After several weeks spent between heavenly beaches, comfortable hotels and tropical islands, our arrival in Bukit Lawang marked a real change of atmosphere. Located in northern Sumatra, this small village is best known for being one of the gateways to Gunung Leuser National Park, one of only two places in the world where it is still possible to observe orangutans living freely in their natural habitat.
For this first stage of our Indonesian adventure, we chose to go on a three-day and two-night trek in the heart of the jungle. Our small group was made up of four travelers: a French couple, the two of us and two local guides who were going to show us this fascinating environment. Very quickly, we understood that these three days were going to be as much a human adventure as an immersion in nature.
From the first kilometers, the immersion is total. The heat is intense, the humidity is omnipresent and each climb seems to require extra effort. But the reward is worth it: we had the chance to observe several orangutans in their natural habitat. Seeing these animals roam freely in the trees, sometimes just a few meters from us, undoubtedly remains one of the most memorable moments of our trip.
The jungle also offered us many other encounters. We encountered Thomas monkeys, several species of macaques, gibbons moving with impressive agility in the canopy, Sumatran toucans, snakes, tortoises as well as a multitude of insects and birds. At every turn in the trail, there was something to observe.
A large part of this experience will nevertheless remain associated with our guides. The youngest was just phenomenal. Despite the language barrier, he constantly made the effort to speak to us in French, told us improbable stories, made us laugh with his jokes and often ended the evenings with magic tricks for which we are still seeking the explanation today. As it rained almost every evening, he always found a way to occupy the group and create a warm atmosphere in the middle of the jungle.
Our second guide, older, was just as endearing. For much of the trek we called him Alan, believing that was his first name, when in fact it was just a respectful way of calling an older person. This confusion made us laugh a lot during the stay. The expedition's main guide, he knew the jungle like the back of his hand and willingly shared his experience throughout the journey.
We were also very lucky with our travel companions. The French couple who were part of the group were extremely friendly and greatly contributed to making these three days even more enjoyable. With only four participants, the atmosphere was friendly and we quickly had the impression of going on an adventure with friends.
The nights were particularly rustic. We slept in shelters set up by the river, on makeshift mattresses protected by mosquito nets and with a simple blanket to spend the night. The comfort was basic but the experience had something magical. Falling asleep to the sound of the jungle, surrounded only by the sounds of nature, is a memory we will never forget.
Daily life during these three days was also very simple. Meals were served on banana leaves, in the traditional Indonesian way, and our shower was none other than the river that ran alongside the camps. The food was also excellent. We still wonder today how our guides managed to prepare such delicious meals in the middle of nowhere, without us actually seeing them cook. As for the huge fruit platters served after meals, they were simply incredible and each time became a much-awaited moment of the day.
The adventure ended in the best possible way. To reach Bukit Lawang, we went down the river for about forty-five minutes aboard large black inflatable buoys, similar to giant donuts. Between the bursts of laughter, the rapids and the splashes, this return was one of the great moments of the trek and a perfect conclusion to these three days spent in the heart of the jungle.
This adventure will probably remain as one of the most authentic and exotic experiences of our trip to Indonesia. Even if, after three days of trekking in stifling heat, we were happy to find a real shower, soap and toilets, we would not have exchanged this experience for anything in the world. Bukit Lawang offered us much more than just a hike: a total immersion in one of the last great jungles of Asia.