I am in Bukit Luang with my friend Lillix, the man who talks to monkeys. Lillix grew up in a small village in the jungles of Indonesia, and from a young age, learned to love the jungle. Ever since he was six years old his father would take him to explore the most remote parts of the jungle to help him develop an appreciation for its beauty and importance.
This past September, I explored the tropical paradise of Sumatra. I’ve always wanted to visit this breathtaking Indonesian island, which is home to the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan. Sumatra offers picturesque views and exciting adventures for nature lovers, but it’s the islands diverse wildlife that really stands out. While there, I embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime orangutan trek in Gunung Leuser National Park. This remarkable experience was one I’ll never forget. Keep reading to learn more about trekking with orangutans in Sumatra!
Deep within Sumatra’s Gunung Leuser National Park is one of the last places on earth to see the critically endangered orangutans in the wild. Deforestation has reached alarming levels due to increased levels of logging and growth of palm oil plantations. Eighty percent of Earth’s animals live in forests and many are unable to survive the deforestation which is destroying their homes. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t miss out on this journey to see the Orangutans now.
With over fourteen years of experience as a guide in Sumatra, Lillix leads thousands of travelers from all over the world on excursions through the lush jungle and brings them up close to extraordinary wild animals, like the friendly orangutan and the rare 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.”
We can't even explain how much our love for animals have been broadened throughout our travel experiences. From sea turtles in Costa Rica to llamas in Peru to elephants in Sri Lanka - We can't get enough of these cute creatures when we are traveling. We've rallied up our top 10 favorite animal encounters from our expeditions so you can add them to your travel bucket list!
