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THE
PROGRAM
For time being, the Elephant Jungle
Patrol only goes in one direction, from Tangkahan to
Bukit Lawang. There is a minimum of three
participants/elephants as elephants like company. There
is a maximum of four participants/elephants as the
numbers of elephants in Tangkahan is limited. A few have
to stay on in Tangkahan to patrol the jungles in that
area. The participants are welcome to help the mahouts
taking care of the elephants, like bathing and feeding
them.
Every participant rides his own
elephant together with a mahout (elephant driver). The
mahout sits behind the ears of the elephant and the
participant in a specially developed saddle up on the
elephants back. There is a basket for camera and other
essentials needed during the ride. Behind the
participant is room for some luggage. All luggage not
needed during the ride will be transported separately by
car to Bukit Lawang. Do not bring excess luggage on the
trek. There is not room enough.
 One interpreter (guide) will ride
behind one of the participants. He will provide
information, arrange activities and be at your service,
especially at lunch breaks and at the jungle camps. He
and the mahouts speak English. The mahouts have received
first aid training.
One forest police will also come
along. His function is to study the state of the jungle
and help out during the ride.
All participants will be equipped
with a complimentary “elephant kit” containing: written
material such as a map, sarong, torch, whistle, and
leach socks. Bring your own rain clothes and don’t
forget your personal medicines.
Our jungle camps are specially
designed to give a unique experience in camping in the
rainforest. It is simple, but comfortable and romantic.
The camps have proper toilets, a kitchen, and mattresses
with bed sheets and pillows. You sleep with a view over
the river and the rainforest, accompanied by the sounds
of the jungle. Special food requests are possible if
ordered in advance. Soft drinks and beer is available at
a price. The camps have no electricity. Bring enough
supply of camera batteries. There is no mobile phone
coverage during the Elephant Jungle Patrol.
  We
depart from Tangkahan at 09.00 in the morning.
This
first day we ride through plantations and orchards
seeing for example how rubber and palm oil is harvested.
We also ride through a few settlements.
Between 12.00 and 13.30 we stop for
lunch at the Glugur River. In a nearby settlement we
will taste the local coffee and see how the plantation
workers live.
 We arrive at our first jungle camp
Batu Rongreng at 16.30 in the afternoon.
Our Interpreter
will suggest several activities to choose from: Relaxing
and swimming in the river, or trekking up the river and
maybe float on tubes back down, or make a trek to a cave
(minimum 2 hrs).
 We
depart from Batu Rongreng at 09.00 in the morning. This
day we ride through the rainforest.
 We arrive at Garut River at 11.30 for
lunch. Our interpreter will take you on a trek to a cave
20 minutes walk away. Another 20 minutes into the cave
is a waterfall. Otherwise you can relax in the river
with the elephants.
Around 16.00 we arrive at our second
jungle camp at Kerapu Kecil River. A walk in the river
upstream is a nice activity.
 We
leave Kerapu Kecil at 09.30 in the morning. Also today
the ride goes through the rainforest.
 We spend two hours for lunch, between 11.30 and 13.30,
at the nice Alur Purba River. There is time for swimming
or to do a mini trek. Around 15.00 we
arrive in our third jungle camp at Kerapu Besar River.
It is a beautiful spot and perfect for swimming and
walking in the river.
 We
leave Kerapu Besar at 9.30 in the morning. Also today we
ride through rainforest, except for the last 1,5 hrs
into Bukit Lawang, which mainly goes through rubber
plantations.
 We stop at Luntir River
at 11.00, where we have time for lunch and to enjoy a
very beautiful waterfall with a deep natural pool.
At 14.00 we start the final ride to Bukit Lawang. We
arrive around 17.00 at Bukit Lawang Eco-Lodge.
See more photos in the
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