sumatra safari

THE 10 BEST Sumatra Safaris

Safaris in sumatra.

• Nature & Wildlife Tours
• Hiking & Camping Tours
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• Adventurous
• Good for Couples
• Good for Kids
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Honeymoon spot
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Sumatra Vibes Trek & Travel

2. Sumatra Ketambe Jungle Tours

3. Rimba Dream Jungle Trekking

4. eksplore lambar tur travel

5. Into the Wild Sumatra

6. Pinangsori Tour & Travel

7. Septia nini

8. Kerinci Expedition

9. Al-Haram Tour & Travel

10. Jejak Rimba Raya

What travellers are saying.

• Sumatra Vibes Trek & Travel
• Into the Wild Sumatra
• eksplore lambar tur travel
• Pinangsori Tour & Travel
• Kerinci Expedition

Sumatra Wilderness

Experience the wild side of sumatra, venture beyond the familiar and embark on an extraordinary journey into the heart of indonesia's wild side, where nature's wonders await in their purest form..

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Your Ultimate Guide to Sumatra's Wild Side

Our tours are led by experienced, knowledgeable and certified guides who are passionate about Sumatra and its wildlife. We are committed to sustainable tourism and work closely with local communities to ensure that our tours have a positive impact on the environment and the people of Sumatra. Whether you are looking for a challenging adventure or a relaxing cultural experience, Sumatra Wilderness has a tour to suit your needs. Contact us today to start planning your dream trip to Sumatra!

Featured Tours

Sumatra Wilderness offers a variety of featured tours that cater to different interests and fitness levels, allowing you to explore the beauty and diversity of Sumatra’s wilderness in a unique and unforgettable way. Here are some of our most popular tours.

Featured Activities

Sumatra Wilderness offers a variety of other activities as well, such as jungle trekking, wildlife watching, white water rafting, volcano climbing and cultural tours. No matter what your interests are, Sumatra Wilderness has an activity for you. Contact Sumatra Wilderness today to start planning your adventure!

Why Choose Us ?

Here are just a few reasons why you should book your Sumatra adventure with us.

Experienced

We have a team of experienced and knowledgeable guides. Our guides are passionate about Sumatra and its wildlife, and they have a deep understanding of the local environment and culture. They will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable experience on your tour.

We are committed to sustainable tourism. We work closely with local communities to ensure that our tours have a positive impact on the environment and the people of Sumatra. We also support conservation initiatives and work to protect Sumatra's unique wildlife.

We offer a wide range of tours and activities to suit all interests and budgets. Whether you are looking for a challenging jungle trek or a relaxing cultural tour, we have a tour for you. We also offer a variety of budget-friendly options, so you can find the perfect tour to fit your needs.

Best Service

We provide excellent customer service and are always happy to help you plan your personalized trip in Sumatra . Our team is responsive, helpful, and flexible. They are committed to making sure that you have an unforgettable experience.

Our Accommodation

We believe that exceptional accommodations are an integral part of an unforgettable adventure. That’s why we’ve hand-selected unique and eco-friendly lodges in two of Sumatra’s most captivating destinations: Batu Kapal and Bukit Lawang.

Batu Kapal Guest House

€17 per. night.

Nestled amidst the lush rainforests of Bukit Lawang, Indonesia, Batu Kapal Guest House offers an idyllic retreat for nature enthusiasts and eco-conscious travelers. Situated along the banks of the Landak River, the guesthouse provides a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, immersing guests in the vibrant beauty of Sumatra’s natural wonders.

Tropical Jungle Hut

€15 per. night.

Our Transportation

At Sumatra Wilderness , we understand that a seamless and enjoyable transportation experience is an integral part of an unforgettable adventure. That’s why we’ve carefully curated a range of transportation options to ensure that you reach your wilderness destinations with comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm.

Meet Our Teem

At Sumatra Wilderness , we are passionate about providing our customers with an unforgettable and sustainable experience. Our team of experienced and knowledgeable guides is essential to our success. They are the ones who will lead you through the jungle, introduce you to Sumatra’s wildlife, and share their knowledge of the local culture.

When you book a tour with Sumatra Wilderness, you can be confident that you will be in the hands of experts. We are committed to providing you with an unforgettable and sustainable experience.

Contact us today to book your Sumatra adventure!

Our Recent Stories

Immerse yourself in the chronicles of ordinary lives transformed by extraordinary experiences, where resilience and determination triumph over adversity.

At Sumatra Wilderness , we are always happy to hear from you. Whether you have a question about our tours, need help planning your trip, or simply want to share your feedback, we are here to assist you.

Here are a few ways to get in touch with us:

• +49 174-5763-330
• +62 813-7039-6734
• [email protected]
• www.sumatrawilderness.com

You can also find us on social media:

Visual memories.

Embark on a journey through time and immerse yourself in the enchanting visual tapestry of Sumatra, a land where nature’s artistry unfolds in every corner. This gallery showcases a collection of captivating images that capture the essence of Sumatra’s untamed wilderness, its vibrant wildlife, and its rich cultural heritage.

What Our Guests Say

At Sumatra Wilderness, we are committed to providing our guests with an unforgettable and sustainable experience. We are passionate about sharing the beauty of Sumatra’s wilderness with our guests, and we are always striving to improve our tours and services.

We are grateful for the feedback that we receive from our guests. It helps us to understand what we are doing well and where we can improve. We also love hearing about the positive experiences that our guests have had on our tours.

These testimonials are a testament to the quality of our tours and the dedication of our team. We hope that they will inspire you to book your own Sumatra Wilderness adventure.

Help Us Improve

At Sumatra Wilderness , we are always looking for ways to improve our tours and services. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions with us.

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Best Beaches

National Parks in Sumatra

Lake Toba: The Complete Guide

Must-Try Food

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Top Destinations in Sumatra

Getting Around

Things to Do in North Sumatra

Things to Do in South Sumatra

Things to Do in West Sumatra

The 9 Best Places to Hike in Sumatra

Khlongwangchao / Getty Images

The hiking in Sumatra can be challenging, but that shouldn’t be a surprise. Indonesia’s largest island—thankfully—still makes the shortlist of the wildest places on the planet with the volcanic topography of Sumatra guaranteeing some serious adventure. Caldera lakes, active volcanoes, and waterfalls abound. Even more, the national parks in Sumatra are blessed with tantalizing flora and fauna, including orangutans.

In Indonesian, gunung means mountain or volcano, and bukit means hill—you’ll frequently find yourself climbing up one or the other while hiking in Sumatra!

Gunung Leuser National Park (North Sumatra)

Doing a jungle trek from the riverside village of Bukit Lawang is probably the most popular way to enjoy some hiking in Sumatra. Travelers can do a guided, half-day “rainforest discovery trek” that’s around four miles round trip or opt for multi-day treks with overnights in Gunung Leuser National Park.

Either way, the highlight of hiking in Gunung Leuser National Park is getting to see semi-wild orangutans that frequent fruit-feeding platforms until they are fully rehabilitated. Deeper hikes into the national park are sometimes reward with sightings of wild orangutans and other exciting wildlife.

Trekking agencies and unregistered guides are everywhere in Bukit Lawang. To ensure sustainability and a safe experience, go with a certified guide. Avoid companies that promote feeding or interacting with the orangutans.

Gunung Sibayak (North Sumatra)

North Sumatra’s infamous Gunung Sinabung , once a popular climb, has been closed and dangerously active since 2013. But there’s good news: its smaller sibling, Gunung Sibayak, remains one of the most accessible and exciting volcanoes to climb while hiking in Sumatra.

The views from Gunung Sibayak are nice, but the thrilling part of the hike is standing in the crater and hearing the roar of pressure escaping through vents in the rocks! Yellowish water actually boils on parts of the trail. Be careful where you walk—some of the vents blast heated, poisonous gas.

Berastagi serves as the base town for hiking the 7,257 feet up Gunung Sibayak. You can catch a ride to the trailhead or include the interesting walk through town as part of your three-hour hike. Your guesthouse can arrange a local guide; although, many travelers group up and climb Sibayak independently.

Bukit Holbung (Samosir Island)

Fitri Manurung / Getty Images

Although hiking to the highest point on Samosir Island in Lake Toba is possible, the trails aren’t very clear or enjoyable. Instead, your time could be better spent going to hike up Bukit Holbung, a large, grassy hill with sweeping views of Lake Toba and Samosir Island.

You’ll have to travel by car ( or drive a motorbike ) for two scenic hours around the northern end of the island then cross a bridge to the mainland. Wander around Huta Holbung, a small village at the trailhead, then hike the 30 minutes up the hill to capture some amazing photos. The easier parts of the hill can get crowded, especially on weekends.

Pusuk Buhit (Lake Toba)

aansuwanto / Getty Images

For a much more challenging hill to climb on Samosir Island itself, drive an hour west from the town of Tuk-Tuk to Pusuk Buhit. The 6,503-foot “hill” can be hiked independently by using the three trails to the top, but hiring a driver and guide to take you from Tuk-Tuk is easy enough and doesn’t cost much. The matrix of muddy trails passes through farms along the way and can be confusing; this is where a knowledgeable local will come in handy.

Although Pusuk Buhit is a day hike, you’ll want to make a very early start from Tuk-Tuk to have a view of Lake Toba from above. Clouds tend to build up in early afternoon no matter the season, blocking the ciew. Plan on walking at least 4 to 5 hours, depending on conditions.

Sianok Canyon (West Sumatra)

Landscape Indonesia / Getty Images

Walking to Sianok Canyon and along the “Great Wall of Koto Gadang” make for an adventurous day hike from Bukittinggi in West Sumatra . Although you could “cheat” and take transportation to the canyon, walking from town provides a chance to sightsee along the way.

The Sianok Canyon hike in Sumatra is a combination of walking along roads, jungle paths, and on the great wall itself. You’ll pass small cafes and shops along the way; Kota Gadang is famous for the silversmiths who live there. Depending on how much meandering you do, plan on at least a half-day hike. You can always hitch a ride back to town if you don’t want to make the full loop. If you carry snacks, beware of the aggressive macaques that sometimes ambush hikers.

Gunung Marapi (West Sumatra)

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Mount Marapi, one of the most active volcanoes in Sumatra, has been erupting somewhat regularly for hundreds of years. The mountain rises menacingly from the highlands about an hour’s drive from Bukittinggi in West Sumatra. Adventurous hikers can summit the 9,485-foot volcano in one long day of clawing and scrambling up a steep trail of roots and volcanic debris.

Along with a feeling of accomplishment, the reward for reaching the top is walking on a forlorn landscape of mud and silt—the plug of the volcano—certain to be blown into the air one day.

Pay careful attention to the spelling while researching your hike up Gunung Marapi. Java’s Gunung Merapi is another famous volcano with similar spelling and the same pronunciation.

Kerinci Seblat National Park (West Sumatra)

Kerinci Seblat National Park near Padang is the largest national park in Sumatra and home to Gunung Kerinci, the tallest peak in Sumatra. As far as hiking in Sumatra goes, Kerinci Seblat is an unmatched playground for adventure.

Climbing prominent Gunung Kerinci (12,484 feet) is possible with two days and an overnight (or in a single day with midnight start). But if bagging the biggest volcano on Indonesia’s biggest island isn’t on your list, the national park offers numerous hiking opportunities with less commitment. The hike from Kersik Tuo to Belibis Lake (four hours each way) passes through verdant tea plantations, while the hike to the beautiful volcanic lake at Gunung Tujuh (three hours up; two hours down) is ideal for spotting gibbons and other wildlife.

Mount Kaba Craters (Bengkulu)

Barry Kusuma / Getty Images

Whether the Kaba volcano (2.5 hours driving from the coastal city of Bengkulu) is a hill or mountain seems to be debatable. Locals refer to it as Bukit Kaba while others often call it Gunung Kaba. Regardless, the twin volcano’s three craters make for a beautiful loop that can be hiked in around two hours. The highest point has an elevation of 6,404 feet; however, panoramic views can be enjoyed from many points along the way.

Gunung Dempo (South Sumatra)

andris hengki piciza / Getty Images

Gunung Dempo in South Sumatra towers over the plantations in Pagar Alam. Clouds collect near the chilly summit at 10,410 feet. Hardcore hikers can top the big volcano in one seriously long day, but the adventure is more often enjoyed with an overnight at one of the shelters scattered along the trails.

Four trails wind to the summit, but the track from Tugu Rimau is perhaps the shortest and most popular proving that you don’t necessarily have to summit a big mountain to experience the adventure of hiking in Sumatra.

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ETHICAL TREKKING PIONEER IN BUKIT LAWANG

Let's shape together a better future for the rainforest, its WILdlife and the local communitY!

Discover all the wilderness of the Sumatran jungle IN AN ETHICAL WAY

​at sumatra orangutan explore we organize unique and unforgettable ethical  j ungle  trekking striving to respect and preserve the unique ecosystem & biodiversity of the  gunung leuser national park . we are devoted since our beginnings to protect the endangered s umatran orangutans and other wildlife and raise awareness among the local community.  our eco-friendly day tours and activities aim to support local people & traditional handicrafts. our off-the-beaten-track expeditions aim to support local communities in more rural and remote areas by discovering untouched spots., our commitment is to preserve the rainforest and protect its amazing wildlife while benefiting positively to local communities. we are devoted to have a low impact on the rainforest but a great impact on the local community of bukit lawang and other remote areas (through education and awareness, support of local associations and initiatives, women empowerment, fair working conditions and higher remuneration level). learn more about our commitments and actions ..

O ur team of experienced English-speaking guides, certified by the Indonesia Tourist Guides Association (ITGA-HPI Himpunan Pramuwisata Indonesia) will be glad to share their knowledge with you. They strictly follow the Gunung Leuser National Park guidelines, our own ethical jungle rules and do their best to keep the jungle clean and the wildlife safe!

Choosing a trek or a tour with us is your way to PROTECT & PRESERVE our amazing but endangered rainforest, its AMAZING WILDLIFE and its inhabitants!

