Two day Jungle trip into Taman National Gunung Leuser Park

So far I’ve done jungle treks in different countries during my trip but this one was the most exhausting and intriguing one. This jungle felt like a real jungle even if we didn’t get that ‘deep’ into the jungle for the 2 day trip. The aim was to see wildlife like Oerang Utangs, Thomas sleep monkeys, Gibbons (white and black), macaque . So I went with guide Sinar and 5 other travellers into the jungle with a small backpack and our camera’s. We started with a steep climb to enter the jungle, regularly Sinar showed us some flora like rattan, cinnamon, lemon grass or other useful plants for medication. Meanwhile we climbed or walked and he kept us entertained but we were all waiting for that moment to see our first Oerang Utang which we finally did and it was Suma with her baby.  Sinar told us that she was raised in the monkey sanctuary after she was released from a captured life with soldiers. Sinar used to work with Oerang Utangs so he knows most of them and their habits. So Suma came down from her tree and ‘posed’ for us hoping to get some food but one of rules is not to feed them anymore as they learned in the sanctuary to life an independent life. Later on we spotted Sandra in a tree and when we reached camp Jacky and her baby were there to give us some extra Oerang Utang camera shots. The camp was based on the other side of the river which we had to cross by swimming or with a tube. The camp was a patch on a corner of the river with lots of stones and some huts (kitchen and sleeping area) and our base for the night. We enjoyed a lovely Indonesian meal of vegetable curry, marinated chicken, rice, tempeh and kroepoek followed by lots of fruit, ginger tea and later on roasted peanuts. Our guide Sinar and his friend entertained us with some magician card games and he knew a lot of mind games with some matches. At 9pm he said it was time to go to bed so we all went to our hut (an area covered with plastic walls and roof) where we were positioned in a row on the floor with a sheet to cover our bodies. I slept really well and got up at 6.30am to have a tea and chat with Sinar outside and enjoy the beautiful views of the jungle.  Before we left the next day on a raft down the river we visited a waterfall on the other side of the river and had a swim followed by lunch. The journey down the river was fun but too short and not enough current to make it really exciting. 
Sinar, thank you for a great trip and showing me the Oerang Utans in their natural environment and entertaining me with your big smile and stories.

Suma

Thomas Leaf Monkey