Elephant Ride North Sumatra
January 9, 2009 by Medan Indonesia
Filed under Adventure, Leisure
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A UNIQUE AND EXCLUSIVE RIDE ON YOUR OWN ELEPHANT THROUGH THE SUMATRAN RAINFORESTS PATROLLING NATURE ON ELEPHANTS BORN IN THE WILD
The Leuser National Park in North Sumatra is a hidden paradise, one of the last places you can experience the rainforest at its best. Majestic trees, thick lush tropical vegetation interspersed with beautiful rivers, waterfalls, caves and hot springs combine to make this one of the most beautiful places on earth. This is also home for many endangered animals such as the Sumatran orangutan, the Sumatran tiger and the Sumatran elephant, to name but a few. It is also the only place in Indonesia where you can venture into the jungle on the back of your own elephant, exploring parts of the rainforest that would be difficult to reach otherwise. This is the place to come if you want a truly exclusive and unique experience combining rainforest exploration with camping and above all with riding elephants.
Join the Elephant Jungle Patrol if you are looking for a challenge and a unique holiday. This is for connoisseurs and adventurers only and not for the faint hearted! Four days are spent with your own wild born elephant trekking through the rainforest from Tangkahan to Bukit Lawang. You will have time to become a team with a mahout and his elephant, learn about handling elephants and how to look after them. There will also be plenty of time to enjoy the rain forest and swim in the rivers. Nights will be spent camping in our basic but romantic jungle camps, where you can sample the local food and fall asleep to the sounds of the rainforest at night. Early booking is essential! Only two 4 day treks with four elephants are available twice a month.
It is called the Elephant Jungle Patrol for a reason. Your participation has a meaning. The ride functions as a patrol keeping illegal loggers away. It is arranged jointly by local communities, the national park authorities, and local and International NGO’s. All profits are used for community development, social programs and nature conservation. The elephants originate from areas where human encroachment on elephant land has caused conflicts, causing the wild elephants to loose their habitat and forcing the authorities to round them up and move them to government camps. The elephants are among the few to have been trained to carry people. They are not just used for tourists but do a valuable job patrolling and protecting their own remaining habitat.
Contact Elephant Jungle Patrol to learn more about the adventure of a lifetime. You have to be fit enough to join. The path through the rain forest can be steep and slippery and yet always dramatic! Even though the elephants do most of the hard work for you, the going can be rough. You have to be prepared for the hot and humid weather. If you are adventurous enough to take on the challenge, the experience will be rewarding and unique. Not many get a chance to do it.
The Elephant Jungle Patrol Team provides these Tips for Trip in The Rainforest:
If you never have tried jungle trekking before, don’t miss it now, especially when you can do it together with an elephant. It is nothing strange, dangerous or difficult. You don’t have to be young and adventurous to do it. You only need interest in and curiosity for nature, especially elephants. If you don’t have that, you will probably catch it. However, you must be fit enough. For the Elephant Jungle Patrol you need to be at least 12 years old. If you are of high age, consult with a doctor. Sometimes the path is very steep and dramatic.
The first time visitor can sometimes be disappointed on how few animals are normally seen. One reason for this is the natural shyness of animals. Even though the animals are not seen, they are often nearby as they hide in the under-story or in the canopy overhead. Nevertheless, a patient observer will see the animals and take their photos as well.
TO SEE ANIMALS
- Develop an eye for what is always there, but often difficult to see: the primates and the reptiles. The best way is to choose a comfortable spot and just quietly wait.
- Search for things that are all around, but often go unnoticed: butterflies, termites, insects, frogs, etc.
- Learn to recognize the sounds of the forest.
- Learn to identify the tracks and other animal signs that are left on game trails, for example tracks of bears, tigers and ungulates.
EQUIPMENT
Upon departure every rider will get their own complimentary Elephant Kit containing several useful things. Remember that things can get wet. Equipment and clothes that we recommend are:
- Light clothes, long trousers and long sleeved shirt.
- Comfortable sport shoes or boots.
- Leech socks or 2 layers of ordinary socks (nylon socks are better barriers for leeches than cotton socks). One pair of leech socks is included in the Elephant Kit.
- Hat and rain cape (material that breathes is best, because of the humidity; sometimes an umbrella is most comfortable but on tracks through bushes sometimes difficult to keep up).
- Personal medication, antihistamines (for bee stings), malaria pills, etc.
- Sun lotion, insect repellent.
- Few snacks, like energy bars, and maybe rehydrant sachets like Gatorade or Oralite that can simply be added to a water bottle.
- A compass, if you walk around on your own.
- Camera. A macro lens is often more useful.
- Binoculars are recommended.
- Plastic or waterproof bag for your equipment.
THE ELEPHANT KIT
Every person taking part in the Elephant Jungle Patrol will get an Elephant Kit containing:
- A route map and other information
- Sarong
- Torch
- WhistleLeech socks
- A rain cape
HOW TO BEHAVE
The Mahouts and the guide will help you, but for your general information it can be good to remember:
- Even though most snakes are not poisonous, one should be careful and not disturb snakes. If you get bitten, very unusual though, put a pressure bandage above and below the wound in order to slow down the spread of poison. Contact a doctor as soon as possible.
- Don’t cut rattans and vines, they are essential for the ecosystem.
- Don’t leave rubbish behind. Tins and plastic don’t rot.
- If a fire is being lit, use only dead wood and clean the spot before leaving.
- Crossing rivers can be dangerous, especially after rains. Most accidents happen in rivers. It is better to wait and try later when the water level drops.
“Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints”.
For more information and start your elephant trekking adventure, contact Elephant Jungle Patrol
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wow,,,amazing place to challange adventure,,,,,,,,! interesting to go and try someday. any how indonesia good place to visit
Can these elephants do painting using their long nose?
In Thailand, some elephants have been trainned up to do painting.
Wow….
indonesia sumatra terdapat banyak spesis .hidupan liar dan terdapat banyak tempat tempat menarik seperti pulau pulau kecil dan pantai pantai yang ternama di antara bangsa …..cuma kurang promosi dari pemerintah itu sendiri
its a big pleasure to hear such kind of that activities we can have it in our home town medan……wish u all the best to create new things that we can enjoy in medan and north sumatra….
Hi Ms Lin,
I dont think these elephants are trained to paint, but definitely trekking around the jungle. Yes, the ones in Thailand are very “artistic” indeed as we have witnessed ourselves.