Destination Sumatra

Distributing donations to Ketambe flood victims

Our Jungle — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:10:17 +0000

Today we had the privilege of handing out the bulk of our donations to the people of Ketambe whose homes were destroyed. Thanks to your generosity, we had the means to help these families with essential items that were lost to the flood on that terrible night.

When people were panicking in the dark as their homes were crumbling into the river, they focused on saving their most treasured possessions. Their documents, family heirlooms, their most valuable furniture and clothes. For most, the kitchens at the back of the house were the first rooms to be lost. There was no time to save the gas cylinders, drinking water gallon bottles and small appliances. Items like these are used constantly and are essential for daily life here.

For our donation distribution, families who lost homes were split into 4 groups:

Those whose homes were completely destroyed and lost nearly everything
Those who had time to save some possessions before their home and land was washed away
Those who were renting, and now have nowhere to live
Those who owned the destroyed (rented) homes but still have somewhere else to live

Amongst these 60 family groups we delivered:

60x refillable gas cylinders
60x refillable aqua gallon bottles
56x Miyako drinking water dispensers
50x Rinnai stovetop gas cookers
48x Miyako kitchen blenders
60x cash packets of 250.000rp

By ordering in bulk and chartering delivery, we were able to buy these items at nearly cost price.
The total value of the donation packs came to 61.625.000 IDR. Between this and the money spent earlier on emergency food and fuel, we have approximately 10 million rupiah remaining.

Our plan for this money in the new year (once our campaign closes) is to go towards the children of Ketambe village who suffered trauma and great loss from the sudden transformation of the village. An event like this will surely shape the rest of their lives. We can even see it in our 2 year old, Kinza, who wasn't present that night but clearly understands how much was destroyed as he dutifully brings his hammer and saw to "help fix the broken road" every time we come into the village. So we hope to create some positives for these children as a counter balance. Any additional donations between now and March will go towards this project or further rebuilding assistance.

https://gogetfunding.com/ketambe-village-destroyed-by-floods/

Many thanks to those who donated to our cause. Our family, friends, past guests and even strangers:

Anneka Morgan
Nick Westerink
Jan Westerink
Joanne Westerink
David Howard
Luke Mack
Mauk & Monique
Scarlett Williams
Thierry Pobel
Nika Exnerová
Marc & Celine
Kathryn Monk
Angela de Figueiredo
Daniel Ferguson
Susan Parsons
Jessica Dunn
Green Hill Bukit Lawang ( Andrea Molyneaux)
Jenny Molyneaux
Diederik Fokkema
Finn Stirling
Gabriele Conradie
Jenny North
Nic & Andrea
Don Bader
Willem van Veen
Annemijn van den Berg
Aneta Alexova
Chris & Inês
Finn Stirling
Anoushka
Amy Assadi
Elen Shute
Kirsten Van Lienden
Exploring Sumatra
Ben Crawford
Phil Crawford
Astrid Lunn
Sheryl Day
Fabienne & Deny
Geert Prummel
Vojtěch Holický
Rogene Mccoy
Melanie Digney
Andrew Marsh
Sonja Jakober
Marleen Hennink
Arnold Stolwijk
Steffen Kindler
Alissone Fay
Sanne Meijer
David Blumer
Lukas Fraj
Rafel Jimenez
Robbert Klaassen
Susanne Keyen
Gioia Hermse
Simon K
Rémy Colliard
Sandra Draper Annemieke
Sara Bolpagni
Cynthia en Luc
Sophie Begon
Dries Laureys
Victoria Leszczynski
Till Stöckli
Stella
Casey Aron
Arun Thavaneshan
Lesley Small
Nicholas Evans
Veronique
And several Anonymous

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Reopening jungle trekking after the Sumatra floods

Our Jungle — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 07:12:15 +0000

It's been one month since Ketambe and most of Aceh was changed forever by the flash flood. The situation in our village is now somewhat stable - we have temporary road access, electricity and phone towers are all working. People have enough food. Excavators have spent several days working to re-establish the river further from the road to avoid continued erosion.

As expected, there have been no major improvements in this time. People who lost their homes are living in their relative's homes or in temporary shelters. Some people who have the means have started building add-ons to the back of family homes. No one has money to buy new land.

As for your kind donations - we spent an initial 8 million rupiah in the first few days of the aftermath bringing in emergency supplies (food, fuel, water, nappies). Since then we have kept ears and eyes open to see what people really need to begin rebuilding their lives. In the next few days we'll be delivering the bulk of your donations to the families in Ketambe who have lost their homes. Will post an update on this soon.