The small riverside village of Bukit Lawang is located at the entrance of the Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the richest

tropical rainforests in South East Asia ! Its unique location makes it the perfect place to stay to discover the amazing rainforest of North Sumatra and its unique wildlife. 

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and placed on a list of world heritage sites in danger in 2011,

the Gunung Leuser National Park covers 1,095,000 ha in northern Sumatra and has amongst one of the most diverse

biodiversity in the world  by housing thousands species of indigenous animals, insects and plants. This amazing rainforest provides also a home for endangered and protected species like the Sumatran Tiger, Rhinoceros, Slow Loris, 

Elephant and of course the wonderful people of the forest, the Sumatran Orangutans ("orang" means people and "utan" forest) The Gunung Leuser National Park is one of the 2 only places in the world where you can observe Orangutans in the wild.    

Trekking through the Sumatran rainforest will take you into a breathtaking and unforgettable experience! 

So join us & let's begin your AMAZING & RESPECTFUL jungle adventure!

OUR MISSION

Shaping a better future for our rainforest, its amazing wildlife and the local community of Bukit Lawang

1 CHARITY SUPPORTED WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

10% OF OUR BENEFITS donated (on treks & tours)

An unforgettable experience awaits!

Our ETHICAL Jungle Treks

3 Hours Ethical Trek

This short half day trek is the perfect option for families with young children, people who don't feel like they're fit enough for a long trek or those who are on a tight schedule. This trek will take you at the entrance of the rainforest and gives you chances to spot semi-wild Orangutans and other wildlife if you're lucky. Watch them and their babies swinging in the trees. After some fresh tropical fruits, enjoy the way back by tubing down the river!

1 Day Ethical Trek

If you don't have enough time ahead but feel like you wanna explore all the wilderness of the Sumatran jungle, this trek is made for you! Enjoy a 6 to 7 hours trek through the Gunung Leuser National Park and discover its amazing fauna and flora. Meet the amazing Orangutans but also all the other species that live amongst them. After a jungle lunch and a few more walking hours, enjoy a raft ride to go back to Bukit Lawang

2 Days Ethical Trek

Experience a night in the rainforest and feel the jungle vibes with this 2 days trek! After an amazing first trekking day full of discoveries, relax on our campsite near the river or the waterfall. Refresh yourself and take a swim before having a homemade dinner. Then enjoy a entertaining evening chatting and playing games with your guides around a bonfire. Fall aseep with jungle sounds. The next morning, enjoy a yummy breakfast and go deeper in the jungle to see more wildlife before going back to Bukit Lawang by tubing! 

EXPLORE THE SUMATRAN RAINFOREST IN AN ETHICAL WAY, SPOT ORANGUTANS & AMAZING WILDLIFE, DISCOVER ALL THE SECRETS OF THE JUNGLE, ITS FAUNA & ITS FLORA WITH RESPECT!

3 Days Ethical Trek

If you feel like you want to explore more the jungle and look for unique wildlife, the 3 days 2 nights suits you well!   Go deeper in the Gunung Leuser National Park and get more chance to discover the 8 species of primates living in here. Experience 2 nights in the jungle and enjoy two different campsites at the riverside and near a waterfall. On the last day, a three hours walk will take you to the river bank to enjoy a last jungle lunch before a raft ride down Bohorok River will bring you back to Bukit Lawang.

4 Days Ethical Trek

Go into the wild with this 4 days 3 nights trek. Explore all the richness of the jungle, secrets about medicinal plants and get the chance to meet rare wildlife such as wild Peacocks, Hornbills, Giant Squirrels and traces of Sun Bears. Every night experience a new campsite or even a 2 or 3 hours night trek to observe nocturnal species. Every day you will enjoy a fresh and homemade breakfast, lunch and dinner made by your guides ! The last day relax on the way back to Bukit Lawang thanks to an amazing tubing ride!  

5 Days Ethical Trek

Feel like a real jungle adventurer ? Opt for a stunning 5 days trek and discover all the secret places of the Gunung Leuser National Park: walk through rivers, explore caves, swim in waterfalls... You will even have the possibility to do night trekking to spot nocturnal species. Get the chance to spot wild Elephants & see foot prints of the Sumatran Tiger. You will also get all the jungle survival tips. End the trek with a relaxing raft ride down Bohorok River that will bring you back to Bukit Lawang. You will remember this unique experience your whole life!  

Bat Caves Tour & BBQ at Landak River 

Explore the unique bat caves of Bukit Lawang. These huge caves hide many stalagtites and stalagmites but also amazing species of insects, snakes, bats and swallows. Then walk through the palm oil plantations to go to the amazing Landak River. Relax, chill out and take a swim in this beautiful river while your guide will prepare a chicken & fish barbecue. Veggie or vegan ? Just tell us and we will cook something yummy for you!

If you are lucky you can even see  Orangutans and other wildlife on the way! 

Our ECO-friendly Activities & day tours

In order to fulfill our mission all our daily tours focus on community-based tourism explore the surroundings of bukit lawang & the amazing spots they have to offer,  discover the everyday life in the village, meet local people & support local activities. all our activities can be combined if you wish to do 2 of them in one day.

Bukit Lawang Eco Village Tour

This half day tour takes you into a cultural trip to discover traditional activities and to meet local people. Take a traditional becak and go through the wonderful rice fields. Have a look at the everyday village life and stop by to observe homemade production of tofu and brown sugar. Learn more about traditional crafting such as attap roof thatching made with palm leaves and bamboo walls (tepas). On Friday & Sunday you can also visit traditional markets! At the end of the tour enjoy a fresh drink or a freshly harvested coconut water ! 

Refreshing Tubing Tour & BBQ

This refreshing activity is perfect for families or group of friends during sunny days! Float down the Bohorok River for 15 km while sitting in big rubber tubes. The river is perfect for a 3 hours tubing as there are a few fun white water parts where you bump over rocks and more nice and quieter parts where you can enjoy the amazing green surrounding scenery. During your trip stop on the river bank to relax, take a refreshing swim and enjoy a yummy barbecue! You will stop tubing in Bohorok where a local bus will pick you up! Enjoy the beautiful landscape on the way back to Bukit Lawang.

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Organic Soap Workshop in the rice fields

Looking for a fun & educational activity for the whole family? Immerse yourself in the Sumatran botanicals & delightful scents with this tour combining walk and workshop. Walk through the village for about 40 minutes with the lovely Aini (woman entrepreneur producing soaps) until reaching beautiful house in the rice fields. Stroll among her lush organic garden to pick the needed ingredients and learn more about plants, herbal properties & uses. Enjoy a fresh herbal drink from the garden before learning how to make natural soaps using natural oils and selected plants from her garden. For children a fun little toy will be included in the soap! At the end of the workshop enjoy a traditional meal all together in the rice fields!

Traditional Cooking Class

If you are a food lover then this activity is made for you! Taste the authentic and yummy Sumatran food by enrolling in a cooking class with locals! Go to the market in the morning and buy all the things you need to cook. Local women will then welcome you into their kitchen, share their cooking experience and teach you how to cook traditional Indonesian dishes. You will cook 2 starters and 2 main meals to choose between a large selection of local food (curry, rendang, sambal, sate, tempeh goreng...). Enjoy the meals you cooked all together! 

Botanical Dye & Ecoprint Workshop

Unlock the superpowers of the Sumatran botanical & discover all their secrets thanks to this unique workshop in the rice fields! Prepare your own piece of art, from nature to fabric. Learn all the techniques of natural dyeing and eco printing. Design your bandana and create your own pattern using leaves and flowers freshly picked in a beautiful organic garden. Thanks to the magic of nature each creation is unique! Enjoy a fresh herbal drink and some local snacks while preparing your eco print. This workshop supports our women empowerment policy as it is in close collaboration with APES Eco Print which is locally owned and operated by women from the village.

Aerobics, Yoga or Running at Bukit Lawang Trust

Want to get jungle fit? Go to Bukit Lawang Trust in Gotong Royong and join one of their fitness classes on the rooftop offering a beautiful view on the Gunung Leuser mountains! Bukit Lawang Trust is a Charitable Trust working to enhance the education and employability of the local community here in Bukit Lawang, and it's one of the charity we are directly donating to! They are offering free fitness activities every week in exchange of a donation for the School and you can even get a visit of the School! Aerobics takes place on Monday and Wednesday, Yoga & Flexibility on Thursday and Running sessions are organized on Friday! Get in touch for the exact hours. 

Coconut Cutlery Carving Workshop

Want to travel in a sustainable way?Join our carving workshop to carve your own coconut cutlery! Our friend Bodong, owner of a local art gallery, will help you to design your own on-the-go cutlery! Why we have chosen cutlery instead of the traditional jewelry carving workshop? As a sustainable tour-operator we'd like our guests to get a useful and eco-conscious asset that you could take anywhere with you (while traveling or working)! Made with coconuts harvested in the village, it is the perfect eco-friendly duo to replace the plastic cutleries you might be given in take away restaurants! One more way to fight the overwhelming plastic pollution!

Eco-trails by Project Wings

Embark on one of the eco-trails organised by Project Wings, a german NGO which is currently building the world´s biggest recycling village  from 250 tons of plastic waste. Explore the different NGO departments and sustainable initiatives thanks to the different half day eco-trails. Each eco-trail is ending with a fun, creative and enriching workshop. If you have time opt for the full day tour to explore each department and learn how to become a real eco-warrior.  You can also opt for a personalized to compose on your own with your selection of 2 half-day eco-trails (lunch included). All benefits are going to the Project Wings association to support their great initiatives. 

Canyoning, Natural Pools & Panoramic Camping 

This 2 days tour takes you into an refreshing adventure to discover secret places on the way to Berastagi. A 2 hours drive will lead you to 5 secret waterfall spots. Take a refreshing plunge in these natural swimming pools! Then you will head to Rumah Pohon Habitat. This amazing wooden structure in the trees will offer you a wonderful viewpoint while enjoying your drink. Then you will head to your panoramic camping site for the night. Perfect spot for sunset and sunsrise! The place also offers many selfie spots with stunning view on the Gunung Leuser and North Sumatra (until Medan!). The next morning wake up and enjoy your breakfast with the sounds of Siamangs. On the way back, take a break and relax at a swimming pool in the middle of the jungle. Enjoy the invigorating fresh water coming from the mountains!  

Rafflesia & Titan

Flower tour.

This daily tour takes you to Batu Katak, a small village along the Berkail River and about 40min from Bukit Lawang. This authentic and peaceful area, still preserved from tourism, is an undiscovered jewel waiting to be explored! The hidden and restful area is a unique place in the world! Indeed the jungle of Batu Katak hides the biggest  and the highest flowers of the world, the Rafflesia Flower and the Amorphophallus Titanum! Your local guide will explore the jungle with you and lead you to these amazing flowers which are very rare to see as they only bloom for 4-5 days after a gestation period of 9 months. Besides the flowers, you will have great chance to observe gibbons and siamangs while trekking. Enjoy a yummy lunch listening to the stunning gibbon songs and take a refreshing swim in the river!

DISCOVER UNSPOILT AREAS FAR FROM TOURISM & ENJOY A NEW WAY TO EXPLORE THE BEAUTY OF SUMATRA. OUR MISSION IS TO ENABLE SECLUDED AREAS & LOCAL PEOPLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF  ECO-CONSCIOUS TOURISM. JOINING ONE OF THESE TOURS IS YOUR WAY TO SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

Our off the beaten path tours.

Caves, Hot Springs & Waterfalls at Simolap

If you are looking for unspoilt nature and downtime in the wild to revitalize, this tour is made for you! We offer several adventurous all inclusive tours to Simolap from 1 to 3 days, with different activities, according to your wishes! Simolap is part of the Gunung Leuser National Park and is located around 2 hours from Bukit Lawang. The unspoilt area is full of secret places which are yours to explore! It is especially famous for it's incredible hot springs facilities and its caves. Opt for a trek through the jungle to see wildlife, explore several caves,  secret waterfall spots and take a plunge in these natural swimming pools! End the tour with a relaxing and revitalizing swim in the hot springs! If you stay a few days you can experience a 2D/1N trek with camping in a cave. You can also spend another night at the guesthouse of our lovely friends. 

Tangkahan Discovery, Jungle & Waterfall

Discover the hidden paradise of Tangkahan! At only 2,5 hours from Bukit Lawang, Tangkahan is an eco-tourism destination famous for the CRU association which is fighting against illegal logging. But this area is also offering the possibility to explore its wonderful lush green surroundings. Start your day by exploring the jungle and chase wonderful waterfalls. Tube down the river in big tires before lunch. After a freshly cooked lunch at a local restaurant at the riverside take a refreshing swim in the Buluh river, enjoy the hot springs and relax at the riverbank! It's possible to  spend a night in this wonderful place if you'd like us to ! Contact us to organize your tailor-made adventure and know the fare!

We recommend to book at least 3 months in advance

Berastagi Discovery, Volcano, nature & culture 

Explore another must-see of North Sumatra! Located at around 3 hours from Bukit Lawang, Berastagi which means "rice store", is a town located in the Barisan mountains. It's cooler weather makes it the perfect place to harvest many things hence it's lush green surroundings!  During this overnight tour you'll explore Berastagi and it's highlights! You'll climb the volcano by sunrise and enjoy lunch with the panoramic view of Gundaling Hill! During the afternoon you'll discover Lumbini garden the famous boudhist temple, enjoy the hot springs and chase waterfall! Back in Berastagi you'll explore the famous fruits market and  assist to an amazing Karonese dance demonstration! This tour will take you into a culture trip to discover more about North Sumatra.  

WE HELP YOU TO ORGANIZE YOUR TRIP

Where to stay

We'd be glad to welcome you in our ecolodge at the riverside and overlooking the amazing jungle!

How to get here

All the travel options and tips about your flight to Medan and the way to Bukit Lawang! 

What to bring

All the information you need! We give you all the tips to prepare well your trip!

