TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - If you're looking for a pristine and crowd-free natural-leaning destination, try visiting Tangkahan in Indonesia. Located in the Mount Leuser National Park, North Sumatra, Tangkahan is known as a hidden paradise that offers the perfect combination of adventure and tranquility.
In addition to being famous for elephant conservation, Tangkahan is also the last habitat for Sumatran rhinoceros, Sumatran tigers, and Sumatran orangutans.
Quoting from the forestation.fkt.ugm.ac.id, before becoming known for ecotourism, Tangkahan was initially an abandoned area. In the 80s-90s, illegal logging was rampant, but that soon changed after the region was transformed for tourism purposes.
If you plan to visit Tangkahan, you have to travel overland from Medan via the Medan-Binjai toll road for about 3-4 hours. Here are some fun activities to do in Tangkahan.
Things to Do in Tangkahan
1. Adventure with Elephants
Tangkahan is home to an elephant conservation center called the Conservation Response Unit (CRU). Here, you can experience bathing and feeding elephants directly.
Other things to do here include exploring the pristine forests of Tangkahan by riding elephants. You will be taken across rivers, through steep cliffs, and to other interesting spots during your time there.
2. Waterfall Exploration
Another activity to engage in in Tangkahan is exploring its waterfalls. With crystal-clear water, you can soak and swim at will. To reach this waterfall, visitors must trek and pass through small rivers. But worry not, as the views are worth the extra sweat.
3. Tangkahan Suspension Bridge
The Tangkahan suspension bridge is 50 meters long and 50 meters high above the river. You can cross the bridge while enjoying the stunning nature that embraces the bridge. However, to cross this bridge, only a maximum of 10 people are allowed for safety reasons.
4. Viewing Rare Flora
Another equally exciting activity in this area is viewing the rare flora growing in the forests of Tangkahan. Some of these rare plants include the pitcher plant and the giant amorphophallus flower.
In Tangkahan, visitors can also directly see several types of trees with fantastic values, such as the mayang, damar, and shorea trees.
5. Viewing Endemic Animals
Aside from being a home to rare flora, the Tangkahan forest is also a habitat for endemic animals, such as orangutans, long-tailed macaques, and Sumatran tigers. Additionally, there are various endemic bird species like peacocks, kuau, and hornbills.
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