With the situation now stable, we have decided to reopen jungle treks from the beginning of January 2026. Ecotourism is an important source of income for the families of Ketambe, and Our Jungle guides and camp assistants are eager to get back to work.

If you'd like to reschedule a December trip or plan your 2026 adventure in Ketambe, please get in touch via email or whatsapp. I may be a little slower in getting back to you than usual as I get back to everyone who has contacted us throughout the past month.

Please keep in mind that most of Aceh is still in recovery mode. There are villages in Gayo Lues and Aceh Tengah that are still cut off. Pidie Jaya flooded a second time only a few days ago. For the next few months it would be a good idea to stay away from the centre of Aceh - around Takengon area - avoid travel from Banda Aceh to Ketambe by road.

Access to Ketambe from Medan via Berastagi and Kutacane is clear. When travelling to us, I'd recommend booking private transport with a local driver who knows the roads well (we can arrange this for you). Or if preferring to use public transport, allow an additional day to account for potential travel delays.

Our Jungle ecolodge, current home, and the base for our treks was thankfully untouched by the floods. What's more - our solar power was able to help the people of Ketambe recharge their phones and torches while the village was without power for nearly 3 weeks.

Access to the jungle will be through new routes and tracks, and we've had to create new campsites after the previous areas were destroyed by floodwaters. It may take some time for our team to settle into a new routine with all the changes. But rest assured, our guides' eagle eyes and passion for the jungle remains unchanged.

We held off on hosting guests for the past month until we could be more sure that your travel here would be safe. If you are wondering whether or not your presence would be a positive or negative, please rest assured that the people of Ketambe are ready and would appreciate the return of tourism in the area.

The post Reopening jungle trekking after the Sumatra floods appeared first on Our Jungle Ketambe.

Ketambe is closed to tourism for the remainder of 2025

Our Jungle — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:15:11 +0000

In the past few days Ketambe has been hit by a major disaster, with the village torn apart by the flooded river. We’ve lost over 50 homes and two guesthouses in the village. For now, Ketambe is still cut off and inaccessible. We also can’t reach the jungle from here for the time being, as many of the roads have been damaged beyond repair. Even food, supplies and clean up assistance can’t reach us yet. Throughout Sumatra there are currently similar issues with extreme flooding and landslides affecting millions of people.

The post Ketambe is closed to tourism for the remainder of 2025 appeared first on Our Jungle Ketambe.

The Weather in Ketambe

Our Jungle — Thu, 08 May 2025 07:28:59 +0000

What is the best month to travel to Ketambe? Which time of year offers ideal conditions for spotting wild orangutans? When is rainy season in Sumatra? These are some of the most common questions we get asked by people when planning a trip to Ketambe. Considering you'll be spending days on end outside submitting yourself to the elements of the jungle, and want to maximise your chances of finding wildlife, these are valid concerns.

The short answer? There are no longer clearly defined seasons or predictable weather in Ketambe, but fortunately it's still possible to trek and spot orangutans year-round.

But I know you want the long answer!

Ketambe is located in a long valley between 2 mountain ranges, surrounded by tropical rainforest. This creates a unique microclimate that doesn't always align with other Sumatran seasonal weather predictions. The climate falls under the Koppen climate classification "Af". Here in Ketambe we have very little change in the weather month to month and rainfall can be expected most days, year round. Essentially, all months have an average precipitation value of at least 60 mm, usually more. Luckily for us, this usually comes in a heavy downpour lasting only an hour or two in the late afternoon and evenings. The middle of the day is generally bright and sunny. Long, dreary days of sprinkling rain are quite rare and a morning that looks like it promises grey skies can clear up in less than an hour.

What we have noticed over the previous few years is a slight breakout from the day to day weather pattern. Both July and January, sometimes even August, can present us with 2-3 weeks of no rain at all. The closest we get to a "dry season". Then late September until early December often brings cooler weather. I love this time of year, with slow moving clouds that hang low on the mountains and gentler rain during the day.

There are pros and cons to every type of weather here. A cool and rainy day makes for easier trekking for those accustomed to a northern hemisphere climate. There's usually fewer travellers in the jungle so it feels extra peaceful and you may have the hot springs all to yourself. And the rain can be a welcome respite from the hot and humid day. But it can be slippery on the trails and leeches are more abundant on the muddy paths. Plus, lots of rain can make the animals want to hide away.

