SUMATRA FROM MEDAN TO BELITUNG, INDONESIA
© Texte et Vidéo Eric Bahari, parution 8 septembre 2018
Sumatra Island is located on the Equator line. This island is the second one after Borneo and belongs to the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia.
Sumatra is a perfect place for all types of adventures and to discover the biodiversity of tropical rainforest heritage and the colourful of Indonesian culture. Sumatra is also home to a variety of ethnic groups, including the Toba Batak people.
North Sumatra
Medan is the capital of North Sumatra. It's the great starting point to drive a few hours outside of Medan to explore the jungle.
Bukit Lawang is a small village on the edge of the Gunung Leuser National Park which is an Unesco World Heritage Site. This national park is known for the largest animal sanctuary of Sumatran Orangutan. Around 5 000 Orangutans are living in this area. This village is close to the Landak River which is one of the best spot for jungle kayak in the beautiful rainforest.
Tangkahan is home to Sumatran Elephant conservation herd. The Elephants are trained for patrolling the forest of Gunung Leuser National Park to prevent poaching of the remain wild population.
Samosir Island is in the middle of Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world. They were formed after the eruption of a supervolcano some 75 000 years ago. This island is the center of the Toba Batak people who have their own culture, historical landmarks, Batak "Ulos" handwoven textile for their ethnic ceremonies. The Toba Batak traditional houses are called Bolon House.
Belitung Island
Belitung is situated in the southeast of Sumatra. This island is characterized by a mangrove and tropical forest, the best beaches of Indonesia with white sand and crystal turquoise waters. Belitung Unesco Global Geopark has a spectacular geology and granite landscape.
Peramun Hill Granite Forest, situated at Selumar village, is a conservation site for flora and fauna. This is the natural habitate of endemic Tarsius. They are the second smallest primate in the world.
Lengkuas is a tiny island close to Belitung and is dedicated to the conservation of sea turtles. This small paradise is also a prime spot for snorkeling and diving.