) Accommodation: Ecolodge Day 2: Orangutan Jungle Hike Breakfast 3hr Oragutan Jungle hike Lunch (own cost) Free time to explore local markets Optional: Bat Cave exploration (2hrs) Dinner (own cost) Accommodation: Ecolodge B Day 3: Medan Breakfast Depart for Medan and drop to hotel or airport Accommodation: - B
CONSERVATION COMMITMENT Raw Wildlife Encounters is supporting community buffer zone protection next to the Gunung Leuser National Park, an extension of the broader Leuser Ecosystem. These areas of land are teeming with wildlife and are often causing many issues with the local community, that eventuate in Human Wildlife Conflict. We are proud to be purchasing key land rainforest hot spots, where we can rehabilitate and restore the rainforest, connect these buffer zone areas (wildlife corridors)to the Leuser Ecosystem and help protect wildlife from conflict areas. We are also will be providing local employment to the community as we develop the land restoration project into a eco tourism initiative, where people also learn to live in harmony with their rainforest backyard. Most of the community currently works on their own land or in the government palm oil plantations, which lead all the way up to the Leuser Ecosystem. This alternative livelihood program will give them secure future as we help provide a environmental friendly unique model to the local people of Batu Rongring. We aim to ensure their culture, traditions are protected for the future and the rainforest is also respected so we wildlife can be protected for future generations. $650AUD of this tour price will go towards purchasing 400m2 of land. The goal is to secure 16 packages of this land, as our first project. Thank you for helping us to buy land and restore the rainforest for a brighter future, where people and wildlife can live together.
INCLUSIONS: Accommodation Transport Food (as stated in itinerary B,L,D) Local Guide Wildlife Host Permits and entry fees Conservation donation Trees to plant the rainforest Activity logistics Water along the way EXCLUSIONS: International Airfares (RAW can book) Domestic flight transfer (RAW can book) Travel insurance comprehnsve (RAW can book) Visa (on arrival) Tip money for local staff Any food or drink not stated on the itinerary Transport that is not stated in the itinerary Medan expenses not stated in the itinerary Any activities beyond scheduled itinerary This itinerary should be considered a guide only. As circumstances beyond the control of the operators will often necessitate changes or modifications to the scheduled program. RAW Wildlife Encounters will always endeavor to maintain the same level of experience to that originally booked. RAW Wildlife Encounters does not own these programs. We support the local tour operator and promote their travel programs. www.rawildlife.com.au info@rawildlife.com.au T/A 32907