Indonesia has one of the largest rain forests in the world with thousands of unique species, many are still yet undiscovered. Some of wild animals that are unique to Indonesian forests are orangutan, bird of paradise or “burung cendrawasih”, and Sumatra and Java tiger. However, the Indonesian rain forest has shrunk rapidly due to massive deforestation. If you are an adventurer who loves to go trekking in the forest or just a casual traveler who wish to enjoy the nature, visiting rain forests in Indonesia is a great way to enjoy the nature while it still lasts. In this how to visit rain forests in Indonesia page, you can learn some basic information about visiting rain forests in Indonesia.

Visiting the rain forest can be dangerous or safe depend on the location, your survival skills, and how you travel. If you are not a seasoned explorer, it is recommended that you travel in a group of people, preferably in guided tours. There are some local tours that provide service for adventure tour.http://www.adventureindonesia.com/group-welcome.htm Reaching the rain forest by yourself can also be tricky because most Indonesian people don’t speak English.

You will need to obtain a visa before you enter Indonesia unless you come from ASEAN countries. You can request visa at Indonesian embassies and consulates nearest to you, or you can get visa on arrival when you arrive at Indonesia. However, not every seaport or airport can issue visa on arrival, so you need to check if your entry point allow you to request visa on arrival.

Indonesia’s official language is Indonesian and only people with high education and people in business or tourism industry speaks English. In the less developed areas, there are few to none who understand English. In rural area such as in Borneo or Papua, the ingenious people can’t even speak Indonesian and only understand their local dialect. Having a guide is sometimes a must in certain areas in order to communicate with the people.

Indonesia’s official currency is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). You can exchange your currency at the banks and money changers. In rural area, you might not be able to find banks or money changers, so exchange your money before you go remote places. If you ask for help from locals, especially if you ask them to be your guides, don’t forget to give them some tips.

Rain forests in Indonesia are dense and can be dangerous. Never go out of the designated trails as you might get lost. Although wild animals are rapidly declining and are non-existent in most rain forests, there are many dangers that can easily get you killed, including accidents, injuries and hypothermia. Always gather as many information as possible before you start your trip.

It is advisable to choose the trek according to your physical strength and stamina. Never ever go trekking or camping alone. Rescue and search tea, are not as swift or efficient like in Western countries. Also, tell someone where you are going. If no one knows you’re missing, they won’t start a search.

Pack all necessary supplies before you start your trip. You might need to buy many things at large cities because the towns and villages near the forest usually don’t carry camping supplies. Bring quinine with you as malaria is a real threat in Indonesian forests. Bring some tobacco with you as leech repellent. Just rub it in the area where the leech stuck to your skin.

Most of the species in the rain forests are endangered and protected by law. Please don’t hunt, capture, or trade these animals.

There are many places to go to see the rain forests in Indonesia; each has its own unique wildlife and flora.

In Java, the safest place to trek is at Puncak area at West Java which is also a tourism spot for locals. You can rent a car or go by bus to the area. The hiking tracks are usually relatively short and the trekking paths are quite safe. For less tourist-y area, you can visit at the Ujung Kulon National Park, which is also a reserve for rhinoceros. You can get there by bus to Merak from Jakarta and take local rides or by renting a car. The indigenous people in the area are from the Baduy tribe who still shun all modern life and always wear black clothes. This place is relatively safe with little danger.

For more challenging track in Java, go trekking at Gunung Merapi and reach the highest peak in Java and view its incredible panorama in the morning. The weather can be very cold during the night and morning so pack warm clothes. Some of the paths are quite steep.

Borneo rain forests can be challenging, depending how far you go into the forest. It is quite safe if you only travel at the outskirt of the forest. There are also no dangerous wild animals in the area. You can visit orangutan reservation at the island. The indigenous people are from Dayak tribe.

Sumatra forests still have wild animals, such as tigers or bears. Papua forests are also quite dangerous, especially deep into the forest. Compared with Java and Borneo forests, the forests in Papua are relatively untouched because of the difficulty in traveling within the forest.