Tangkahan: The Hidden Paradise of Elephants and Rainforest Adventure in Sumatra

Tangkahan is a small village in Batang Serangan, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra. It serves as the western gateway to Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the most important biodiversity reserves in the world.

Once known for illegal logging, Tangkahan has transformed into a community-led conservation success story. Today, it is home to the Conservation Response Unit (CRU), dedicated to protecting the critically endangered Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus). Managed by locals who once worked as loggers, Tangkahan is proof that meaningful change can come from within. Supported by the Indonesian ecotourism network, it has become a model for community-based conservation and sustainable tourism in Indonesia.

Tangkahan combines tropical rainforest, clear rivers, and pure mountain air in a setting that feels untouched.

• Batang River and Sei Serdang River: The village lies at the confluence of two rivers, creating calm, turquoise waters perfect for exploration.
• River Tubing: Float downstream on inner tubes while surrounded by dense forest and the sound of tropical birds. It's both a thrill and a way to experience the rainforest from a new perspective.
• Warm Waterfall: Along the Sei Buluh River, a small natural hot spring cascades into the river. Visitors can soak beneath the warm flow, the perfect contrast to the cool jungle breeze.
• Iconic Suspension Bridge: Suspension bridges span across the river, offering both access to jungle trails and postcard views of the rainforest canopy. They've become signature landmarks of Tangkahan, equally thrilling to cross and to photograph.

Tangkahan's heart beats with the presence of its elephants.

• Sumatran Elephants: The CRU elephants are trained as forest rangers, patrolling the park to prevent illegal logging and protect wildlife.
• Visitors can join ethical activities, such as: Elephant bathing, jungle trekking with elephants, encounters with other wildlife, etc.

These experiences show how conservation and adventure can coexist, creating a travel model that reflects the best of sustainable tourism in Indonesia.

Tangkahan invites visitors to experience adventure with purpose.

• Elephant Care: Join feeding sessions and morning baths with the CRU elephants.
• Jungle Trekking: Explore the dense rainforest of Gunung Leuser National Park with local guides, often alongside the elephant patrols.
• River Tubing and Rafting: Glide down the Batang or Sei Serdang Rivers, a mix of adrenaline and serenity.
• Hot Spring Relaxation: End the day with a soak in the natural warm waterfall, surrounded by jungle sounds and mist.

Every activity is designed to highlight the natural beauty of the area while supporting local conservation work.

Tangkahan's transformation is a global example of community-led ecotourism. The local tourism board, known as Tangkahan Tourism Institute, manages operations to ensure every visitor directly supports preservation.

• From Logging to Leading: Former loggers have become guides, elephant handlers, and forest guardians. Their work provides sustainable income while protecting the land they once exploited.
• Education and Awareness: Revenue from tourism funds elephant care, forest patrols, and community education. Each visit contributes directly to protecting both wildlife and local livelihoods.

This model, supported by the Indonesian ecotourism network, shows how collaboration between people and nature can restore balance and purpose in modern travel.

Tangkahan is a story of redemption. The forest that once fell to chainsaws now echoes with the footsteps of elephants and travelers walking side by side. Here, conservation is a way of life. Every splash in the river, every trek through the jungle, and every smile exchanged with a mahout reminds visitors that travel can heal what was once broken. This hidden paradise in North Sumatra stands as living proof that the future of tourism in Indonesia lies not only in beauty, but in responsibility.