Our Packages

Spare time and make the most of your trip by choosing one of our eco-conscious tour packages.

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Elephant Trek

Venture into elephant territory on our 10-day expedition.

Our elephant trek will take place in the deep jungle of Gunung Leuser National Park and is scheduled for 10 days to increase the likelihood of an elephant sighting. On our quest, we will climb mountains, cross valleys and venture into flatter areas of the rainforest in the north of Sumatra, where the preferred territory of the forest giants lies. Walk along their trails, cross rainforest rivers and take in the pure, pristine nature around you to the full…

Far more than “just” the forest elephants of Sumatra await you on this unique expedition!

Trip Profile

10 days & 9 nights, challenging, bukit lawang, bukit lawang (+9), 7 days with 2 scouts, group: 9.500.000 idr pp private: 17.500.000 idr pp, smaller chances, 10 days with 3 scouts, group: 12.500.000 idr pp private: 25.000.000 idr pp, higher chances, everything except tips 😉, 2 - 6 people, trip highlights.

• Experience the adventure of a lifetime far from civilisation
• Explore the pristine rainforest of northern Sumatra and keep your eyes open for wild orangutans, various species of monkeys, gibbons & siamangs and especially for st elephants - there's even a chance of a tiger sighting (but no guarantee)
• Hike through rainforest streams and enjoy splendid baths in cool rivers or under breathtaking waterfalls
• With the possibility of extending the trek, we will have a good chance of finding your dream photo motif in the depths of the rainforest.
• You alone determine the pace: whether you are a photographer who would like to stay a little longer at a certain spot or an adventurer whose goal is to venture as deep as possible into the rainforest - all variations are possible!
• Sleep under the jungle sky and let yourself be enchanted by the special sounds of the rainforest at night...

On this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, there is an extremely realistic chance of encountering wild forest elephants. To increase the likelihood of a sighting, we have put together a very special & highly experienced team : Besides your English-speaking guide and assistant guide , you will be accompanied by our chef and 3 so-called “scouts” ! They know the jungle inside out and will try to locate the current position of the wildlife before your trek. If this is in a more remote part of the national park, you will be taken there by motorbike or jeep , which costs an extra of 300,000 to 1.000.000 IDR (depending on the location) .

Our 10-day expedition usually starts around 9 am in Bukit Lawang. Depending on the motorbike ride that might be required, the starting time may change slightly. Once we arrive at the starting point of our expedition, the adventure can begin! After we have hiked into the rainforest for a while, we will have a revitalising break with tropical fruits. Then it is time to hike on and cover ground to get closer to the elephant territory step by step. After an energising lunch of nasi goreng, the hike continues until about 4 pm. Around this time, your team will start looking for a suitable place to camp in order to have the tent up before sunset. During the first camp set-up, it’s all about watching and learning, but in the following days, your team will be happy for any help. Once we have reached our first camp, our scouts will head out in different directions to look for fresh evidence of elephants. This way we save a lot of time and distance, which increases the chances of sightings enormously.

During our search for the forest elephants, with a bit of luck we can also sight other wildlife . For example, various species of deer, seraues (Asian genus of goat-like animals), wild orangutans, gibbons & siamangs, several species of monkeys (Thomas leaf monkeys, pig-tailed macaques, long-tailed macaques (Javanese monkeys) and silvered leaf monkeys), snakes, eagles and exotics such as the hornbill. At dusk, there is a good chance of spotting deer, mouse deer, sun bears and wild boar. However, all these animals will be very shy as they are not used to the sight of humans in the deep jungle. Observation will therefore mostly take place from a distance. But you will most likely be able to admire many different insects from a very close distance 😉

Normally, our daily routine will look like this:

After breakfast, around 9 am, when everything has been stowed away and all human remains have been removed, we will break camp and move further into the jungle. Every day, a hike of about 6 to 7 hours awaits us. There will be breaks and lunch along the way, of course. Always keep your eyes open for signs of the forest giants or other wildlife! Any paths you can make out in the thicket are forest elephant trails. Broken branches, footprints and dung heaps are clues for your guides to assess when the elephants were there last. Along the way, we will climb mountains, cross rivers and hike through valleys. Every afternoon around 4 pm , your expedition team will look for a suitable place to camp . Now you are welcome to help set up the tent from sticks or bamboo poles and a large plastic tarp , or to collect firewood for cooking. Cooking will be done from the ingredients we brought from Bukit Lawang plus fresh ingredients we will collect during our trek, such as fern, the inside of the banana plant, young bamboo or even fresh fish. Your guide will be able to tell you a lot about eatable and healing rainforest plants – so feel free to ask him! Besides, there will be tea or coffee and biscuits and in the evening there will be a lot of chatting or playing games to pass the time. Of course, it is also possible to leave the camp again during dusk to look for crepuscular and nocturnal animals. We will then all sleep together under the constructed tent. There is a thin mattress, a sleeping bag and a mosquito net for each of us. River water is boiled every evening at camp so you can fill up your bottle with it.

This is the daily routine for all the following days. If you particularly like a place during the trek (e.g. because of good photo opportunities or lots of wildlife in the area) and would like to stay there for several days , this is possible – please discuss this thoroughly with your guide so that he can adjust the route accordingly.

Your backpack should be packed as light as possible for this expedition. You will only need a few changes of clothes (preferably light sportswear), mosquito spray, a torch, a light rain jacket, a hoodie for the night and any medication you may need. Feel free to check out our packing list for more information. Everything else will be provided by us.

At the end of the expedition, one of the scouts will leave us and hike back to Bukit Lawang to inform our rafting team of our current position. This team will join us at day 9 to prepare the rafting for day 10. This way we want to give you more precious time in the deep jungle instead of having to walk back halfway through. Depending on how deep we have gone into the rainforest during our expedition, the raft ride can take up to 8 hours . As it can get a bit cold, 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 adventures and photos.

The chances of spotting single elephants or even a herd are very realistic on this expedition – but we can’t promise a sighting . The trek is scheduled for 10 days to keep the chances as high as possible. However, if you want to be more sure, we can arrange more days in advance.

Info: Besides a sense of adventure, average to good physical fitness is required for this expedition. Conditions can be hot and at times strenuous in a tropical rainforest climate. The expedition is not for the faint hearted or those seeking the luxury of the jungle. We camp together in a tent each night and the river serves as a shower to wash us. No one will return with clean clothes!

In the event of an encounter with forest elephants and other wild animals, we ask you to strictly follow the rules, instructions and orders of your guides, as they are in the best position to assess and control the situation.

What's included:

• All permits (National Park & Indonesiasn Guide Association HPI)
• English-speaking guide from Bukit Lawang, scouts & kitchen team
• Camping equipment: shared tent, thin mattresses, sleeping bag, mosquito net
• Waterproof plastic bags for ypur personal belongings
• Rafting/ driving back to Bukit Lawang (depending on location)

Don't forget:

• To enjoy your expedition!
• Water bottle, mosquito repellent & sunscreen
• Camera equipment/ binoculars/ mobile phone + powerbank & torch
• Solid shoes - check out our recommendation !
• Long clothes + socks for the trek, rain jacket, change of clothes, jumper, swimwear & towel, sandals/ flip flops
• Check out our complete packing list .

We highly recommend to get a health and accident insurance before your holiday in Indonesia to be covered in case of unforeseen injuries or illnesses during your entire trip.

Important Information

Our trekking groups have a maximum size of 6 people. If you are travelling with more than 6 people, we will still be able to find a good solution together.

In the high season (June to August) it is possible to join other travellers on their jungle trek. It is often a valuable enrichment to meet other people on a trek through the rainforest. However, especially in low season and as the 10-day expedition is not regularly booked, we cannot promise to find other trekking companions for your preferred date. 

When booking your trek, please let us know how many people you will be participating with and whether you prefer a private or group trek.

Your expedition team will consist of a certified English-speaking guide from Bukit Lawang, an assistant guide, 3 men for kitchen and camping equipment and a local guide from Lepan to have a knowledgeable tour leader who knows the latest information about current positions of the wildlife. The entire team is highly trained and experienced to handle risky situations with ease. If you consistently follow their instructions, you are in safe hands and have nothing to worry about.

Besides a sense of responsibility for people and nature, our guides and team members have a great sense of humor and possess an enormous cordiality. During these 10 days, they will take good care of you and welcome you into their jungle family!

Every afternoon, your expedition team will find a suitable place to camp. There you will build a large waterproof tent out of bamboo and a huge plastic tarp, which offers enough space for everyone. There will be a thin mattress for each person. If you want some privacy, we can rent you a normal two-man tent, which you can set up next to your team’s tent. If you have one, please bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. However, if you do not have these, we can rent you both. Please let us know in advance if you need a private tent, mosquito net, sleeping bag and pillow.

The 10-day expedition starts around 7 am by jeep in Bukit Lawang . The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours and leads over bumpy and partly muddy roads past Tangkahan to Lepan. There your trek begins as soon as you arrive (no further hotel stay). You will return the same way on the 10th day of the expedition.

All food in the jungle is prepared from fresh and local ingredients and tastes fantastic! Your team will bring all of the basic cooking ingredients from Bukit Lawang (rice, eggs, onions, chilli, noodles, tomatoes, etc.). Along the way you will collect the freshest rainforest ingredients to prepare later in camp, such as ferns, the insides of banana trunks, young bamboo or even freshly caught fish. There will also be biscuits to snack on (while stocks last), as well as tea and coffee. 

Please let us know in advance if you or your fellow travellers have allergies or intolerances, or prefer a particular diet! 

Bewertungen

Half Day Trek One Day Trek Night Walk 2 Day Trek 3 Day Trek 4 Day Trek 5 Day Trek 6 Day Trek 7 Day Trek 5 Day Ranger Patrol 10 Day Elephant Expedition 10 Day Fruit Tree Trek Individual Trekking Tours

Feel free to ask us anything you want to know!

Exploring Sumatra’s Kerinci Seblat National Park: where tigers still roam

Feb 2, 2015 • 5 min read

Hiking on the forested slopes of Gunung Tujuh, Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra. Image by Mark Eveleigh

Kerinci Seblat National Park sprawls from the coastal plains of West Sumatra, up the forested valleys and over the deep river gorges of the Barisan Mountains. Stretching across a swathe of land more than twice the size of Bali, Sumatra’s largest national park offers ample adventure for those dreaming to see Indonesia at its wildest.

The road from Padang city winds steadily up into the highlands through forests where hornbills swoop through the jungle canopies and macaque monkeys line the roads hoping for tidbits. Travelling times can often be deceptive in Indonesia but the eight-hour drive from the city to Sungai Penuh, the base for most people who want to explore Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS), is arguably one of Southeast Asia 's most scenic.

TNKS is home to healthy populations of Indonesian wildlife, including elephants, bears, tapirs, clouded leopards, gibbons and more tigers (around 200) than can be found in all of Indochina. For the critically endangered Sumatran tiger, however, the future is still far from assured, but tourism is increasingly being seen as the most viable way of ensuring a future for TNKS and its elusive big cats.

Gunung Kerinci

Most visitors to TNKS come to climb Gunung Kerinci . At 3,805m it’s the highest active volcano in Southeast Asia, and the trek is considered to be a wilder, more challenging alternative to the more well-trodden volcanoes of Java . The steep climb follows a straight path without any switchbacks, but the views from the summit are unbeatable. Most trekkers complete the round trip in two days, but an extra day gives you a better chance of catching clear conditions and spotting more wildlife along the way.

Danau Gunung Tujuh

Known as the ‘Lake of the Seven Peaks’, Danau Gunung Tujuh is Southeast Asia’s highest crater lake. The climb takes about three hours and you must descend over the rim of the volcano to the lake level at about 1950m.

Take camping equipment and you can pitch your tent in a wonderfully scenic location on the lake’s shore. Try to avoid weekends or public holidays, however, as this is a popular hang-out for local kids and the camping area can get noisy (and, sadly, dirty). To find a more secluded spot, haggle with the lake's lone, resident fisherman to paddle you across the lake to a more pristine spot.

Birdwatching

Birdwatchers are drawn to TNKS by its bevvy of more than 370 species including 17 endemic species of it own. Once-in-a-lifetime sightings might include the Sumatran ground-cuckoo, which was considered extinct until it was rediscovered here in 2002.

Tiger spotting

“From 2006 up until 2010 we were one of only five national parks in the whole of Asia where tiger numbers actually increased,” says Debbie Martyr, who came to Sumatra in the early ‘90s to help the national park service protect TNKS with Fauna & Flora International ( http://fauna-flora.org ).

This is no safari park, however, so you won’t find intrusive jeep safari or elephant-back tiger spotting operators here. Mostly nocturnal and extremely shy, tigers are among the world’s most elusive beasts, thus the chance of spotting one in the wild – even in TNKS – is next to none. But there’s an undeniable thrill to trekking in tiger country and, if you’re lucky, you may come across fresh pugmarks from these apex predators. Wild Sumatra Adventures ( http://wildsumatra.com ) offer TNKS’s most conservational-minded wildlife experiences, with five per cent of their trip costs going directly to tiger conservation.

Kerinci is home to several impressive cave complexes , the most extensive network – including the celebrated Gua Tiangko, thought to be occupied some 9000 years ago – situated outside the village of Sengering.

There are also cave paintings to be found in rarely-visited Gua Kasah, 5km southeast from Kersik Tua. Two additional cave systems, Gua Kelelawar and Gua Belang, are located at Ting Kemulun near Sanggaran Agung. Hiring a guide helps in the exploration of both the caves' physical and esoteric landscapes.

Ladeh Panjang Wetlands

There is some wonderfully remote hiking to be had, deep within the western flank of the national park, through Southeast Asia’s highest wetlands . There's a five-day, 120km route through rainforest, sulphur lakes and hot springs before exiting onto the highway north of Kerinci, but shorter treks traversing expanses of virgin rainforest home to deer, gibbons, tapirs – and of course tigers – are also possible.

