This 7 to 10 day trek is specifically designed for photographers & filmmakers, but of course also for anyone who wants to experience the genuine wilderness of North Sumatra and the deep, untouched jungle. However, the deeper you go into the rainforest, the more shy the animals are, as they are no longer used to humans (compared to the animals you may encounter on a 2-day trek, for example). In order to still be able to observe wild animals on a long trek, we have created the fruit tree trek. It owes its funny name to the fact that we will go in hunt of fruit-bearing fruit trees. As only a few trees bear fruit at a time, all the wild animals of this area of the deep jungle usually gather there which gives you the unique opportunity to observe and photograph these normally very shy animals at close range.

Especially for this trek we have assembled a highly experienced team of locals who know every corner of the national park. In addition to your English-speaking guide and assistant guide, you will be accompanied by a chef and 3 “scouts”. The scouts will be scouting the area before and during the trek to find a fruit tree as soon as possible. As soon as we have arrived at such a tree after a few days of hiking, we will set up camp at some distance. While the scouts continue to explore the surroundings and our chef prepares the camp and food, you and your guide will build a hiding place near the tree. From this hiding spot, you will be able to observe all the wild animals for several days and nights as they feast on the tasty fruit. So now you only need to be patient and wait…

Besides wild orangutans, siamangs and white-handed gibbons, various species of hornbills, binturongs, giant squirrels, sun bears and up to 4 different species of monkeys are very interested in the fruit. During dusk and at night, with a bit of luck, you will be able to observe various species of deer, porcupines, civets, a subspecies of Bengal cats, snakes and of course a lot of insects. The chances of such animal sightings are very realistic on this trek!

Once our scouts have spotted another tree and you are satisfied with your observations at the first tree, we will move on. Salty mudholes are equally attractive to some species (especially deer). In such places there is even a chance to spot a tiger (with a lot of luck!).

There is no standard daily schedule on our fruit tree trek, as we will be fully guided by where and when we can observe the most animals. On “trekking days” (days when we move further into the jungle) we will hike for about 6 to 7 hours, depending on where the next destination is. Since your team already knows which tree or mud hole to go to, they will choose the shortest and easiest route, while the scouts climb mountains and cross rivers on their search. Of course, it may still happen that you have to climb a mountain or cross a river – but your team will always help you, especially with heavy photo equipment, which must not get wet. However, we strongly recommend that you bring a waterproof case for all valuables! At around 4 pm, your team will choose a suitable place to camp in order to have the tent set up and a fire ready before sunset. We will all sleep together in our shared tent, which is big enough for everyone as it will be built from a wooden frame and a huge waterproof plastic sheet. For everyone there will be a thin mattress, a sleeping bag and a mosquito net. On “observation days” it is advisable to sit in the hiding spot and wait for animals, especially during dusk and early morning hours. During the often hot midday hours, you can take a nap and rest or join your team to find fresh ingredients for cooking and explore the area before returning to the photo hide in the evening and at night.

At the end of the trek, a scout will leave us to hike back to Bukit Lawang to let our rafting team know where we are. Equipped with rubber tubes, ropes and an air pump, they will join us at our last camp. This way, on the last day, we can make our way back down the river, thus giving you more precious time in the deep jungle, instead of having to make our way back halfway through. The raft trip can take up to 8 hours depending on our position in the jungle. As it can get quite cold in the river water, we will take breaks to have lunch and warm up. Back in Bukit Lawang, your guide will take you to your guesthouse where you can recharge your batteries (and those of your camera) and evaluate your photos at your leisure.