Orangutan Viewing Platform Guide
Witness Wild Orangutans: Bukit Lawang's Viewing Platform Guide
The Orangutan Viewing Platform in Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, Indonesia, offers a unique opportunity to observe semi-wild orangutans in their natural habitat. Located within Gunung Leuser National Park, this platform provides a safe and ethical way to witness these incredible creatures as they come to receive supplementary feeding. It's a must-do experience for wildlife enthusiasts visiting Sumatra. Bukit Lawang was once a rehabilitation center for orangutans rescued from captivity. While the rehabilitation program has largely been phased out, the viewing platform remains as a way to monitor the remaining semi-wild orangutans and provide them with supplemental food. This helps to ensure their survival and allows researchers to study their behavior. The area surrounding Bukit Lawang is part of the vast Gunung Leuser National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including tigers, elephants, and gibbons. The main activity is, of course, observing the orangutans at the feeding platform. Treks into the jungle are also popular, offering the chance to see orangutans and other wildlife in a more natural setting. These treks can range from a few hours to several days. Bukit Lawang is known for its simple, local cuisine. Many restaurants offer Indonesian dishes such as nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodles), and gado-gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce). Fresh fruit juices are also readily available.
Transportation
The most common way to reach Bukit Lawang is from Medan, the capital of North Sumatra. From Medan's Kuala Namu International Airport (KNO), you can take a shared tourist van or a private taxi to Bukit Lawang. The journey takes approximately 3-4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a public bus from Medan to Binjai, and then another bus from Binjai to Bukit Lawang. This option is more budget-friendly but takes longer.