Local culture

Kerinci's tradition-bound communities hold festivals around the calendar, all of which seem to feature a hearty element of singing and dancing. The rangguk dance (simulating the rice planting season) is truly enthralling but the kenduri sko festivals (honouring village ancestors) are argaubly the cultural highlights of a visit to one of the villages in the area.

Sacred megaliths

As many as a dozen giant carved rocks have been found in TNKS, but, like many facets of this mysterious region, how they came to be largely remains a mystery despite in-depth analysis. Local tradition has it that they were fired out of the volcanoes during a ‘war of the mountains’ and that they were already ancient when the villages surrounding them were established around 1200AD. Several of these sacred stones can be observed during a moderate, four-day hike to the ancient enclave of Renah Kemumu.

Do it: The aforementioned ecotourism specialists Wild Sumatra Adventures offers diverse, customised tours around much of the Kerinci area at very reasonable rates. Indonesia Trip Advisors ( http://indonesiatripadvisors.com ) can also arrange overland travel and logistics in Sumatra and elsewhere.

When to go: Weather conditions are very erratic and hard to predict in Sumatra, but the heaviest rains typically fall between December and February. Locals say that tigers are most active just after rain, but wildlife is generally easier to spot outside this wet season, forest fires pending.

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Kerinci Seblat National Park: Last Refuge of the Sumatran Tiger

Once upon a time, Indonesia was home to thousands of tigers across three subspecies. In addition to the Sumatran tiger, there were Balinese and Javanese varieties, both of which were sadly hunted to extinction in the mid-20 th century. Today, only the Sumatran tiger remains. The population is estimated at around 500, and declining.

Even at the best of times, tigers would have been difficult to spot – they are famously shy, and largely nocturnal. However, it is still possible, although unlikely, to spot Sumatran tigers in the wild. The best place to do it is Sumatra’s largest national park, Kerinci Seblat.

Kerinci Seblat National Park

Kerinci Seblat is thousands of square miles of thick rainforest on the western edge of Sumatra . As well as the Sumatran tiger, it is home to lots of other rare and beautiful animals and unusual plants. These include the rafflesia, a bizarre plant with huge flowers measuring several metres across.

These plants are parasitic, feeding off other plants, and stink of rotting flesh – earning them the nickname ‘corpse flower’. Kerinci Seblat is also home to the incredibly rare Sumatran rhinoceros, who are believed to be fewer than 100 in number. These are the world’s smallest rhinos and are unusual in having a coat of red-brown fur all over their bodies.

Getting to the Park

The majority of visitors to Kerinci Seblat will arrive via Padang, the nearest large city. While it’s not exactly close – around 3-4 hours drive away from the park – Minangkabau International Airport is well connected. Destinations include Jakarta and Solo on Java, as well as Batam in the Riau Islands.

Internationally, you can travel to and from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Be aware that taxi drivers at Padang airport are notorious for charging exorbitant fares to the national park. You may be better off heading into Padang itself, maybe spending the night there, and then organising transport to the park the next day.

What to do in Kerinci Seblat National Park

Spotting tigers at kerinci seblat.

Many, perhaps most, visitors to Kerinci Seblat, come mainly for the chance to see the Sumatran tiger in the wild. It should be pointed out that they are very elusive creatures, and you should certainly not count on the fact that you are going to get to see one. For one thing, they are largely nocturnal, live solitary lives, and are incredibly shy. That being said, this is the best place to see Sumatran tigers in the wild, and sightings do happen occasionally.

While you might not see the tigers, it is much more likely is that you’ll see signs of the tigers rather than the cats themselves – particularly droppings, prints and scratch marks in trees. Tigers live throughout the park, and guided walks through various stretches of rainforest are available and offer chances to spot them.

Scale the mighty Gunung Kerinci

Indonesia is known for good reason as the Land of Fire, and the national park is home to no fewer than five active volcanoes. The biggest, and most volatile, is Gunung Kerinci. It erupted in 2013, and is Indonesia’s tallest volcano. Needless to say, it’s not an easy trek, but it’s a very scenic and rewarding one.

Treks begin at the entrance to the park and are split into two stages. First, you’ll hike up to a campsite at 3,400 metres, which takes around half a day. You’ll then spend the night there before getting up early the next morning to make the hour-long trek to the summit.

It’s a demanding trek, but the views of the sunrise from the top will make it all worthwhile. On the way, you’ll pass some of the beautiful and unusual flora and fauna which make Kerinci Seblat such a great destination. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot langurs, lizards, edelweiss and corpse flowers, among many others.

The trek up Gunung Kerinci is a popular one. Many visitors are happy for this to be their main or only activity in the park. The cost of a trek, including a guide, meals, park fees and transport starts at around Rp 900,000 per person. It’s a bit expensive, but worth it for the experience.

Spot rhinos amid the Sulphur Pools of Ladeh Panjang

Nowhere is Kerinci Seblat more otherworldly than the rainforest of Ladeh Panjang. This is an area of sulphur lakes and hot springs in the west of the park, and is off the beaten hiking track. As it is quieter than the rest of the park, you may have a higher chance of spotting tigers here. It’s also a good place to catch a glimpse of the Sumatran rhino, one of the most endangered rhino species in the world.

Another unusual creature that lives here is the tapir, a large pig-like mammal with a bulbous nose. Adventurous trekkers can embark on a five-day journey through this section of the park – a real rainforest adventure, but not for the faint of heart.

Final thoughts

Kerinci Seblat National Park is one of Indonesia’s largest and most beautiful national parks. It is home to diverse ecosystems, from thick rainforests to simmering volcanoes. These habitats are home to a wide range of animals, some of which are critically endangered. The most famous of these, and the main reason why many visit the park, is the Sumatran tiger.

The last of the Indonesian tiger subspecies, after the Balinese and Javan were wiped out, it is a rare and elusive creature, but this place offers the best chance to spot it. If you love nature make sure to add Kerinci Seblat to your Indonesia bucket list. You won’t regret it!

Have you been to Kerinci Seblat National Park? Do you have any suggestions about what to do there other than those mentioned here? Please let us know in the comments below.

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The Sumatran rhinoceros is extinct in the Kerinci-Seblat National Park, regrettably. Its survival is becoming increasingly improbable I am sorry to say.

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Animals Around the Globe

Your Complete Guide to Tiger Safari

Posted: November 22, 2023 | Last updated: November 22, 2023

Get to know the Tigers

Do you like Big Cats?  Have a look at the best places to see Lynx .

Because humans hunt it and destroy its habitat, which once stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

Tiger habitats are pretty diverse and can be found in more places than you’d think! They live in Siberia’s dense forests and roam Malaysia’s jungles. But things are not going well for these elegant cats of prey. Although the tiger has no natural enemies, it is threatened with extinction. 

Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey.

Tiger Endangerment

The IUCN red list puts the Tiger status to endangered : 

Poachers are also a great danger. They hunt the tigers because they can sell the big cats’ body parts well. Because claws, teeth, brain, and other parts are processed into medicine in traditional Chinese medicine and are in great demand. Hunting tigers as trophies have cost many animals their lives, especially in the last century.

The World Wide Fund For Nature ( WWF ) assumes that less than ten percent of the original habitat is left. The reasons are manifold. For example, mineral resources such as coal or oil are extracted in some regions. Deforestation of the rainforest is also a significant problem, as is the development of inaccessible areas by roads.

The South Chinese tiger is considered extinct in the accessible wilderness. According to the WWF species lexicon, experts assume that there are only a few isolated individuals, if at all. Therefore, the last hope of preserving the species lies in the few animals in Chinese zoos. The remaining five species now live in only 13 countries in Asia. Most of them are native to India, where it is estimated that there are about 1700 tigers.

A little more than a hundred years ago, there were still about 100,000 tigers living in large parts of Asia . There are still about 3900 animals; the Bali, Caspian, and Java tigers are extinct. Amazing animals for a Tiger Safari or Tour.

How Dangerous are Tigers?

Do you like Big Animals?  We collected ideas on the Best Places to see Hippos , Elephants , Giraffes , or Rhinos .

That is why wild animals respect them. But if a trainer, for example, stumbles and loses his position of power, it can become dangerous even for him. Also, to strange tigers, he would not dare to enter the cage. By the way, in the wilderness, animals only rarely attack humans. If, for example, a shark hurts a surfer, it is only because he mistakes him for a seal. You can see this because, unlike its usual prey, it does not eat it. 

Nevertheless, some people can go into a tiger or lion cage without being attacked, for example, tamers in the circus. They know their animals well and are something like the leader. 

For Tiger, a human being is a big animal. And when an animal is in its enclosure, the tiger wants to hunt it because he has an innate hunting instinct. 

Approximately 100 people die every year due to attacks by tigers. Probably, humans are often to blame for this themselves because they provoke the animals.

#1 Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

• Khana National Park Tours
• Dizkvr Tours

Tiger Safari Operators: 

You might also like to read about Lion Walking Tours.

How to get there: Kanha National Park is situated in the south-eastern foothills of the Satpura Mountains almost 165 km southeast of Jabalpur.

Apart from the waiting times, which can amount up to 2 hours, this arrangement is for really interested rather a farce animal protection can not function so! However the park is worthwhile also independently of its tigers. One should let oneself in simply on the species-rich fauna. A tiger sighting is not everything!

Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is one of India’s most famous national parks due to its size. However, because of this size, one does oneself hard to get the tigers hoped by every traveler also to face.  Unless one has nothing against the extremely questionable tiger show, where tigers are driven out of the undergrowth with the help of elephants, so hordes of Indian families wait noisily with the car until the elephant is ready to carry the customers up to the tiger. 

India offers one of the best Tiger spotting opportunities in the world, with over 50 Tier resorts called the "Tiger State". 

India is home to seventy percent of the world’s tiger population, with the Bengal tiger population at 2226 during last census in 2014. The state of Madhya Pradesh is India’s Tiger State; it is located a few hours south of Deli. 

#2 Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

• Bandhavgarh National Park Tours
• Driver Tours India
• Nature Safari India

How to get there: Durminskoye Reserve is about two hours’ drive from Khabarovsk, in the South-Eastern part of Russia in Khabarovsk Krai. 

To make a difference today, raise awareness for these beautiful animals and join a Tiger Safari or Tour.

A white tiger was caught in this area in 1957, whose offspring can be seen in zoos and circuses worldwide. Other predator species in the area include leopard, striped hyena, sloth bear, wild dog, reed cat, golden jackal, spotted musang and Indian mongoose.

The best-known animal species in the park is the Bengal tiger, of which almost 50 animals lived in the park in 1997. The big cats are not shy and can be observed particularly well here.

Some of these swamps still exist. Salt forests dominate the rest. 

The hilly landscape is dominated by a plateau on which once stood the fort of the Maharajas. Nearby are grasslands rich in game, originating from swamps that were once created to protect the fort. 

The park is considered one of the most reliable places to observe wild tigers.

The Bandhavgarh National Park is a national park in Madhya Pradesh, India. It covers an area of about 480 square kilometers and is located about 300 km south of Khajuraho in the Vindhya Mountains. 

#3 Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India

• Satpura National Park Tours
• Pugdun Safaris

How to get there: The Satpura Tiger Reserve, also known as Satpura National Park, is located in the Indian district of Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh. 

This is a different kind of tiger sanctuary with so many differences in altitude and gorgeous greenery, reminiscent of Robert Frost’s beautiful forests. There is a lot of wildlife here. It is undoubtedly an underestimated but wonderful place worth visiting. The drive to the place itself through the mountains is amazingly scenic.

Even though the chances of tiger sightings in Satpura Tiger Reserve are not the highest, the park offers walking safaris, a unique way to experience wildlife. 

Saptura Tiger Reserve is a wonderful place in Madhya Pradesh. However, it is doubtful to see Tiger, because there are only 50 tigers on 1200 sq kms National Park. 

#5 Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand, India

• Corbett Tiger National Park Tours
• Corbett Tiger Reserve Tours

How to get there: Durminskoye Reserve is about two hours drive from Khabarovsk, in the South-Eastern part of Russia in Khabarovsk Krai. 

The main form of vegetation is the saline forests, at higher altitudes there are also some pine stands. In the lowlands there are riverine forests, whose stands are interrupted by grasslands called “chaurs” by the locals. It is only open from November to June.

The largest river in the park is the Ramganga, which flows into a large lake at the western border of the reserve. The landscape is characterized by broad valleys and hills. A chain of hills runs east-west in the middle of the area. 

It was initially called Hailey National Park, but in 1957 it was renamed Corbett National Park after it was temporarily called Ramganga National Park from 1952. Corbett National Park covers almost 521 square kilometres. Together with the adjacent Sonanadi Conservation Area it forms the Corbett Tiger Reserve, established in 1973 as part of Project Tiger.

Corbett National Park is in the Indian state of Uttarakhand at the foot of the Himalayas. It is named after the British hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett, who was instrumental in establishing the first national park in India near Nainital in 1936. Interesting for Tiger Safari or Tour.

#6 Sundarbans-Nationalpark and Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, India

• Sunderbans National Park Tours
• Sunderbans-Park Tour

How to get there: The park is located in the Sundarbans in the Ganges Delta and borders the Sundarban Reserve Forest in Bangladesh.

Also, look at our India Big 5 Article to explore Indian Wildlife.

Among the mammals , the Bengal Tiger is also the absolute highlight in Sundarbans National Park. At present, there are estimated between 350 and 400 wild Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans. This is the largest remaining tiger population worldwide!

The name comes from Bengali and means “beautiful forest”. The Sundarbans cover an area of 10,000 square kilometers in the delta of the largest rivers in South Asia, the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. The Indian state of West Bengal shares the mangrove area with Bangladesh.

The Sundarbans are the most extensive mangrove forests in the world and the only ones where Bengal tigers live at the same time, they have been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 1987. 

West Bengal is home to one of the world’s largest tiger populations, with over 350 tigers in a 140,000-hectare mangrove forest close to the Bangladesh border. It is a world heritage site, and visitors can take boat safaris. A very famous place for Tiger Safari or Tours.

