Arriving in Bukit Lawang, immediately a couple of guys were ready to pounce enquiring if accomodation was needed or a tour. Mistake no. 1 was saying I already have a tour booked, because they decided to escort me to my hostel, chewing my ear about a tour, and also sitting with me at the hostel reception until agreeing they should come back tomorrow when I’d decided. Tours here all cost the same price, so I’m not booking anything with two randoms on the street who wouldn’t give me a phone number, like they didn’t have phones! I booked my tour with the hostel, who have great reviews, and I wasn’t to be disappointed.
Spending a day relaxing, the next I was showered and fed by 9 and was on my way with 7 others walking up the hill, stopping within ten minutes to see Thomas Leaf monkeys outside a rubber plantation. Within another thirty minutes of walking were in the rainforest and stopping in awe to see orangutans in the trees. One large male, and one mother with baby who are used to visitors, but still care and distance are important. After taking loads of photos we moved on, seeing more orangutans, then stopped for lunch when the coast was clear. To everyone’s surprise, after lunch orangutans visited us! More photos as one of them came down to the ground for closer inspection of us, still keeping a distance.After this exhilarating experience, we did a bit more trekking up and down hill, arriving at a camp by the river. Time for swimming and washing off dirt, sweat and sunscreen. An enormous dinner was then served up with meat, fish and vegetarian options. Then entertainment by the guides with their card games and humour. More entertainment was provided by fireflies, once the torches were off their glowing bodies could be seen.Day two started with and egg, cheese and salad sandwich, then a trek back up into the forest, and a search for the well known female orangutan Mina. This orangutan was captured when young and rescued, and understandably has issues around humans. This was the only orangutan I saw fed by guides, possibly to keep her calm, and we were asked to move on when they saw her mood change!
The final part of the trek was rafting back to Bukit Lawang on huge inner tubes with guides at the front and back using poles to steer away from rocks, a good way to cool off after the second day.