Gunung Leuser National Park, The Home Of Diversities
Gunung Leuser National Park
Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) is one of Nature Conservation Areas in Indonesia that covering an area of 1,094,692 hectares. The administration is located in two provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra. This forest is dominant in East Aceh, South Aceh and Langkat North Sumatra; it known by the results of world-class coffee and tobacco.
Those who love to travel can start the adventure in this national park through Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra, where there are the impressive of orangutan that live inside the forest. Gunung Leuser forest also has a wealth of tropical fruits such as mango, rambutan, durian, avocado, orange, papaya, and guava.
Gunung Leuser National Park and the surrounding area are known as the Leuser Ecosystem which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are approximately 130 species can be identified in Gunung Leuser National Park, namely: Sumatran tigers, elephants, rhinos, gibbons, monkeys, leopards, reptiles, fish, and 325 species of birds.
This park has the highest peak of 3,381 m and is one of the largest national parks in Indonesia and most diverse area of 7,927 kmē on the northern tip of Sumatra. Gunung Leuser National Park itself takes its name from Mount Leuser (3404 M asl) in Aceh. The National park includes native ecosystems from the coast to the high mountains which are covered with dense forests typical of tropical rain. This place is managed by the zoning system for the purpose of research, science, education, cultivation support, tourism, and recreation.
Gunung Leuser National Park is very broad area, including mangrove forests, swamp forest, lowland rainforest, moss forest, and up to subalpine forest. By the various ecosystems that it has, the national park is actually a group of various nature reserves and forests, which is: Gunung Leuser Nature Reserve, Kappi Nature Reserve, Kluet Nature Reserve, Sikundur-langkat Wildlife Reserve, Ketambe Research Station, West Singkil, and Dolok Sembilin.
This Park covers more than 100 kilometers of the Bukit Barisan Mountains, known for its steep, mountainous terrain condition that is almost inaccessible. The stunning Alas river cut this park into eastern and western parts, where you can find majestic scenery of tropical forests that will pamper your sight.
By sign in to Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra and traveled to Medan is the easiest route to reach Gunung Leuser National Park. Ketambe is also an alternative for entry into the Gunung Leuser National Park. Heading to Ketambe is easier to reach from Medan and Kutacane, a town that close to Ketambe.
You can use the bus from Medan, at Pinang Baris Bus Terminal to Bukit Lawang. It takes 86 km by road to the northwest. To return back to Medan, you can take a minibus or a large bus from Bukit Lawang Bus station. However, you will find the driver offering minivans from the Belawan ferry terminal direct to Bukit Lawang. The prices may vary and be higher than the public transportation.