#7 Chitwan National Park, Chitwan, Nepal

• Chitwan Jungle Tours
• Chitwan Jungle Safari 

How to get there: The Chitwan National Park is located southwest of Kathmandu in the Terai. 

The Chitwan National Park is the best known in the country. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the first national park in Nepal . Dusk jeep safari is very popular, mainly in the morning and evening. The more relaxed parts of the day offer the best chance to see a Tiger. 

Due to increased conservation efforts, Nepal's Bengal Tiger population doubled in the last decade, with more than 235 individuals in the five national parks. 

#9 The Sundarbans, Bangladesh

• Bengal Tours (three-day)
• Guide Tours (three-day)
• Responsible Travel (eight-day safari) 

Tiger Safari Operators:

How to get there: The sundarbans national park is located in the south west of bangladesh, around 6 hours drive from Dhaka. 

You can also see saltwater crocodiles, wild boar, languages and many birds.

However, Tiger sightings in Bangladesh are rare , compared to other countries.  Another interesting place for Tiger Safaris or Tiger Tours. Operators offer Boat tours from the city of Khulna in the southwest. Bed and Breakfast on the leading boat, track tigers on smaller boats or en foot (with armed security personal)

It’s the home of more than 1120 Bengal tigers. 

Welcome to the world’s largest mangrove forest, starting in India and going through Bangladesh. 

#10 Durminskoye Reserve, Chabarowsk Region Russia

• Russia Tiger Tracking
• Visit Russia

Tourist tiger safaris are organized like science tours, tracking pug marks on snowmobiles and on food, setting camera traps reviewing footage. What else is there? You can see wolves, lynxes, badgers, foxes, and raptors. In the summer even Asian black bears

However, with only around 540 individuals left in the wild, the chance to see one is slight. Most of the Tiger Safari tours are based in Durminskoye Reserve, it is a 50.000-acre wildlife sanctuary a three hours drive from Khabarovsk in southeast Russia. It is the last prime habitat for Siberian tigers.

In the 1940s, they were hunted to the brink of extinction and only saved due to the new protection grant of tigers in Russia in 1965. 

The majestic Siberian Tiger, mainly found in eastern Russia or northern China, is our planet’s largest tiger species and cat. It is sadly also the most endangered .  

#12 Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia

• Wild Sumatra
• Trijaya Travel

How to get there: The main entrance and the national park office are in Sungai Penuh. There you can get a visit permit and find hiking guides. Alternatively, accommodations in the Kerinci Seblat National Park’s surroundings often help their guests get a visit permit and reliable hiking guides. Look for a Tiger Safari or Tour.

There are also about 200 bird species. Among the more than 4000 plant species that grow in Kerinci Seblat National Park are the giant reflower, the titan’s root, various orchids and the edelweiss.

Numerous rare or even endangered species, such as the Sumatran tiger, the clouded leopard, the tree leopard, the Sumatran rhinoceros, the Malay bear, and the Malayan tapir, is at home in Kerinci Seblat National Park. 

Various species accordingly characterize the fauna and flora of the Kerinci Seblat National Park. 

However, the National Park offers another Sighting, the Sumatran Tiger . Around 200 Tigers roam in the wild, using Tourists as one factor to save their habitat and survival. 

The Kerinci Seblat National Park is twice the size of the famous Bali Island, which is well known for its tourists. 

Tigers in Zoos and National Parks

The consequences for the animals are fatal: Massive damage to their health, severe behavioral disorders, and increased mortality.  This Tiger Safari or Tour guide should highlight only sustainable places to go.

• Perform feats for which they are often trained by force,
• Have to change venues 50 times a year on average,
• Spend most of their time in small cages, inadequate enclosures, or in the transport wagon,
• That essential species-specific behavior such as social contacts or movement are considerably restricted or made completely impossible,
• that they have little variety or occupation,
• that they are often not fed and cared for appropriately,
• That veterinary control or care is often inadequate because there are only a few specialized veterinarians for wild animals nationwide or the circus cannot or will not afford the treatment financially,
• that in many cases the circus operators lack the necessary expertise,
• that there is no fixed winter quarters during the play-free period. Only about every tenth company can call a winter accommodation its own.

Nevertheless, animals of wild species can still be seen in many circus operations that travel around the world: Tigers, lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, sea lions or monkeys – the range of animal species carried along is extensive. Wild animals suffer in the circus. They suffer massively, because:

Wild animals make exceptionally high demands on their keeping and accommodation. In a circus enterprise, responsible keeping wild animals is generally impossible.

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Reviews — zoos in europe, his­tory description, his­tory documentary.

Dur­ing the sec­ond half of the nine­teenth cen­tury the first menageries in Moscow were estab­lished as enter­tain­ment facil­i­ties. The first was founded in 1855 by two French­men (names unknown), while the Kreuzberg fam­ily owned a pri­vate menagerie that opened its door to the pub­lic in 1862 . Together these ani­mal col­lec­tions formed the heart of the Moscow Zoo­log­i­cal Gar­den founded by the Soci­ety for Acclima­ti­za­tion of Plants and Ani­mals, which was estab­lished by pro­fes­sors of the Moscow State Uni­ver­sity. The ini­tial idea for such a zoo­log­i­cal gar­den came in 1857 , but it took the Soci­ety, includ­ing one of its found­ing fathers pro­fes­sor Ana­toly P. Bog­danov, until 1863 to be able to buy prop­erty for the future zoo. The Zoo was opened to vis­i­tors on 13 Feb­ru­ary 1864 at the loca­tion where it still exists until this very day. On open­ing day 287 ani­mals were on dis­play, of which 134 were domes­tic ani­mals, while the oth­ers were exotic spec­i­mens such as tigers, lions, jaguar, leop­ard and rhino.

In those days it was an unique exper­i­ment to cre­ate “a liv­ing museum out­doors,” as pro­fes­sor Bog­danov said, in such severe cli­matic con­di­tions of cen­tral Rus­sia. The pri­mary pur­pose of the Zoo­log­i­cal Gar­den accord­ing to the mem­bers of the Soci­ety was:

to col­lect alive spec­i­mens of higher ver­te­brates ( firstly — the ani­mals of Russ­ian fauna) for sci­en­tific observations;

to estab­lish a col­lec­tion of typ­i­cal ani­mals that could serve edu­ca­tional pur­poses, i.e. dis­tri­b­u­tion of zoo­log­i­cal knowl­edge among the wide pub­lic communities;

to carry out sci­en­tific exper­i­ments and obser­va­tions of impor­tant ani­mals, espe­cially domes­tic ani­mals of Russ­ian breeds.

The Zoo was financed by the entrance fees and pri­vate dona­tions, includ­ing con­tri­bu­tions by mem­bers of the impe­r­ial fam­ily. In the first years the annual num­ber of vis­i­tors grew up to ten thou­sands. Nev­er­the­less, the incomes did not cover the expenses and the Moscow City Coun­cil refused to give finan­cial sup­port. So, the Zoo went into pri­vate hands of the Ryabinins’ fam­ily in 1874 . They trans­formed the Zoo into an amuse­ment park and in three years time ruined the place. In 1878 the Zoo was run by the Soci­ety for Acclima­ti­za­tion of Plants and Ani­mals again, includ­ing fund rais­ing activ­i­ties. This time the Soci­ety was able to man­age the Zoo suc­cess­fully, and even to buy a num­ber of ani­mals. But in the tur­moil of the Rev­o­lu­tion of 1905 the Zoo was severely dam­aged: the build­ings were ruined, the library was set on fire, many ani­mals per­ished. So, for the sec­ond time the Soci­ety was forced to turn over the Zoo to pri­vate owners.

Then in 1914 World War I broke out. For the Zoo this meant that in the autumn of 1914 the only build­ing that remain to this day was trans­formed from the director’s premises to a hos­pi­tal for wounded WWI sol­diers. The WWI impact com­pounded Russia’s suf­fer­ing from a num­ber of eco­nomic and social prob­lems, which resulted first in the 1917 Feb­ru­ary rev­o­lu­tion fol­lowed by the Octo­ber rev­o­lu­tion. In the after­math of the Great Octo­ber Social­ist Rev­o­lu­tion of 1917 and the fall of the Russ­ian Empire, the Soci­ety ceased to exist, and in 1919 the Zoo­log­i­cal Gar­den was declared national prop­erty and trans­ferred under the respon­si­bil­ity of the min­istry of Cul­ture of the com­mu­nist Moscow par­lia­ment, the Mossovet. In 1922 it was trans­ferred to the author­ity of Moscow City Coun­cil and since then it has been sup­ported by the City Author­i­ties. Con­struc­tion work began on the Zoo grounds. The Zoo­log­i­cal Gar­den premises almost dou­bled in size with the estab­lish­ment of the ‘New’ ter­ri­tory on the oppo­site side of Bol­shaya Gruzin­skaya street. New exhibits, which fol­lowed the prin­ci­ple of Carl Hagenbeck’s bar-​less enclo­sure design were estab­lished. One of the most inter­est­ing exhibits of the Zoo called ‘Ani­mal Island’ still exists. It was a high stony rock sur­rounded by a deep water ditch that sep­a­rated the vis­i­tors from bears, tigers, lions and other large preda­tors on the ‘Island’. The total size at the time was nearly 18 hectares.

In 1926 the Zoo­log­i­cal Gar­den was renamed ‘Zoo­log­i­cal Park’. At that time the range of activ­i­ties extended, the ani­mal col­lec­tion increased con­sid­er­ably with expe­di­tions col­lect­ing wildlife in Cen­tral Asia, the Far East and the Cau­ca­sus. New depart­ments were estab­lished, focussed on for instance sci­en­tific research, edu­ca­tion, vet­eri­nary sci­ence and nutri­tion. In those same years Moscow Zoo was the first zoo in the world where edu­ca­tional activ­i­ties were the main priority.

In 1924 the Zoo had estab­lished the Young Biol­o­gists Club that gath­ered like-​minded young peo­ple that joined in real sci­en­tific research. Many of them became a Zoo employee. The Club was founded by Petr Man­teifel, who also was the pio­neer father of the sci­ence called ‘zoo biol­ogy’. Man­teifel and his young biol­o­gists dis­cov­ered a way of arti­fi­cial breed­ing sables (Martes zibel­lina), which were on the verge of extinc­tion due to man’s insa­tiable pur­suit for its expen­sive fur. In the 1930 s dur­ing Stalin’s great purge many mem­bers of the Young Biol­o­gists Club were arrested accused of spread­ing anti-​soviet pro­pa­ganda and liberal-​minded ideas and hav­ing con­tact with Ger­man col­leagues at Berlin zoo, some were even exe­cuted as for­eign spies. The Club was con­sid­ered a non-​governmental organ­i­sa­tion beyond the direct con­trol of the author­i­ties, which in fact was partly true because the Club was a real democ­racy, with mem­ber­ship avail­able to all.

Although many ani­mals were evac­u­ated and many of the zoo staff were called to arms at the begin­ning of World War II the Zoo was kept open. Of the 750 employ­ees at autumn 1941 only 220 remained on the staff, most of them women. Get­ting enough food for the ani­mals was a con­stant chal­lenge, for instance car­casses of killed horse at the bat­tle­field around Moscow were brought to the zoo. More than six mil­lion peo­ple vis­ited the Zoo from 1941 to 1945 to enjoy the sights of ani­mals that had remained.

At wartime the sci­en­tific work pro­ceeded, per­haps even more intense than before or after the war. The sci­en­tific staff worked espe­cially on devel­op­ment of antibi­otics. But the most impor­tant mis­sion of the Zoo dur­ing the war was to give peo­ple hope. It pro­duced the illu­sion of a peace­ful life until peo­ple sur­vived through the des­per­a­tion of the war with the Red Army sol­diers as the most fre­quent vis­i­tors of the Zoo. Which were given the plea­sure of watch­ing new­born off­spring even dur­ing the war.

Dur­ing the soviet union period ( 1922 − 1991 ) not many highly ranked peo­ple cared about the zoo — no soviet leader had any inter­est in it. The city encroached on the zoo premises, while the zoo needed addi­tional space for the ever expand­ing zoo pop­u­la­tion of ani­mals. Because the breed­ing results were still excellent.

The Zoo lived up to the goal it had set for itself and made edu­ca­tional activ­i­ties the main pri­or­ity. Zoo staff dis­trib­uted knowl­edge in the field of nat­ural his­tory and tried to raise the pub­lic aware­ness and con­cern about the neces­sity for wildlife con­ser­va­tion. The zoo assisted school­child­ren and stu­dents with study­ing biol­ogy, actively par­tic­i­pated in sci­en­tific research, and actively con­tributed to sci­en­tific pub­li­ca­tions. So, the Zoo became one of the larger sci­en­tific insti­tu­tions in Moscow. And of course it still was the favourite recre­ational place for Moscow cit­i­zens and those who vis­ited the city.

As off 1974 when Igos Sos­novsky retired as direc­tor and his suc­ces­sor Vladimir Spit­syn took over Moscow Zoo became part of the inter­na­tional zoo com­mu­nity again. Sos­novsky as a WWII vet­eran hadn’t been able to brush aside the fear of repres­sion and avoided all inter­na­tional con­tacts for some rea­son. Spit­syn restored all inter­na­tional activ­i­ties from before the war and the Zoo became mem­ber of many Euro­pean and Inter­na­tional Breed­ing Pro­grammes in which it exchanged its rare and endan­gered ani­mals, shared expe­ri­ence and information.

Although already in the 1970 s improve­ment of all zoo facil­i­ties was needed and ideas of a new zoo in another region of Moscow were launched, noth­ing hap­pened due to local eco­nom­i­cal and social prob­lems. By the end of the 1980 s the Zoo’s con­di­tion became alarm­ing. Facil­i­ties were dete­ri­o­rat­ing, enclo­sures were dilap­i­dated and tech­ni­cal equip­ment needed to be replaced as well. And while a few improve­ments had been achieved — such as a par­tial ren­o­va­tion of the main entrance, the mon­key house and lion house — urgent mea­sures were still needed.

