Trekking in Manusela National Park

Manusela National Park is a tourist attraction located on Seram island in Maluku Province of Indonesia. The national park was established in 1997, to protect an area of 1,890 km², representing 11% of the land area of Seram island. In this park there is Mount Binaiya, with altitude 3.027 meters. It is the highest of the park's six mountains.

Moluccan Cockatoo also known
as Salmon-crested Cockatoo

In the local language Manusela means "bird of freedom". The park is habitats for many species of birds. There are approximately 117 species of birds in this park, 14 of them endemic, such as Salmon-crested Cockatoo (Moluccan Cockatoo), Eclectus Parrot, Sacred Kingfisher, Lazuli Kingfisher, Grey-necked Friarbird, Black-chinned Monarch, Purple-naped Lory, Bicoloured White-eye and Moluccan King Parrot.

Manusela National Park is also habitats for cuscus (Phalanger orientalis orientalis), Timor deer (Cervus timorensis moluccensis), water-hagedis dragon (Hydrosaurus amboinensis), wild pig (Sus celebensis), marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), giant skink (Tiliqua gigas gigas), dugong (Dugong dugon), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and various species of butterfly.

The park is made up of coastal forest, swamp forest, lowland and montane rainforest ecosystem types. Plants that grow in this park such as Alstonia scholaris, Avicennia, Dryobalanops and Pandanus species, Bruguiera sexangula, Terminalia catappa, Shorea selanica, Rhizophora acuminata, Pometia pinnata, Melaleuca leucadendra and various species of orchid.

The best time to visit the park is on May to October. The number one reason to go to Manusela National Park is for trekking. Another attraction of tourists to do in this park that is exploring the forest, mountain climbing, observing animals and plants. Cultural attractions outside the park, such as the Masohi Festival in November, kora-kora (rowing) races in April, and Darwin-Ambon International Yacht race in July, in Ambon.

How to get to the Manusela National Park?

Manusela National Park can be reached either from the north coast (Sawai and Wahai), or the south coast (Tehoru and Moso). First, visitors have to go to Ambon. Ambon holds the nearest big airport for accessing the region. Numerous regular flight available from Jakarta or other city in Indonesia. From Ambon to Masohi by ferry (daily) take about 8 hours, continued to Saka by car for about 2 hours, then to Wahai using speed boat about 2 hours. Alternatively, from Ambon to Wahai by ship takes about 24 hours (3 times a week). There are a flight from Ambon to Wahai once a week. Other route from Masohi to Tehoru by motor boat takes about 9 hours, then to Moso and Saunulu village.

Trekking and Seeing Orangutans in Mount Leuser National Park

Mount Leuser National Park is one of the nature conservation areas in Indonesia, covering an area of 1,094,692 hectares which is located in North Sumatra and Aceh Provinces of Indonesia. The national park takes its name from Mount Leuser with a height of 3.404 meters above sea level in Aceh. This national park includes the original ecosystem of the coast to high mountains covered by dense typical tropical rain forest, managed by the zoning system used for the purpose of research, science, education, culture, tourism, and recreation.

The entrance of Gunung Leuser National Park

Mount Leuser National Park has three functions: First, protection of life support systems. Second, preserving species diversity of plants and animals and their ecosystems. Third, sustainable use of biological resources and ecosystems.

Almost the entire area are covered by Dipterocarpaceae forest with several rivers and waterfalls. In this national park there are several rare plants such as Raflesia flower (Rafflesia atjehensis and Rafflesia micropylora), giant umbrella leaves (Johannesteijsmannia altifrons) and Rhizanthes zippelnii which is the largest flower with a diameter of 1,5 meters.

In this national park there are also several endangered and protected animals such as gibbon (Hylobates syndactylus syndactylus), introspect / orangutan (Pongo abelii), Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus), Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Sumatran rhinoceros (sumatrensis sumatrensis Dicerorhinus), sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), forest goat (Capricornis sumatraensis), forest cats (Prionailurus sumatrana bengalensis) and hornbills (Buceros bicornis).

One of the tourist attractions in Mount Leuser National Park is observation center for Sumatran Orangutan at Bukit Lawang, Langkat regency, North Sumatra. Seeing the orangutans is a magical experience. In Bukit Lawang, you can usually see them near the rehabilitation centre and at the feeding platform during the morning and afternoon feeding sessions. Feedings are daily at 8.00AM and 3.00PM. Attending the feeding costs Rp 20,000. The proceeds are used to keep the project running.

The best experience is an encounter in the jungle where there are many semi-wild and wild animals. The wild orangutan can be difficult to spot unless you go deep into the jungle. There are also white and black gibbons that make an amazing noise calling out to each other, and Thomas Leaf monkeys. If you are lucky, you may be able to see hornbills, toucans, moon snakes, monitor lizards. Since there are very few still alive, it is very improbable that either the Sumatran Tiger or the Sumatran Rhinoceros will be encountered, although footprints and droppings have been reported. For elephants, go to Tangkahan or near Ketambe you can trek further into the jungle to try and spot wild elephants.

The best time to visit the park is on June to October. There are several tourist attraction that can be done in the park, such as: mountain climbing, hiking, trekking through coastal forest, observing plants and animals, kayaking/canoeing and camping.

The number one reason to go to Gunung Leuser National Park is for a trek, whether that is mountain trekking or trekking to spot wildlife. A wide range of treks into the jungle looking for wildlife are available in Bukit Lawang, Ketembe and Tangkahan. There are many tours from 1 to 3 days (sleeping in the jungle) but more or less can probably be arranged too. For montain climbing or hiking, there are all multi-day treks to Gunung Leuser and Gunung Kemiri.

