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Tree platform
Visitors can choose to sleep up in the tree platform and enjoy a sublime sunrise over Sumatra capped with morning gibbon calls. If you're looking for an untrodden tropical jungle to go trekking in somewhere in Southeast Asia, Sumatra's
Hadabuan Hills is tough to beat. This virtually unknown ecosystem
was recently featured in The Guardian in a story about an upcoming wildlife expedition in which a group of conservationists -myself included- will venture into
terra incognita to find the truth behind reports of an undocumented relic population of Critically Endangered
Sumatran orangutans. All this is a boon for ecotourists, because a local ethnic Batak man by the name of Mr.
Haray Sam Munthe is in charge of a grassroots organization called the
Sumatran Tiger Rangers and they are now offering jungle treks into the
lush tropical forest of the Hadabuan Hills.
In July 2016
Habitat ID carried out a
5-day rapid assessment of the area, spotting groups of
Siamang gibbons (listed by the IUCN as Endangered), Lar or Agile gibbon (we're not sure which, but both are considered Endangered by the IUCN), as well as Rhinoceros Hornbills and Oriental Pied Hornbills. Gibbons and hornbills are key indicators of a healthy tropical forest. We also heard Argus Pheasant calling throughout the day, and pig-tailed macaques and long-tailed macaques were spotted as well. We set up several camera traps, and the results were amazing: Malayan tapir, golden cat, sun bear, barking deer, Sumatran porcupine, Malayan
porcupine, and wild pig all within just six weeks!Two months later we struck gold with the camera traps: Sumatran tiger! Our upcoming
July 2017 expedition will surely turn up more rare species, including, we hope, confirmation of the "Sumatran Yeti", a.k.a. the Orang Pendek, which is rumored to exist in the upper reaches of the mountains.
Anyone who terested in trekking in this area should send a
Facebook message to Haray Sam Munthe. This is by far the best way to get in touch with him; don't send emails to him. If you do not get a prompt reply from him, you can contact me at: greg.mccann1@gmail.com The Hadabuan Hills (which means "falling down hills") is totally off the beaten track. In fact, only a handful of Westerners have ever been down there. It is located a few hours away from Lake Toba, so it is feasible to plan a trip the great Lake Toba and also a trek and homestay in Hadabuan Hills. If you decide to go, make sure you bring a rain poncho, because Sumatra's jungles are real rain forests and it can come down hard at any time. You need to understand that ecotourism in Hadabuan Hills is really in its infancy
(which to me is a major draw) so Mr. Haray does not have a lot of supplies. Be sure to bring a sleeping bag or at least some kind of blanket. The trekking is not too difficult but it is very rewarding with gibbons and hornbills galore; who knows, you might even hear a tiger roaring in the evening, and pangolins have been known to come up and sniff hammocks and tents while visitors are asleep.
There are not many tourist facilities in this region, and if you like to enjoy some whisky while up in the mountains you should bring it yourself. Having said that, you can try some local
tuak or palm wine, which at about 7 percent alcohol is very sweet and tasty.
Tuak can also be mixed with beer, and as luck would have it the small convenience store on Mr. Haray's street sells bottles of Bintang Beer. The guides like to smoke and you might want to grab a pack or two for them, even if you don't partake.
To the best of my knowledge, the only other thing you can find on the web about Hadabuan Hills
is this report written by Mr. Phil
Napompar Village
You might do a homestay in the highly remote Napompar Village at the conclusion of your trek. Davis of
Tiger Awareness -a UK-based NGO that does excellent work on tigers in India and beyond, including here in Sumatra.
Wrapping this up, I'd like to say that a visit to the Hadabuan Hills is a way to make a real contribution to a budding ecotourism program in a region of Sumatra that could really use some ecotourists! Come down and show the locals that they can have some confidence in the concept of ecotourism, and that their magnificent forests and the rare wildlife that still calls it home are worth having.
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