Then, in 1992 the new Moscow gov­ern­ment made a deci­sion to start the most ambi­tious recon­struc­tion project in Moscow Zoo’s his­tory with the first stage of the project to be com­pleted by 1997 , when the 850 th anniver­sary of the City would be cel­e­brated. Ana­toly A. Andreev who had been involved in the Zoo’s design and archi­tec­ture since the 1970 s headed the team of archi­tects. The project’s ren­o­va­tion objec­tives were focussed at (a) preser­va­tion or par­tial ren­o­va­tion of the his­tor­i­cally valu­able build­ings and exist­ing pools, (b) reduc­tion of the noise from the sur­round­ing streets, © con­nec­tion of the Old and the New ter­ri­tory via a foot­bridge, and (d) expan­sion of the Old ter­ri­tory by incor­po­rat­ing adja­cent areas and buildings.

Besides the preser­va­tion and ren­o­va­tion of almost all impor­tant zoo con­struc­tions, includ­ing the ones that actu­ally were dilap­i­dated, many new enclo­sures and facil­i­ties were built. Already in 1993 the foot­bridge that con­nected the Old and New ter­ri­tory was com­pleted. It allowed vis­i­tors to avoid cross­ing the busy B. Gruzin­skaya street with its heavy traf­fic. In 1993 other con­struc­tions were com­pleted as well, such as an enclo­sure for large birds of prey and a com­plex of enclo­sures for feline species, includ­ing leop­ards, Pal­las’ cats and lynx. Next, the Hagenbeck-​style ‘Ani­mal Island’, one of the most remark­able exhibits in the New ter­ri­tory, was ren­o­vated. The his­toric appear­ance with enclo­sures that resem­bled the nat­ural habi­tats of Amur tiger, striped hyena, African wild dog and Asian black bear was pre­served. Later they intro­duced Asian lions in one of the enclo­sures around the large rock in the cen­tre of the ‘island’. Dur­ing the ren­o­va­tion they cre­ated the Exo­tar­ium, which held sev­eral aquar­i­ums, inside the rock on the sec­ond floor.

The fol­low­ing years many more enclo­sures were ren­o­vated, besides the new research and vet­eri­nar­ian facil­i­ties that were put into oper­a­tion in 1994 . In 1996 , the main entrance itself (fea­tur­ing a small arti­fi­cial water­fall) was recon­structed. The same year the old, dilap­i­dated ele­phant com­plex was demol­ished and a new ele­phant house was erected at the same spot, while the inhab­i­tants (four African ele­phants and four Asian ele­phants) were tem­porar­ily moved to a a for­mer tram depot that was com­pletely ren­o­vated and spe­cially equipped. A new children’s zoo was opened in the New ter­ri­tory, includ­ing a children’s the­atre that organ­ises shows with edu­ca­tional ele­ments. And besides sev­eral aviaries, a pavil­ion for water birds was built on the shore of the large pond in the New territory.

Although in those days 4 addi­tional hectares of space was added to the for­mer exist­ing 18 hectares, the Zoo still lacked space to cre­ate favourable con­di­tions for their species to breed. And its loca­tion in the cen­tre of Moscow didn’t con­tribute to the favourable breed­ing con­di­tions they wanted of course. There­fore, the 200 hectares area near the city of Voloko­lamsk (about 100 km from Moscow) that was given to the Zoo in 1996 for the estab­lish­ment of a breed­ing sta­tion was very much wel­comed (see also Breed­ing Cen­tre ).

The first major stage of the gen­eral recon­struc­tion of the Moscow zoo rep­re­sents a unique event. Not only over 50 facil­i­ties have been ren­o­vated ( 90 % of all exist­ing facil­i­ties) and newly built, but it was achieved in such a short period of time. But main­te­nance and small and larger refur­bish­ment is ongo­ing busi­ness in a zoo. So, i n 2002 , the Moscow City Gov­ern­ment and the City Coun­cil allo­cated the nec­es­sary funds to start con­struc­tion of a new pavil­ion for the Asian ele­phants. In 2003 the three ele­phants could move house already, and in spring 2009 , the first new­born ele­phant calf was welcomed.

The Moscow Zoo­log­i­cal Park has come a long way from the small zoo­log­i­cal gar­den it was to the large insti­tu­tion of sci­en­tific research, edu­ca­tion, con­ser­va­tion and recre­ation it is today. And due to the dynam­ics of the stan­dards used in the zoo com­mu­nity regard­ing ani­mal health and wel­fare, Moscow Zoo is con­stantly improv­ing its facil­i­ties, also dur­ing 2014 cel­e­brat­ing its 150 th anniversary.

(Source: Moscow Zoo web­site; Zoo with a Human Face, to the 150 th anniver­sary of the Moscow Zoo — a doc­u­men­tary by Darya Vio­lina and Sergei Pavlovsky, 2014 ; Zoo and Aquar­ium His­tory by Ver­non N. Kisling, Jr., 2001 ; Wikipedia)

An account of 150 years of his­tory of the Moscow Zoo

(A doc­u­men­tary by Darya Vio­lina and Sergei Pavlovsky)

The his­tory of Moscow Zoo shown through the per­spec­tive of the lives of the peo­ple who have been impor­tant to the Zoo’s devel­op­ment and con­tin­u­ous progress over those many years since 1864 . Thou­sands of pho­tographs, hun­dreds of chron­i­cles, accounts and rec­ol­lec­tions that have pre­served the story that began so long ago, against all odds, and lasts unin­ter­rupted to this day. A doc­u­men­tary about those who have devoted their lives to serv­ing a noble and reward­ing cause, those who have started from scratch, those who main­tained that work and about those who revive the Zoo as off today.

(Source: sdpavlovskiy YouTube channel)

20 . 06 . 2014

Finally, Moscow Zoo is paid a visit. I have been look­ing for­ward to this for quite some time. It has been on my to-​do list since I learnt about the large col­lec­tion of feline species on dis­play at the Zoo. So, I am here on this sunny day in June to sat­isfy my curios­ity, in the year they cel­e­brate the Zoo’s 150 th anniversary.

I am enter­ing as one of the 1 , 5 mil­lion pay­ing atten­dance yearly. Which is not even half of the total num­ber of vis­i­tors a year. This is about 4 mil­lion, because there are spe­cific cat­e­gories (e.g. dis­abled, pen­sion­ers, chil­dren, stu­dents, etc.) for whom the admis­sion is free.

OLD TER­RI­TORY

I turn left after the main entrance to visit the large preda­tor sec­tion of the Old ter­ri­tory. Not that only here you will find preda­tors, but the great­est part of their preda­tor col­lec­tion is grouped in this sec­tion. I will come back to the group­ing of Moscow Zoo’s ani­mal col­lec­tion later. After hav­ing walked along a fence that blocks most of the views on the work in progress at the lake I arrive at what they call here the ‘trop­i­cal cats’ sec­tion: Ben­gal tiger (unfor­tu­nately the genet­i­cally aber­rant ver­sion — a white tiger), jaguar and chee­tah. Both the tiger and the jaguar have their indoor enclo­sures in the same house built at the perime­ter of the premises. The chee­tahs have their shel­ter for the night and bad weather in their out­door pad­dock, so that can­not be vis­ited. The tiger and the jaguar how­ever have inter­est­ing hous­ing that serves the needs for both the cats and the vis­i­tors. The lat­ter are pleased with Asian and South Amer­i­can (Inca) orna­ments to make sure they under­stand the geo­graph­i­cal ori­gin of the species. While the walls have murals rep­re­sent­ing the species’ orig­i­nal habi­tat … Machu Pichu for the jaguar. The ani­mals them­selves have var­i­ous enrich­ment fea­tures at their dis­posal, includ­ing high level obser­va­tion posts, in rather small exhibits. The out­door facil­i­ties for these two species are acces­si­ble from the indoors. It has nat­ural veg­e­ta­tion, but not a lot. Like­wise there are not a lot of options to shel­ter from extreme weather or loud crowds. Although the cats have access to sev­eral rest­ing posts at dif­fer­ent lev­els, these enclo­sures can do with some improve­ments — at least more veg­e­ta­tion — to make them bet­ter fit for pur­pose, in my opin­ion. The enor­mous expo­sure of the cats is also due to the fact that they use win­dows to sep­a­rate ani­mal from man along almost the total length of the enclosures.

When I walk the few steps to the entrance of the Bear House, which is like the jaguar and tiger indoor enclo­sure built at the edge of the Zoo grounds, I pass in between the Pal­las’ cat exhibit and a sec­ond jaguar exhibit. The Pal­las’ cat has a flat grassy area with three large trees, some shrubs and a poten­tial pond (when filled with water) avail­able in its out­door enclo­sure. Win­dows all around and a wire mesh roof pre­vent the cat from flee­ing this scenery that doesn’t resem­ble the cat’s orig­i­nal Himalyan habi­tat. Across the foot­path there’s a jaguar enclo­sure that’s more inter­est­ing than the one directly neigh­bour­ing the tiger. This one has a small stream and loads of veg­e­ta­tion and a mul­ti­level rest­ing plat­form. Still the ani­mal is quite exposed.

The Bear House pro­vides a nice and secluded area where three adja­cent bear enclo­sures houses sloth bear and spec­ta­cled bear. As a vis­i­tor you walk via a roofed cor­ri­dor more or less in the dark along the enclo­sures hav­ing good views on the exhibit via man-​sized win­dows. The enclo­sures have a dry shal­low moat at the visitor’s side, but I don’t think this with­hold the bears from com­ing close to the win­dows. The enclo­sures are small but almost com­pletely filled with enrich­ment fea­tures includ­ing var­i­ous plat­forms, a tree trunk struc­ture, rub­ber ham­mocks and nat­ural veg­e­ta­tion. Con­sid­er­ing the design I think these enclo­sures offer peace and quiet for the bears, unless peo­ple start bang­ing the win­dows of course.

In slightly larger enclo­sures they keep Amur leop­ard, snow leop­ard and cougar ( Puma con­color ). At all of these felid species enclo­sures the dis­tance between the pub­lic bar­rier and the fence does allow con­tact when peo­ple lean far forward.

Fur­ther along the foot­path around the cor­ner the arc­tic fox and the dhole are housed in enclo­sures that have a sim­i­lar inte­rior design as those for the felids. Despite the fact that these species live under dif­fer­ent nat­ural cir­cum­stances in the wild (for­est and tun­dra habi­tat respectively).

When I walk back to have a look at the large birds of prey aviary I can­not pre­vent myself to have a brief look at the giraffe enclo­sure as well. It’s obvi­ously a relic of the past that is not fit for pur­pose any­more. Still they have one retic­u­lated giraffe on dis­play at a sad­den­ing small area. It loves to be fed by the pub­lic that doesn’t care about the warn­ing not to feed the ani­mals. On the other side of the build­ing a sim­i­lar piti­ful sit­u­a­tion for the sin­gle white-​tailed gnu can be seen.

One of the most extra­or­di­nary group of species brought together on dis­play can be found right after the row of preda­tor enclo­sures. The maned wolf from South Amer­ica has the red-​necked wal­laby and emu from Aus­tralia as neigh­bour. But also in the same area the African wild dog is on dis­play as well as white-​tailed gnu (Africa) and kiang (Asia) in the row of sta­bles along the rim of the premises.

The rac­coon exhibit is worth men­tion­ing con­sid­er­ing the afore­men­tioned acci­dent risks. It has a very typ­i­cal enclo­sure design with elec­tri­cal wire on top of win­dows sur­round­ing the entire exhibit. The elec­tri­cal wire is within reach of the pub­lic. So, there are numer­ous warn­ing signs! But why they installed elec­tri­cal wire on top of win­dows that are unclimbable for rac­coons? To keep out the pub­lic perhaps?

In the bird house, in the far end cor­ner from the main entrance, birds from all geo­graph­i­cal regions are grouped together, includ­ing Hum­boldt pen­guin and African pen­guin. The house con­sists of two part with one part half empty, and has also very com­mon species on dis­play, such as wild turkey, com­mon pheas­ant and Euro­pean hedge­hog. Out­side this build­ing sev­eral aviaries com­prise a large array of par­rot species (South Amer­ica and Australia).

Pro­ceed­ing with my tour around the Old ter­ri­tory I have a look at the Asian ele­phant house and its sur­round­ing grounds. The fancy steel with blue details of the ele­phant house doesn’t appeal to me, but that is just a mat­ter of taste. It is def­i­nitely the most mod­ern exhibit in the Zoo I’ve seen yet, in style and in size, with a nice pool at the visitor’s side.

I skip the rep­tile house to save some time, and money too, because an addi­tional fee com­plies. So I walk straight to another mod­ern enclo­sure — the bar-​less and moated wolf exhibit. Although it has a Hagenbeck-​style design, the space avail­able for the wolves is ridicu­lously small. The wolves will never be able to cross the water-​filled moat and climb the wall and thus break out, still there is impres­sive elec­tri­cal wiring in place on top of the wall. Again, prob­a­bly to keep out the public.

Mak­ing my way to the foot­bridge that con­nects the Old and New ter­ri­tory I pass along a very old-​fashioned row of enclo­sures built in a semi­cir­cle in front of the 16 metres high sculp­ture by Zurab Tsereteli called ‘Tree of Fairy Tales’, 1996 . The enclo­sures house sev­eral species of mustel­idae (sable, Euro­pean pole­cat, stone marten), as well as African wild cats. Then fol­lowed by sev­eral aviaries again. At this point I am really lost regard­ing the way they group the Zoo’s ani­mal collection.

NEW TER­RI­TORY

Pro­ceed­ing clock­wise I find the doors of the Trop­i­cal House closed for ren­o­va­tion. So, no but­ter­flies for me this time. But in one of the two spa­cious aviaries around this house I dis­cover sev­eral ducks, such as the man­darin duck and the black-​bellied whistling duck, together with the com­mon kestrel ( Falco tin­nun­cu­lus ), though nei­ther rare nor endangered.

