Where and how is Ketambe??
Ketambe is one of village names in Aceh Tenggara, it locates around 30 km on the way from Kutacane (the capital of Aceh Tenggara) to Blangkejeren.
What are specials in this village?? Well, it is one of the destinations for the tourism in Aceh, if you are planning to go there, the easiest way is going to Medan first then from Medan you have to go to Kutacane by airplane or by road with public minibus. From Kutacane, you can use public transportation lead to Ketambe. Another option is to use taxi with a driver and comfortable seats, where you can share the taxi up to 7 passengers. If you hire a taxi, it can take you wherever you wish to go around that place. If you want to reach Ketambe from BANDA ACEH, the best way is by using airplane to Takengon, from Takengon you go by car or public minibus to Belangkeceren then you can go directly to Ketambe.
Ketambe is small village, about one kilometer long. Houses existing only left and right side near the main road. The river Alas flows from north to south about 100 meters parallel to the road. There is a mosque and a primary school. If you pass, you wouldn't realize that it is a very special place. Its position at the border of Gunung Leuser National park makes it famous. Ketambe is a perfect starting point to go for trips into the jungle to see really wild living orangutans. There are also Sumatran tigers, elephants and rhinoceros. A lot of other big and small apes are found and the birdlife is outstanding. If you are lucky, you can see Rafflesia (the biggest flower in the world). For hikers are possibilities for short and longer treks into the hilly jungle and even to the top of the Mount Leuser (3381m). There are caves, hot springs and waterfalls. In the river Alas its possible to go swim, do fishing, make a wave ride with an inner tube or do an organized rafting trip.
Climate
The climate is pleasant, the mean daily temperature under the forest cover in the lowlands rarely exceeds 26°C during the day, or drops below 22°C at night.
In general, the driest months are February and June/July, the wettest usually March/April and September/ October/November. In wet season it rains mostly at night, so it will be a little bit foggy in the morning.
Ketambe is a very quite place. Only a few cars pass through. The only noise you will listen is the flowing river, singing birds and playing kids.
Facilities in Ketambe
Ketambe has no real facilities for shopping. You can buy eggs, sugar or cookies at some wooden huts near to the road.
Food, full meals and drinks (some- times even beer) are available at the guesthouses. Local markets in villages arround Ketambe taking place once a week in the morning. Over there you will get fresh vegetable and stuff of daily needs.
Next possibility for proper shopping is the small city Kutacane, about 30 kilometers south the main road. If you want to make an international phone call, you have to go to one of the phone offices in Kutacane. Internet connection is available at a computer shop, at the opposite site of BRI bank, it costs 5000 IDR per hour.
Mobile phone connection is working now most of the time in Ketambe !!
In Ketambe and Kutacane is no money changer. But it is possible to get cash from an ATM at the Bank BRI in Kutacane. Use cards supporting Maestro or Cirrus. Accepted credit cards are only Mastercard. VISA will not work. The maximum amount is only 500.000 Rupiah (about 50 US$) for one transaction. So better you arrive in Ketambe with cash.
Tourism
There are 6 guesthouses now in Ketambe. If you arrive from the south the first is "Pak Mus" (right). The next are "Pondok Wisata" (right) and "Wisma Sadar Wisata" (left).
About 150 m forward there are again a group of 3 guesthouses. On the right side is "Bhakti Wisata" with small huts set in the hills.
Opposite, to the riverside, you find Friendship Guesthouse & Restaurant. A few meters further is the longest running guesthouse "Cinta Alam".
About 3 kilometers forward (Gurah area) is the former government owned "Gurah bungalows". There is electricity now. The best part, the Restaurant with the nice terrace overview the jungle and the river, burned down in 2005. At the moment it is run by a local from Ketambe. But the rooms are overprized and not clean (as some people reported in november 2008).
Every guesthouse will offer you short trips or guided trekking tours into the national park. It is a good idea to take a guide from this area, so the money is going to a local people.
