Way Kambas National Park
- South Sumatra
Sumatra National Parks
The park is home to five pairs of rhinos, a few tigers and Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatrensis). There are around 350 elephants located in this park, around 250 of them still living wild. There are no orangutan in Way Kamblas though there are a variety of species of siamang gibbons.
Unfortunately a lot of the elephants in this park have been captured and are located in a training centre to teach circus tricks to entertain tourists. A popular local entertainment is the elephant soccer games. The centre was setup to handle the problem of rogue elephants invading villages after their land was cleared by loggers.
Recent times have seen a decrease in the circus style entertainment and increase in eco-tourism activities like elephant trekking. Proceeds to these activities fund patrols of the National Park for illegal activities like logging and animal poaching. Everyday at the elephant training camps you can visit to watch the elephants being washed.
Acoommodation close to Way Kamblas National Park
Satwa Sumatra Elephant Eco Lodge is located 500m from the entrance to Way Kamblas National Park. The Eco lodge has been setup to help protect the endangered Sumatran Elephant and rare Sumatra tiger and rhinoceros. The Eco lodge has a renewable energy source system which powers all the cottages and guest facilities. Prices start from US$50 per night. www.sumatraelephantlodge.com
Last updated - 4th March 2009