Then a rather spe­cial exhibit appears, the Ani­mal Island, which was devel­oped in the 1920 s as one of the first Hagenbeck-​style enclo­sures in the New ter­ri­tory. Although it took some ren­o­va­tion activ­i­ties it still exists to this very day. In the cen­tre of this moated area they have erected a fake ruined fortress, which serves as the back­ground for the species in the sur­round­ing exhibits. These bar-​less exhibits have a more mod­ern appear­ance but it isn’t nec­es­sar­ily an improve­ment for the ani­mals. For instance the Asian black bear has a bare envi­ron­ment with minor enrich­ment avail­able and no veg­e­ta­tion, but the brown bear is even worse off in a sim­i­lar enclo­sure but next to noth­ing of enrich­ment fea­tures. The tun­dra wolf ( Canis lupus alba ) and the striped hyena have a lit­tle bet­ter place at their dis­posal, but the Asian lions have by far the best enclo­sure. They have sev­eral rest­ing plat­forms, trees and a stream that ends in the moat. Again to save time I skip an exhibit. This time the Exo­tar­ium with its aquar­i­ums that has been cre­ated inside the ruined fortress and by the way requires an addi­tional fee to get in.

One of the rare areas in Moscow Zoo where you find mixed-​species exhibits is called ‘Fauna of the Savan­nah’. It has a South Amer­i­can sec­tion with capy­bara vicuna and gua­naco, and — very impor­tantly — a large pool at the dis­posal of the largest rodent on earth. Though absolutely not endan­gered, these water-​loving capy­baras should have access to water at all times, in my opin­ion. The real savan­nah area with African species has sev­eral enclo­sures. A mixed species exhibit with sable ante­lope and dikdik. And Grevy’s zebra together with ostrich and giraffe. Also this time there’s only one giraffe in the pad­dock. The loca­tion of the meerkat enclo­sure is well cho­sen, because when they sit on top of one of their hills they can watch the other ani­mals. Although it is the largest and prob­a­bly the most mod­ern facil­ity at the Moscow Zoo I still think it is dis­ap­point­ingly mediocre com­pared to other zoos I have seen in Europe and North America.

Before I go to the pri­mate sec­tion I buy myself an ice cream and walk along the horse sta­bles on the east­ern edge of the New ter­ri­tory premises. Look­ing for an answer to the ques­tion “why are there horse sta­bles at this place?” The ques­tion still waits for an answer.

At Moscow Zoo they keep both Suma­tran as Bornean orang­utans, which is quite unusual. The out­doors for the five indi­vid­u­als, includ­ing 2 young, of the Suma­tran species looks impres­sive due to the enor­mously high rock face at the rear. The wall looks extra impres­sive because it is rather close to the view­ing win­dows. Unfor­tu­nately, the exhibit lacks trees and veg­e­ta­tion other than grass while the enrich­ment is scant and I don’t see puz­zle feed­ers. The Bornean orang­utans have a sim­i­lar out­door enclo­sure, but it is sug­gested that olive baboons ( Papio anu­bis ) are on dis­play here as well. It could be that they alter­nate in the same out­door enclo­sure, but this is not very clear.

The west­ern low­land goril­las also have a sim­i­lar out­door enclo­sure design due to which the ani­mals are enor­mously exposed to the inquis­i­tive pub­lic. Con­sid­er­ing the num­ber of young­sters Moscow Zoo appears to be hav­ing good results breed­ing orang­utans and gorillas.

Indoors, all the great ape exhibits have much enrich­ment and jungle-​like murals, but the agile gib­bon has even more enrich­ment inside. I haven’t seen a spe­cific out­door enclo­sure for the agile gib­bon but it could be pos­si­ble that it alter­nates with the Suma­tran orang­utans. Only this enclo­sure lacks high trees or other options for the gib­bon to brachi­ate, which is its nat­ural behav­iour in the canopy of the gibbon’s native habi­tat, the rain­forests of south­east Asia.

The ter­rar­ium build­ing, located behind the Pri­mate House, is beau­ti­fully dec­o­rated with lit­tle mosaic tiles. They have the usual row of exhibits, but in this case espe­cially the larger rep­tiles and tor­toises (python, croc­o­diles, alli­ga­tor, tor­toise) are kept. And out­side they have two giant tor­toise species, the Aldabra and the Gala­pa­gos tortoise.

On my return to the exit I pass the exhibits of a few of the many preda­tor species they have on dis­play at Moscow Zoo. The polar bear is pro­vided with a big heap of arti­fi­cial ice, but that’s about it when it comes to enrich­ment, though there are some plas­tic drums to play with. The enclo­sure as such is the pro­to­type of polar bear enclo­sures world­wide, rear wall of cement and large bricks, con­crete floor, large and deep water-​filled moat. Unfor­tu­nately, again here the annoy­ing reflect­ing win­dows. The yellow-​throated marten I do not see, and the same counts for the Eurasian otter in its large elon­gated out­door exhibit with a shal­low pool along the whole length. It must be great to see the sub­merged otters swim in this pool.

Con­clu­sion There are sev­eral ways to group a col­lec­tion of ani­mals which can sup­port a zoo’s edu­ca­tional efforts. Of course, some peo­ple just come to the zoo to be enter­tained, but when an indi­vid­ual is ready to learn some things the worst thing you can do is con­fuse him or her. And to be fairly hon­est, con­fus­ing it is. Some­times they group the col­lec­tion accord­ing their tax­o­nomic tree, which is the case with the felids, the bird species and the pri­mates. Then again they have decided to present the col­lec­tion by geo­graph­i­cal ori­gin, like in the ‘Fauna of the Savan­nah’, or accord­ing orig­i­nal habi­tat like the mountain-​dwelling tur and mark­hor. And at some point they just make a mess of the group­ing, for instance in the area with the maned wolf, the red-​necked wal­laby and oth­ers. In the end it seems the Zoo just want to have on dis­play as many species as pos­si­ble, because all species that live in herds they keep them in small num­bers. I do under­stand that it is not easy, requires tough deci­sions and cer­tainly is not cheap to rearrange your entire col­lec­tion, espe­cially when it is that huge as it is here at Moscow Zoo. Any­way, fur­ther ren­o­va­tion is fore­seen and prob­a­bly some rethink­ing as well.

I hope that they get rid of all these win­dows they have at so many exhibits. For some sit­u­a­tions it is inevitable I under­stand, but I sin­cerely hope they will return to the orig­i­nal Hagen­beck idea of bar-​less enclo­sures, tak­ing into account mod­ern hus­bandry stan­dards of course. As the posi­tion of the sun makes it some­times hard to get even the slight­est glimpse of the ani­mals due to the reflec­tions in the win­dows. And last but not least they have the ten­dency to have win­dows all around or at more than 50 per­cent of the perime­ter of an enclo­sure. Most of the time lead­ing to more expo­sure of the ani­mals to the pub­lic and pos­si­ble unrest.

Suma­tran orang­utan young­sters at Moscow Zoo

Just another day at the zoo for these orang­utans ( Pongo abelii ) — noth­ing much excit­ing going on in this safe and secure envi­ron­ment. But wouldn’t it be nice to see them swing­ing and romp­ing in the forests of Sumatra.….

Rac­coons at Moscow Zoo

Rac­coons are known for their habit to clean their food in the water before eat­ing it. It seems they also want to have a clean ball before play­ing with it.

Breed­ing Centre

Infor­ma­tion and education, zoo details, breed­ing farm.

The Moscow Zoo has always been try­ing to cre­ate the most favourable con­di­tions for their ani­mals to ful­fil their basic needs. Not only for ani­mal health and wel­fare pur­poses but also to breed the ani­mals suc­cess­fully. These spe­cific breed­ing con­di­tions could not be achieved due to its loca­tion in the City cen­tre and the lack of space. In 1996 the Zoo came into pos­ses­sion of an area of 200 hectares near the city of Voloko­lamsk (about 100 km from Moscow). In this pic­turesque hilly area of the for­mer quar­ries of the Sychovo min­ing fac­tory, with streams, springs and arti­fi­cial ponds bet­ter oppor­tu­ni­ties were avail­able for breed­ing var­i­ous — pre­dom­i­nantly rare — species of animals.

The main goals of the Breed­ing Cen­tre, besides main­tain­ing rare and endan­gered species of ani­mals, are estab­lish­ing breed­ing pairs and groups and devel­op­ing new hus­bandry meth­ods. Since exces­sive dis­tur­bance is likely to have adverse effect on the breed­ing efforts, the actual Breed­ing Cen­tre is not open to the public.

The con­struc­tion of the Breed­ing Cen­tre started in March 1996 . The first inhab­i­tants of the Cen­tre were birds of prey and water­fowl and they have been suc­cess­fully breed­ing birds ever since. The col­lec­tion of water­fowl has grown notably since the begin­ning. Apart from the numer­ous mal­lards and ruddy shel­ducks, the inhab­i­tants of the ponds include pin­tails, pochards, tufted ducks and black geese of the genus Branta. Bewick’s swans are thriv­ing, rais­ing their chicks every year. Japan­ese, white-​naped and Siber­ian cranes are also breed­ing suc­cess­fully and many other species, includ­ing par­rots. The breed­ing cen­tre for birds of prey is con­tin­u­ously expand­ing, with Himalayan grif­fon vul­tures, golden eagles, impe­r­ial eagles, Steller’s sea eagles, and black vul­tures among its most promi­nent inhab­i­tants. Reg­u­lar breed­ing has also been achieved in saker fal­cons ( Falco cher­rug ).

They keep car­niv­o­rous mam­mals as well at the Breed­ing Cen­tre. These include endan­gered species such as Amur leop­ard, Pal­las’ cat, chee­tah, Amur tiger, dhole, wolver­ine, and yellow-​throated marten. Of these species the Amur leop­ard is listed Crit­i­cally Endan­gered accord­ing the IUCN Red List of Threat­ened Species™ , with about 45 indi­vid­u­als left in the wild. The Zoo’s track record says they have pro­duced off­spring from Pal­las’ cat, dhole, yellow-​throated marten, and Amur tiger.

For the ungu­lates that are kept at the Cen­tre the envi­ron­ment is almost ideal. There are bac­trian camels as well as kiangs, Saiga antelopes, blue sheep and vicu­nas. Hoofed ani­mals orig­i­nat­ing from moun­tain­ous areas have large pad­docks at their dis­posal that are sit­u­ated on the slopes of the sur­round­ing hills, more or less sim­i­lar to their nat­ural habitat.

Besides the more rare and endan­gered species the Cen­tre also has an inter­est­ing col­lec­tion of domes­tic hens, a horse sta­ble and a dog-​breeding cen­tre, mainly for the breed­ing of Cen­tral Asian sheep dogs. Fur­ther­more, there is a small quail farm and a poul­try farm with layer hens.

More­over a sub­sidiary farm in Loto­shino houses some cat­tle, smaller live­stock, and the main herd of bac­trian camels and yaks. The area of the sub­sidiary farm is about 51 hectares and it com­prises hay­fields, pas­tures, a sheep­fold and an api­ary. Most impor­tantly it pro­vides the Moscow Zoo with eco­log­i­cal feed for its animals.

The Breed­ing Centre’s col­lec­tion com­prises 10 species of car­ni­vores, 6 species of ungu­lates, 74 species of birds and a great num­ber of domes­tic ani­mals, but the col­lec­tion is expand­ing con­stantly. Although it is still closed to vis­i­tors, the Zoo’s goal is to open part of the farm (as they call the Breed­ing Cen­tre them­selves) to out­side vis­i­tors soon. They plan to cre­ate an addi­tional safari park at the loca­tion of the Breed­ing Centre.

(Source: Moscow Zoo web­site; Zoo with a Human Face, to the 150 th anniver­sary of the Moscow Zoo — a doc­u­men­tary by Darya Vio­lina and Sergei Pavlovsky, 2014 )

Infor­ma­tion pan­els and Edu­ca­tion at the Zoo

First thing to be noticed of course is that the infor­ma­tion on the pan­els around Moscow Zoo is given in the Russ­ian lan­guage. And no other lan­guage. This is not unex­pected as most of the infor­ma­tion pro­vided in Moscow is only in Russ­ian. For­tu­nately, the name of the species on dis­play is given in Eng­lish as well, together with its sci­en­tific name. As far as I can tell and under­stand no infor­ma­tion is pro­vided on the species con­ser­va­tion sta­tus (or IUCN Red List sta­tus). On the new revamped web­site this infor­ma­tion is avail­able but only in Russ­ian and no icons or logos are used, so you have to rely on machine trans­la­tion ser­vices. The pan­els show geo­graphic maps of the species dis­tri­b­u­tion and some­times the IUCN sta­tus and if the species is part of EEP /​ESB, as well. But this is not done con­sis­tently, and I am not sure how reli­able the infor­ma­tion is. Nev­er­the­less I have been able to find on the inter­net a list of species that rep­re­sent the Moscow Zoo con­tri­bu­tion to the Euro­pean Endan­gered species Pro­grammes (EEPs).

There is also a zoo school that is pri­mar­ily focussed on chil­dren, and I assume that the Young Biol­o­gists Club still exist. Fore­most because it has been very suc­cess­fully deliv­er­ing a range of impor­tant staff mem­bers over the years.

• Direc­tions

direc­tions to Moscow Zoo

Address : B. Gruzin­skaya 1 123242 Moscow Rus­sia

pub­lic transport

The metro sys­tem can be quite intim­i­dat­ing for for­eign­ers because of the lan­guage issue, but I can assure you it is the best way of nav­i­gat­ing the city. The metro sta­tions are the most beau­ti­ful I’ve ever seen and buy­ing tick­ets can be done using sign lan­guage (see the tri­pad­vi­sor web­site how it is done). When you are not able to deci­pher the Cyril­lic alpha­bet on the fly it is best to pre­pare your metro trip before­hand and make sure that you know how many stops you have to travel from the depar­ture sta­tion to your des­ti­na­tion, includ­ing trans­fer sta­tions. Another way of travel sup­port is the Art-​Lebedev metro map , which has the names of the sta­tions both in Russ­ian and Eng­lish men­tioned. The most fancy way how­ever is by using the Russ­ian metro app on your smart­phone. The Yandex.Metro app — pro­vides a bilin­gual metro map which can even build con­nec­tion routes for you and esti­mate travel times.