How to get to the park?

From Medan to Kutacane by car takes about 8 hours (240 km). From Kutacane to Gurah or Ketambe by car take about 30 minutes (35 km). From Medan to Bohorok or Bukit Lawang take about 1 hour by car (60 km). From Medan to Sei Betung or Sekundur take about 2 hours by car (150 km). From Medan to Tapaktuan takes about 10 hours by car (260 km).

For more information, please read How to get to Gunung Leuser National Park?.

How to get to Gunung Leuser National Park?

As previously has been reviewed in Trekking and Seeing Orangutans in Mount Leuser National Park, Gunung Leuser has the beauty of flora and fauna that are very interesting. Gunung Leuser National Park is the habitats for Sumatran Orangutans, Sumatran Elephant, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros, Siamang, Mainland Serow, Sambar deer, and Leopard Cat.

To reach the park, visitor should make a trip to Medan. Medan holds the nearest big airport for accessing the region. Numerous regular flight available from Jakarta or other city in Indonesia. If you have plan to hiking Gunung Leuser, you could fly to Kutacane from Medan, takes about 30 minutes.

From Medan to Bukit Lawang, can be reached by bus. Non air conditioned buses from Medan (Pinang Baris Bus Terminal) to Bukit Lawang was Rp 10,000/person (in October 2008), takes about 3-4 hours. There should be buses every 30 minutes. Back to Medan from Bukit Lawang, you can take a minibus (cost Rp 12,000/person (October 2008)) or a large bus (cost Rp 10,000, but they might ask for more). They alternate every 15 minutes from Bukit Lawang Bus Terminal.

From Medan to Kutacane, BTN and Karsima run several public minibuses that serve the traveling to and from both cities. The cost was Rp. 50.000 (January 2011). The journey takes about 7 hours. They leave from their ticket offices. They usually go via Berastagi where you can flag them down or hop off if you wish to make the detour.

From Kutacane to Ketambe, take a local mobil from the station by the market in Kutacane. The cost is Rp 10,000 (January 2011). The journey takes about 1 hour.

If you prefer the convenience of an air-conditioned transfer, a private car can be arranged for Polonia Airport or your Medan hotel pick-up. Many Bukit Lawang hotels will arrange this service for you in conjunction with an accommodation booking. As an alternative, car rentals are also available in Medan for approximately Rp. 350,000 a day.

South Bukit Barisan National Park, Exploring the Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra

South Bukit Barisan National Park is a national park aimed at protecting the biodiversity and the natural wealth in tropical rainforests of Sumatra island. South Bukit Barisan declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1935 and became a National Park in 1982. UNESCO made the South Bukit Barisan National Park as a World Heritage. At first the size of the park is 356,800 hectares, but the area of the park at this time is calculated by using GIS for approximately 324,000 hectares.

Bukit Barisan

It is located at the tip of the southwestern region of Sumatra. Seventy percent of the park (249,552 hectares) is included in the administrative areas of West Lampung and Tanggamus region, where both are part of Lampung province. The other part of the park covers 74,822 hectares are in the area of Kaur which is in the province of Bengkulu.

Among the plant species that can be found in the Park are Rafflesia Arnorldi, pidada (Sonneratia sp.), Casuarina Equisetifolia, Nypa Fruticans, Pandanus sp., meranti (Shorea sp.), Anisoptera Curtisii, Michelia Champaka, ramin (Gonystylus bancanus), rattan (Calamus sp.), Dipterocarpus sp., and damar (Agathis sp.). Characteristic of the Park are tall carrion flower (Amorphophallus decus-silvae), which can reach a height of more than 2 metres, giant carrion flower (A. titanum), and giant orchid / sugarcane (Grammatophylum speciosum). The park has some lowland forests in Sumatra's last protected. Very rich in biodiversity and it is home to three species of the most endangered large mammal in the world: Sumatran elephant (less than 2000 survived current), Sumatran rhino (total global population: 300 individuals and drastically diminishing in number) and the Sumatran tiger (the entire global population of around 400 individuals).

South Bukit Barisan National Park included in the Global 200 Ecoregions, namely ranking terrestrial habitats, freshwater and sea on earth the most striking from the biological point of view created by the WWF. The park is highlighted as a priority area for Sumatran rhino conservation through the Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy (AREAS) of the WWF. In addition, IUCN, WCS and WWF have identified the park as a Tiger Conservation Unit, which is the most important forest areas for tiger conservation in the world. Finally, in 2002, UNESCO has chosen this area to be proposed as a World Heritage Cluster and Mountainous Areas together with Mount Leuser National Park and the Kerinci Seblat.

Tourist attraction that can be done in the park are exploring the forest, marine tours, swimming, boating, observing plants (rafflesia, carrion flower), observing animal (Sumatran rhinoceros and elephant), camping, and kayaking/canoeing. The best time to visit the park is on January to August.

How to get to the South Bukit Barisan National Park?

Map of South Bukit Barisan

There are several route to reach the park. Teluk Betung - Tanjung Karang - Kota Agung - Tampang by motor boat takes about 6 hours. Kota Agung - Banjarnegoro - Sukaraja Atas/Suwoh, takes about 4 hours by bus. Kota Agung - Kubu Perahu, about 7 hours by car.