Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang is a settlement in the north of Sumatra Island, all conditions are created for tourists here: numerous hotels and guesthouses, cafes and restaurants, as well as the well-known orangutan rehabilitation center, a bat cave, the raging Bohorok River and jungle thickets.

Bohorok Rehabilitation Center

The Orangutan Rehabilitation Center was founded in 1973 by two women, Monica Borner and Regina Frey, who found baby monkeys in the jungle and trained them to survive in the wild. After a while, the animals were released so that they could live a full life. Often, the orangutans returned to the center because they remembered the kindness and care they received here. Over time, the center grew and began to attract the attention of tourists coming to Bukit Lawang. You can come here and watch the great apes, many of which live here in whole families.

Sumatra Island's orangutans are an endangered species, largely due to poachers and illegal logging of the forests that are home to them. The rehabilitation center's activities help support the population. Tourists who come to see the monkeys contribute all possible financial assistance, which helps the center to exist.

Bat Cave

There are caves near the village of Bukit Lawang. They are home to large groups of bats. For a walk through the cave halls, it is best to find a guide, he will help you navigate and not get lost. It is important to have a flashlight with you to light the way in dark corridors.

Bohorok River

The village is located on the banks of the Bohorok River, with suspension bridges spanning it in some places, which are used by both locals and tourists. One of the favorite pastimes of the local population is considered to be the descent down the river on inflatable circles — tubig. Both adults and children are very happy to float on the swirling waters in large rubber "buns".

The history of Bukit Lawang

The village of Bukit Lawang is famous throughout Indonesia for the tragedy that occurred here in 2003. The flood started during the rainy season, the water level in the river was very high and many buildings near the shore were already flooded. Poaching of forests took place upriver, and huge logs created a kind of platinum, which at one point could not withstand the pressure of the water. The streams rapidly headed towards the village and entailed tree trunks, which caused great damage to the village. More than 200 people died and about 2,000 were injured during the flood, the homes of the local population and many infrastructure facilities were destroyed.

Currently, Bukit Lawang village has been fully restored. Remembering the tragic event, many buildings were moved to higher ground, away from the river.