Moscow Zoo’s main entrance is con­ve­niently located right across from the Krasno­pres­nen­skaya metro sta­tion on the Brown Cir­cu­lar line (no. 5 ). Also the Bar­rikad­naya metro sta­tion is rather close to the main entrance, Pur­ple line (no. 7 ).

by bicy­cle

As men­tioned already Moscow is a very large city. So, it really depends on how close you already are to the Zoo if cycling could be an option. The obvi­ous chal­lenge is the traf­fic which has grown dra­mat­i­cally in recent years — the cen­tre of Moscow is a non-​stop traf­fic jam. Fur­ther­more the poor dri­ving habits of Moscow motorists are noto­ri­ous, from road rage to rear-​ending. In addi­tion, knee-​deep snow and the grimy slush that inevitably fol­lows dur­ing the long and fear­some win­ters doesn’t make cycling in Moscow a very attrac­tive mode of trans­port. Nev­er­the­less the City Coun­cil tries to make the city more bike-​friendly with a bike rental scheme like in many major cities around the world. I decided to use the metro.

There is no ded­i­cated park­ing avail­able at the Zoo, but if you really want to drive your­self you can get direc­tions below by pro­vid­ing your point of departure.

From : --  Choose source      -- Moscow Zoo or

Down­load the zoo map here .

Goal: 7000 tigers in the wild

“ Tiger map” ( CC BY 2 . 5 ) by Sander­son et al., 2006 .

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

19 Unique And Fabulous Experiences In Moscow

• Destinations

Thinking of visiting Russia? When visiting such a famous city, one must, of course, visit the iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists. Once you’ve seen the sights that are on most travelers’ lists, it’s time to branch out and visit some of the lesser-known sites, and there are some fascinating places to see and things to do.

I know this list is long, but I just couldn’t help myself. You probably won’t have the time to see them all. But that’s okay. Just scroll through the list and choose what sounds the most interesting to you. Where possible, make sure to book in advance, as things can get crowded, especially during high season.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin, And Surroundings

Red Square (Krasnya Ploshad) is the heart and soul of Russia, and where much of the country’s history has unfolded. This is the most famous landmark in Moscow and indeed the whole country, it’s an absolute must-do! The square is always full of people and has a rather festive atmosphere!

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

This is the famous church with the rainbow-colored, onion-domed roof. The cathedral was commissioned in the 1500s by Ivan the Terrible and according to legend, the Tsar thought it was so beautiful, that he ordered that the architect’s eyes be cut out afterward, so he could never build anything more beautiful! He wasn’t called Ivan the Terrible for no reason!

Lenin’s Mausoleum

The “love-it-or-hate-it” of tourist attractions in Russia. A glass sarcophagus containing the embalmed body of Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. It may seem a bit bizarre to display the mummy of a person, but it has been there for almost half a century and the 2.5 million visitors who come each year, clearly feel the queuing and thorough body search are worth it, to be in Lenin’s presence.

Pro Tip: no photos and no loud talking are allowed inside the Mausoleum.

Eternal Flame

There is an Eternal Flame in honor of an unknown soldier on the left side of Red Square. The hourly changing of the guards is worth seeing.

The Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. You can see it from the outside, or you can take an excursion to one of the museums located inside. This is the biggest active fortress in Europe, and holds a week’s worth of attractions! Once behind the 7,332-feet of walls, there are five squares, four cathedrals, 20 towers, various museums, and the world’s largest bell and cannon to see. Worth a special mention is the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of the famous Faberge Eggs.

Pro Tip: You can only go inside the Kremlin if you are part of a tourist group.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre translates to “The Big Theatre” in Russian, and the building is home to both the Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera — among the oldest and most famous ballet and opera companies in the world.

Pro Tip: It’s hard to get an inexpensive ticket, so if you’re reading well in advance of going to Moscow then try buying tickets on the official website . Last-minute tickets cost around $250 per person. If this is out of your budget, about an hour before a performance, you can try buying a ticket at the entrance from a reseller. Most can speak enough English to negotiate the price.

Tour the Bolshoi Theatre: You can take a group guided tour of the Bolshoi Theatre which focuses on the history and architecture of the theatre and behind the scenes. There’s an English language tour that lasts 2 hours and costs around $300 for a group of up to six.

3. Luxury Shopping At GUM And TSUM

Russia’s main department store, GUM, has a stunning interior that is home to over 100 high-end boutiques, selling a variety of brands: from luxurious Dior to the more affordable Zara. Even if shopping is not on your Moscow to-do list GUM is still worth a visit; the glass-roofed arcade faces Red Square and offers a variety of classy eateries. TSUM, one of the biggest luxury malls in town, is right behind the Bolshoi and GUM. It’s an imposing building with lots of history, and worth a visit just for its design and its glass roof.

4. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This is one of Russia’s most visited cathedrals and is a newer addition to the gorgeous array of Muscovite cathedrals, but don’t let its young age fool you. After perestroika, in the early 90s, the revived Russian Orthodox Church was given permission to build a cathedral on this site. It did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church. The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes, gold, gorgeous paintings, and decor!

The cathedral is located just a few hundred feet away from the Kremlin and was the site of the infamous Pussy Riot protest against Putin back in 2012.

Pro Tip: Bring a shawl to cover your hair as is the local custom.

5. Gorky Park

Moscow’s premier green space, Gorky Park (Park Gor’kogo) is the city’s biggest and most famous park. There is entertainment on offer here for every taste, from outdoor dancing sessions to yoga classes, volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, and bike and boat rental in summer. In winter, half the park turns into a huge ice skating rink. Gorky Park is also home to an open-air movie theater and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. There is also Muzeon Art Park, a dynamic contemporary space with a unique collection of 700 sculptures. It is located right in front of Gorky Park.

6. Sparrow Hills Park

If you take a walk from Gorky Park, along the Moscow River embankment, you’ll end up in the city’s other legendary park, Sparrow Hills. Although the park doesn’t offer as many activities as its hip neighbor, it has a great panoramic view of the city

Pro Tip: You can take a free walking tour to all of the above attractions with an English-speaking guide.

7. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow, and see all the famous landmarks, but from a different angle, is from the Moscow River. Take a river cruise. Avoid the tourist crowds. There are little nameless old boats that do the cruise, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience take the Radisson Blu cruise and enjoy the sights with some good food and a glass of wine.

8. Metro Hopping

Inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow Metro system is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the world. Started in Stalinist times, each station is a work of art in its own right. I’d recommend touring the stations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This way, you’ll be able to properly see it without the crowds. Ideally, I’d recommend taking a tour with a knowledgeable guide with GuruWalk, who will tell you stories of forgotten stations and how the history of the country is interconnected with the metro development. If going by yourself, then I definitely recommend checking out: Mayakovskaya, Ploschad Revolutsii, Kievskaya, Kropotkinskaya, Kurskaya, and Novoslobodskaya stations.

Visit the free Moscow Metro Museum: For real train enthusiasts, located in the southern vestibule of Sportivnaya station is a small free museum. Here you can take a peek into the driver’s cabin, see a collection of metro tokens from different cities, and see different models of a turnstile, traffic lights, escalator, and more.

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings and the one with the best view is the main building of the Moscow State University. Although this is a little outside the city center, the view is more than worth it.

10. Izmailovsky Market

Mostly known for the city’s largest flea market, the district of Izmaylovo is home to a maze of shops where you can get just about anything, from artisan crafts to traditional fur hats, handcrafted jewelry, fascinating Soviet memorabilia, and antiquities. It’s also one of Moscow’s largest green spaces. There are often no price tags, so be prepared to haggle a bit. Head to one of the market cafes for a warming mulled wine before continuing your shopping spree.

The History of Vodka Museum is found here, and the museum’s restaurant is the perfect place to sample various brands of the national drink.

Once you’ve covered the more touristy spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer, and the places below will also be full of locals! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend the spots below!

11. Moscow City

With a completely different vibe, Moscow City (also referred to as Moscow International Business Center) is like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressive tall glass buildings. Here is where you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, like Ruski Restaurant, the highest restaurant both in Moscow City and in Europe. Moscow City is great for crowd-free shopping and the best panoramic views of the city.

12. Tretyakov Gallery

Tretyakov Gallery started as the private collection of the Tretyakov brothers, who were 19th-century philanthropists. They gave their private collection to the government after their deaths. If there is just one museum you visit in Moscow, I recommend this one!

13. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno was a residence of Catherine the Great more than two centuries ago. It became derelict during the Soviet era but has now been fully renovated. With its opulently decorated buildings, gardens, meadows, and forests, Tsaritsyno Park is the perfect place for a green respite in Moscow.

14. Kolomenskoye

A 10-minute metro ride from the city center is Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve, where you can get an idea of what Russia looked like 200 years ago. You’ll find ancient churches (one dating back to the 16th century), the oldest garden in Moscow, and the wonderful fairytale wooden palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great.

15. Ostankino TV Tower

Built in 1967, Ostankino TV Tower was the tallest free-standing construction in the world at the time, it’s still the 8th tallest building in the world and the highest in Europe. It’s also the best observation deck, with a glass floor and 360-degree views. The speedy elevators take you 1,105 feet in next to no time.

Pro Tip: You need to book in advance; entrance is based on specific ticket times and the capacity is limited and only a certain number of tourists are allowed per day. Don’t forget your passport, you’ll need it to get through security.

16. Zaryadye Park

Zaryadye is a newly opened, landscaped urban park so new you won’t find it in a lot of tour guides. The park is near Red Square and is divided into four climatic zones: forest, steppe, tundra, and floodplains, depicting the variety of climatic zones in Russia.

These last three suggestions are a little quirky, but all are really worth checking out.

17. Museum Of Soviet Arcade Games

Release your inner child playing on 66 arcade machines from the Soviet era! What a great way to spend a couple of hours when tired of visiting museums and palaces. The staff speaks excellent English and are happy to explain how the games work.

18. Moscow Rooftop Tour

Take a 1-hour private Moscow rooftop tour with an experienced roofer. I can just about guarantee none of your friends will be able to say they’ve done it! For your comfort, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Take your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities out there!

19. Sanduny Banya

This classical Russian bathhouse opened its doors in 1808 and is famous for combining traditional Russian banya services with luxurious interiors and service. If you enjoy spas and saunas, then you should experience a Russian bathhouse at least once in your life! Go with an open mind and hire a specialist to steam you as it’s meant to be done — by being beaten repeatedly with a besom (a leafy branch)! This is said to improve circulation, but is best done by a professional!

So there you have my list of things to do in Moscow. I could have gone on and on and on, but I didn’t want to try your patience! There are so many things to do in this vibrant city that you’ll definitely need to allocate several days for exploring.

Here are some other reasons to visit Moscow and Russia:

• 7 Reasons To Put Moscow On Your Travel Bucket List
• Russia 30 Years (And 30 Pounds) Ago
• Massive Mysterious Craters Appearing Again In Siberia

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and guide, traveler, yoga teacher, trail runner, and mother of two. When she is not climbing or traveling she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.

Watch CBS News

Days-long eruption of Indonesia's Ruang volcano forces hundreds to evacuate as sky fills with red ash

By Li Cohen

Updated on: April 17, 2024 / 9:49 AM EDT / CBS News

Hundreds of people in Indonesia had to be evacuated from their homes in the North Sulawesi province as the Ruang volcano continues its days-long eruption. The volcano has been seen filling the sky with red ash as the country's volcano monitoring agency reports hundreds of deep volcanic earthquakes. 

Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure, known as BNPB, said in a news release on Wednesday that volcanic activity has increased, prompting officials to raise the alert level to three – the second-highest warning level in their monitoring system. Video taken by the agency showing massive red bursts filling the sky as lightning flashes within it. The agency also reported " volcanic ash rain ." 

At least 828 people were evacuated from the area amid the eruption, BNPB said, many boarded onto ferries to go to nearby areas. 

Terjadi Peningkatan Aktivitas Gunung Api Ruang dari Level II (WASPADA) menjadi Level III (SIAGA) di Kabupaten Sitaro, Provinsi Sulawesi Utara. Peningkatan status level itu terhitung mulai tanggal 16 April 2024 pukul 16.00 WITA. pic.twitter.com/Ht1BSqOb26 — BNPB Indonesia (@BNPB_Indonesia) April 17, 2024

The latest eruption occurred early Wednesday morning local time, the Multiplatform Application for Geohazard Mitigation and Assessment in Indonesia (MAGMA Indonesia) reported. The agency said that people in the area should be calm and "carry out their activities as usual," but refrain from going within 2.5 miles of the volcano's active crater, which overnight was seen spewing a bright red glow into the sky. 

That agency reported 373 deep volcanic earthquakes and one local tectonic earthquake on Wednesdsay. 

On Tuesday, the Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA), issued an orange-colored aviation code , indicating a "volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with increased likelihood of eruption" or that an eruption is underway, but with "no or minor ash emission." 

"Eruption and ash emission is continuing," VONA said in the update . "...Rumbling sound heard from Ruang Volcano Observatory." 

The stratovolcano is the southernmost in the Sangihe Island arc, the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program says, and its summit has a crater partially filled with a l ava dome , which forms when exceptionally thick lava flows are too thick to flow out. 

"Explosive eruptions recorded since 1808 have often been accompanied by lava dome formation and pyroclastic flows that have damaged inhabited areas," the Global Volcanism Program says. 

Indonesia sits along the " Ring of Fire, " the most active zone in the world for seismic activity. 

In December, more than 20 people died in Indonesia after a surprise volcanic eruption at Mount Marapi on the island of Sumatra. 

Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.

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