On the contrary, bright and sunny days bring beautiful early morning and afternoon light in the jungle. Animals are often more active and the rivers run clear and blue. Trails are easier to navigate and you can maximise your trekking time. The months of July and August are high season here due to European summer holidays, so it can be busier at the camps and a prudent idea to book ahead.

The other consideration is which months are trees typically fruiting in the local Ketambe jungle, enticing orangutans to those particular trees? Now I can confidently answer that there is no pattern whatsoever! In previous years we have told people that April is ideal, but this April has been particularly difficult to find fruiting trees and the orangutans have ventured further afield in search of food.

My best advice is to ignore the weather forecast for "Ketambe" (the weather beacon is actually located a long distance from where you'd be trekking so is unreliable anyway). At a glance it will look like you're destined for gloomy, rain-filled days year round. Instead, the best way to increase your chances of finding orangutans in the wild is to allow at least 3 days for trekking. Then, if there are one or two unusually rainy days during your time here, you should still have good chances of spotting wild orangutans.

The post The Weather in Ketambe appeared first on Our Jungle Ketambe.

What to wear when travelling in Sumatra

Our Jungle — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 08:45:57 +0000

Choosing the right clothing for a country can be a daunting task. There's a delicate balance between dressing for the environment and being respectful to local customs, which can definitely limit options.

When people think of Sumatra they think hot, humid, tropical. This is very true for the cities, but surprisingly the villages and jungle can be cooler at times and quite comfortable. In Ketambe, the shade from the trees and gentle breezes flowing through the mountains mean the mornings can be a pleasant 23ºC, early afternoon heats up to around 30ºC and evenings can bring rain and a drop in temperature to 20ºC. When travelling through cities however, humidity can skyrocket and temperatures heat up to 30-40ºC. Whether it's dry or wet season can also have an effect on what to prepare for.

Locals have a tradition of covering up with clothing more than westerners generally would. Whether travelling through a Christian or Muslim area, it's appreciated for both men and women to cover their chest, shoulders and legs down to the knee. This may not be your usual choice for holiday clothes back home, but by following these guidelines you will be able to fit in more when amongst locals and earn a few extra easy respect points. Women are not expected to wear a head scarf unless entering a mosque.

With these factors combined, the best clothes to wear in Sumatra are knee or full length loose pants with light shirts or t-shirts. This is extra helpful for trekking too, as you can protect your skin from sunburn and your legs from scratches and cuts from branches.

To keep cool, certain fabrics can definitely help, such as lightly-woven cotton, linen and merino wool. There are also many brands out there advertising 'cool fabric technology' in synthetic material which can be a good option. But there's no need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. So long as you have a few changes of clothes and an open mind for the weather, you should adapt fairly quickly.

Most people in Sumatra wear sandals year round. You can definitely get by with just this footwear, but for jungle trekking it’s a good idea to wear closed in trekking shoes or runners with socks. Paths can get slippery and leeches are easier to avoid with legs and toes covered.

On your trek there will be many opportunities to swim in rivers and waterfalls, so don't forget to bring swimmers too. When you're away from the village, its perfectly acceptable to swim in your regular swimming clothes, and change with a towel wrapped around you.

Top off your list with a rain jacket and possibly a light jumper for the evenings and you'll fit in just like a local.

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Night Fishing

Our Jungle — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 06:55:39 +0000

It's July and the driest time of the year in this narrow rainforest valley. The Gurah River from the jungle meets the Alas River snaking its way south between the two mountain ranges. Then spreads out into a miniature delta behind Ketambe village. The rain hasn't come for over a week now and the once raging current has slowed to a trickle over the round, riverbed stones.

Tonight the usually empty blackness behind the house, where we know the river to be, is spotted with pinpoints of light hovering like fireflies. Our young nieces next door drag grandma into the backyard pointing in excitement. "Fishermen!"

Down at the rocky shore more and more people gather to watch or join in. Beams of light from head-torches bouncing as they make their way into the water. They move and stack stones, manipulating the direction of the stream to drive fish through bottlenecks, then wade through the shallows with nets scooping up the exposed fish. Some have lit small fires to rest by. A large group of women sit around the flames chatting, their haul safe in buckets beside them. Smoke wafts through the air, illuminated by the lights of the village.

Safar sits in the darkness watching and reminiscing about his childhood. The best memories always seem to involve fishing. It's mostly quiet as people focus on outsmarting the wriggling creatures. The usual white noise from the rushing river is gone. Here a cicada whistle reverberates through the air. There a steady "plonk-splash, plonk-splash" of stones being rearranged. Occasionally in the distance a call to a friend. The night sails by. Then slowly, one by one, people gather their catch and wander back home.

