Responsible Travel
Our Approach to Wildlife
To us, Gunung Leuser National Park, the rainforest around Bukit Lawang, and its inhabitants (orangutans, hornbills, siamang gibbons, Thomas’s leaf monkeys and many more) are not simply a backdrop for tourism. They are a living, fragile ecosystem, and being part of it is a privilege. One that comes with responsibility.
Here we explain what that means for us in practice.
Orangutans are wild animals. They are not tame, not domesticated, and not a photo opportunity on demand. Contact with humans can cause them stress, and in the worst case, lead to diseases that are dangerous for them.
That’s why the following rules apply without exception:
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We do not feed wildlife. Not even with “natural” foods.
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We keep our distance. At least 10 metres from orangutans, more if possible.
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We do not touch wildlife, and we do not allow guests to either.
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We stay calm. No shouting, no waving, no flash photography.
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We respect the animal, not the photo. A good sighting from a distance is worth more than a close-up selfie.
These rules apply to every animal in the jungle: monkeys, reptiles, birds and everything in between. Alongside orangutans, you’ll often come across Thomas’s leaf monkeys and siamang gibbons on our tours, and with some luck, a hornbill too.
The Best Time to See Orangutans
Orangutans can be spotted year-round. What changes is the condition of the jungle itself. From May to September is dry season: firmer trails, the best visibility, and our busiest time of year. April, May, October and November are a good middle ground, quieter with generally stable weather. December to March is rainy season, when the jungle is at its most lush and the trails get muddier.
A sighting of a wild animal can never be guaranteed, no matter the season. What we can promise is a guide who knows where, and how, to look respectfully.
Protecting the Rainforest
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No litter in the jungle. Whatever we bring in, we carry back out.
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No picking or taking plants.
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No shortcuts off the designated paths.
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No fires without the guide’s supervision.
On every trek, we collect any litter we come across, regardless of who left it.
All our guides come from the region, have known the jungle since childhood, and are paid fairly. We buy from the local market, recommend locally owned accommodation and restaurants, and work with local transport providers. Good tourism only works when the people on the ground genuinely benefit from it, not as a backdrop, but as equal partners.
Supporting the local community
Travelling Together
We ask everyone who travels with us to share these values, or at least to respect them. Those who understand why these rules exist won’t experience them as a restriction, but as part of the journey itself. Real encounters with nature only happen when you give it space.
Every tour we offer is a small statement: that tourism and conservation can go hand in hand. Thank you for walking this path with us.