(I will write some more information about Ketambe next time, I take some information from ketambe.com)
Ketambe is one of village names in Aceh Tenggara, it locates around 30 km on the way from Kutacane (the capital of Aceh Tenggara) to Blangkejeren.
What are specials in this village?? Well, it is one of the destinations for the tourism in Aceh, if you are planning to go there, the easiest way is going to Medan first then from Medan you have to go to Kutacane by airplane or by road with public minibus. From Kutacane, you can use public transportation lead to Ketambe. Another option is to use taxi with a driver and comfortable seats, where you can share the taxi up to 7 passengers. If you hire a taxi, it can take you wherever you wish to go around that place. If you want to reach Ketambe from BANDA ACEH, the best way is by using airplane to Takengon, from Takengon you go by car or public minibus to Belangkeceren then you can go directly to Ketambe.
Ketambe is small village, about one kilometer long. Houses existing only left and right side near the main road. The river Alas flows from north to south about 100 meters parallel to the road. There is a mosque and a primary school. If you pass, you wouldn't realize that it is a very special place. Its position at the border of Gunung Leuser National park makes it famous. Ketambe is a perfect starting point to go for trips into the jungle to see really wild living orangutans. There are also Sumatran tigers, elephants and rhinoceros. A lot of other big and small apes are found and the birdlife is outstanding. If you are lucky, you can see Rafflesia (the biggest flower in the world). For hikers are possibilities for short and longer treks into the hilly jungle and even to the top of the Mount Leuser (3381m). There are caves, hot springs and waterfalls. In the river Alas its possible to go swim, do fishing, make a wave ride with an inner tube or do an organized rafting trip.
Climate
The climate is pleasant, the mean daily temperature under the forest cover in the lowlands rarely exceeds 26°C during the day, or drops below 22°C at night.
In general, the driest months are February and June/July, the wettest usually March/April and September/ October/November. In wet season it rains mostly at night, so it will be a little bit foggy in the morning.
Ketambe is a very quite place. Only a few cars pass through. The only noise you will listen is the flowing river, singing birds and playing kids.
Facilities in Ketambe
Ketambe has no real facilities for shopping. You can buy eggs, sugar or cookies at some wooden huts near to the road.
Food, full meals and drinks (some- times even beer) are available at the guesthouses. Local markets in villages arround Ketambe taking place once a week in the morning. Over there you will get fresh vegetable and stuff of daily needs.
Next possibility for proper shopping is the small city Kutacane, about 30 kilometers south the main road. If you want to make an international phone call, you have to go to one of the phone offices in Kutacane. Internet connection is available at a computer shop, at the opposite site of BRI bank, it costs 5000 IDR per hour.
Mobile phone connection is working now most of the time in Ketambe !!
In Ketambe and Kutacane is no money changer. But it is possible to get cash from an ATM at the Bank BRI in Kutacane. Use cards supporting Maestro or Cirrus. Accepted credit cards are only Mastercard. VISA will not work. The maximum amount is only 500.000 Rupiah (about 50 US$) for one transaction. So better you arrive in Ketambe with cash.
Tourism
There are 6 guesthouses now in Ketambe. If you arrive from the south the first is "Pak Mus" (right). The next are "Pondok Wisata" (right) and "Wisma Sadar Wisata" (left).
About 150 m forward there are again a group of 3 guesthouses. On the right side is "Bhakti Wisata" with small huts set in the hills.
Opposite, to the riverside, you find Friendship Guesthouse & Restaurant. A few meters further is the longest running guesthouse "Cinta Alam".
About 3 kilometers forward (Gurah area) is the former government owned "Gurah bungalows". There is electricity now. The best part, the Restaurant with the nice terrace overview the jungle and the river, burned down in 2005. At the moment it is run by a local from Ketambe. But the rooms are overprized and not clean (as some people reported in november 2008).
Every guesthouse will offer you short trips or guided trekking tours into the national park. It is a good idea to take a guide from this area, so the money is going to a local people.
(I will write some more information about Ketambe next time, I take some information from ketambe.com)
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