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10 things about Sumatra I may never get used to

Our Jungle — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 15:41:25 +0000

I first travelled to Ketambe in 2016 when I met Safar. Since then it's been a rollercoaster of exciting new experiences and cultural differences - some of which I may never get used to! Here are my top 10:

1. Conversations can switch between different languages without a second thought

I'm forever amazed at the ease with which Indonesians learn languages. The village is split about 80/20 between Gayo people of Central Aceh and Alas people of South East Aceh, each of which have their own very distinct languages. At school kids speak the national Indonesian language. In the mosque prayers are all in Arabic. And the trekking guides working in tourism know English and a smattering of phrases from other European languages. In a group setting this can result in a bizarre conversation that switches between any of these mid sentence and leaves me feeling lost earlier than I'd like to admit!

2. Bread is always sweet

Forget about putting vegemite on any of the bread here, it just wont work. Instead, be prepared for tiny little bread rolls filled with chocolate that come in miniscule snack packets. If you're a sweet tooth you'll be right at home! Although you may be more tempted by the super sweet exotic fruits...

3. Hot water isn't a thing

Not for showers, not for washing dishes and certainly not for washing clothes. Hot running water is a foreign concept in a tropical climate like Ketambe and everyone seems to get by perfectly fine without it. To be honest, the shock of a cold shower each evening is a touch addictive after a while.

4. Everyone is an extrovert

As a solo traveller, you will be awed and admired and maybe a little pitied. Here people travel in packs and hate being alone for too long. Friends will sit and chat in groups for hours, sisters cook together for whole households, rooms are shared between multiple siblings and wild gangs of tiny children play elaborate, imaginative games together. To spend time alone willingingly is likely to cement an impression as a little bit weird.

5. Taps are left running

Coming from a dry country this one might always make me uncomfortable. In a Ketambe household the taps are almost always left running into large buckets in the bathroom and kitchen. People then use scoops to easily dish out what's needed for cleaning or showering and the bucket is promptly filled back up from the tap until overflowing. Water is fed to the village via streams running off the surrounding mountain ranges that never run dry. In fact, the pressure build up by the sheer volume of water sometimes causes broken pipes and water outages. It probably helps that water supply is paid for by the month, rather than by volume.

6.Everything grows so easily

That watermelon you were eating last week and throwing the seeds from? Yep, there's now 5 new watermelon seedlings in your backyard. Those chickens foraging between the houses? They got that big just from eating bugs and scraps. That giant jackfruit being made into curry? The tree didn't even exist 3 years ago. The bountiful sun, rain and organic matter in Sumatra is a hot bed for growth and it's like watching life progressing on fast forward.

7. Private property isn't so private

Sumatra is definitely a culture of sharing. Houses are occupied by close and extended family alike. Tools are loaned to neighbours for months at a time. Motorbike keys are borrowed without question. Meals are shared with anyone within a 50m radius. It's perfectly acceptable and encouraged to rock up to someone's house without warning and stay to chat for a few hours. You wont find any "Keep out: private property" signs in this community.

8. There is no rubbish collection

It can be confronting to have to personally deal with our own waste. What a privilege in western countries to be able to throw something in a bin and never think about it again. There is no garbage collection or bin day in Ketambe. What we consume we must dispose of ourselves. A long time ago when everything was made from organic materials this was never an issue. Waste was thrown into the garden and quickly became soil. But since plastic spread around the world it's not so easy to get away from.

There are two options for getting rid of rubbish in the village: throw it or burn it. We try to divide our rubbish into organics or plastics and dispose of accordingly, but for many who have always just thrown it away it's a hard habit to break. Kids are now starting to learn of the long term damages plastic waste can cause.

9. Hair conditioner is a rare find

The lack of hair conditioner is troublesome. Finding a decent bottle of it is not easy. I've tried to go without and my thin curly locks scream in protest. Somehow many of the women and men care for their gorgeous soft and shiny hair using shampoo alone. However much conditioner you think you'll need for a trip to Sumatra, bring double just in case.

10. Lazy is not a bad word

Feeling a bit slow today? Just want to chill in a hammock for a bit? Go ahead and be lazy! Working in the plantation or looking after the family can be hard work and people often spend their leisure time doing very little. Which is perfectly acceptable. With company of course!

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