Who We Are
About Us
"Guardians of the rainforest, guides to the wild."
"Guardians of the rainforest, guides to the wild."
My name is Bob, founder of Sumatra Orangutan Escape.
I was born and raised in Bukit Lawang, a village surrounded by the dense Sumatran rainforest. My father once worked as a forest ranger, dedicating his life to protecting the forest and all the wildlife and plants that live within it.
Growing up, I learned many things from him — especially about the jungle, its secrets, and how to survive in it. He taught me how to identify useful plants, including those that can be used as natural medicine.
These experiences shaped my deep connection to the forest and inspired the path I walk today.
Welcome to Bukit Lawang, a peaceful riverside village hidden on the edge of one of Southeast Asia’s last great rainforests. This charming village is the main gateway to Gunung Leuser National Park, a place where wild nature still rules and every day feels like an adventure.
Located in North Sumatra, Bukit Lawang is a paradise for nature lovers, explorers, and anyone seeking a deeper connection with the natural world. The village sits beside a clear jungle river, surrounded by lush green hills and the sounds of the rainforest.
Gunung Leuser National Park spans an incredible 1,095,000 hectares and is proudly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This vast rainforest is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, home to thousands of unique plant species, insects, and wildlife found nowhere else.
Among its most treasured inhabitants are critically endangered species such as the Sumatran orangutan, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, and slow loris. The word orangutan means “person of the forest”, and seeing these intelligent creatures living freely in their natural habitat is a truly humbling experience. Today, they survive only here and in one other place on the planet.
Trekking through Gunung Leuser National Park is an experience you will never forget. Walk beneath towering rainforest trees, cross jungle rivers, and listen to the calls of wildlife echoing through the forest. With every step, nature reveals something magical—whether it’s an orangutan moving through the canopy or the simple beauty of untouched wilderness.
"Bukit Lawang is not just a destination. It's an invitation to explore, to breathe, and to reconnect."
Our mission is simple yet meaningful: to protect the rainforest and its extraordinary wildlife, while creating lasting, positive benefits for local communities. We believe responsible tourism should leave the forest untouched—and the people empowered.
We operate with a low-impact approach to nature, carefully designed to minimize disturbance to the rainforest and its wildlife. At the same time, we strive to make a high-impact contribution to the communities of Bukit Lawang and surrounding remote areas. This includes supporting education and environmental awareness, partnering with local associations and grassroots initiatives, promoting women’s empowerment, and ensuring fair working conditions with respectful and transparent compensation.
By traveling with us, you help strengthen a tourism model that values people, nature, and long-term sustainability. 10% of profits are reinvested directly into local community and school projects — helping provide education, create sustainable jobs, and support conservation initiatives.
Our journeys are led by experienced, English-speaking local guides, fully certified by the Indonesia Tourist Guides Association (ITGA–HPI / Himpunan Pramuwisata Indonesia). More than guides, they are storytellers, guardians of the forest, and ambassadors of responsible tourism.
They strictly follow Gunung Leuser National Park regulations, alongside our own ethical jungle principles. Every trek is conducted with care—keeping the jungle clean, minimizing human impact, and ensuring wildlife remains safe, wild, and respected.
"We walk with respect, purpose, and wonder."
