Imagine trekking through the dense, Sumatran jungle, experiencing the unique calls of the colorful tropical birds and the fresh scents of the dew-covered rainforest, intently listening for the subtlest movement in the tree tops. Suddenly, your trusted tour guide signals for you to stop walking, and you notice a captivating smile slowly spread across his face as he directs your gaze upward. As your eyes follow his direction, you unexpectedly find yourself face to face with one of the world’s most endangered primates in its natural habitat: the rare and friendly Sumatran orangutan.
Your skillful guide, a young Indonesian man named Lillix, is an expert at finding these beautiful animals (not to mention, he’s also an incredible “camp cook!”). He has over fourteen years of experience as a guide in Sumatra, leading travelers and expeditioners from all over the world on excursions through the lush jungle and bringing them up close to extraordinary wild animals, like the orangutan and the Sumatran elephant. “The jungle is like my second house,” Lillix reveals, “the orangutan lives here, and I want the orangutan to stay here; that’s why I promote the use of responsible tourism.”
Born in Bukit Lawang, Indonesia in 1982, Lillix has dedicated his life to raising awareness about the importance of Sumatra’s fragile ecosystems. He has spent many years taking groups of people not only through the orangutan forest, but also into his village in Bukit Lawang, where he still lives with his beloved wife and two young children. His primary goal is to create an unforgettable experience for his visitors, while aiming to protect the lives of all of the creatures that are native to Sumatra. His passion and profound love for his country and for the animals that inhabit it are endearing to his visitors, all of whom can attest to Lillix’s expert leadership and fun-loving persona.
Join Lillix on his next orangutan trekking tour in the heart of beautiful Sumatra, and you will not only create incredible memories, but you will also leave Indonesia with a deeper knowledge and love for the country, its animals, and, even more importantly, its people.
While on your trekking experience, you will have the opportunity to be a part of the ecolodge Mission in which Acanela and Lillix are passionately involved. Built out of naturally treated bamboo, the accomodations at the ecolodge in in Bakit Lawang are eco-friendly, and the proceeds that it receives go back into protecting the orangutans in the surrounding forest. The lodge takes a leading role in sustainable tourism: all the meals served at the bamboo restaurant are certified organic, and the lodge itself is designed to conserve precious energy and respect the beauty of the nature that surrounds it.
