About Me

My name is Iwan and I am born and raised in Ketambe. I work as a guide since 2009. Ketambe is discovered by my grandfather, together with two other families, and still my whole family is living in Ketambe.

When I was a child, my father taught me a lot about the jungle, because he worked as a ranger in Gunung Leuser National Park. He has a lot of experience about the jungle and has transferred a lot of knowledge to me.

​I started as porter in 2006: I learned how to cook in the jungle, practiced and improved my English and I gained a lot of knowledge about the flora and fauna in the Gunung Leuser National Park. I became a guide in 2009 and worked till 2017 as guide at several guesthouses in Ketambe. In 2017, I decided to start as an independent guide.  Till right now I work on my own and I train my own jungle trekking team.

​I work together with other experienced local guides, all born and raised in Ketambe. We care about the jungle, because it is important for us that animals and plants can live in their natural habitat, now and in the future. We try to keep the orangutan population intact. Ketambe is one of the last places in the world where you can still see wild orangutans. It is also important for me to share work with other local people and share income with the local families.

On this website you can get more information about jungle trekking: Ketambe is a good starting point for a jungle trek to spot the orangutans. Transportation to Ketambe: I can give you directions & travel options how to get to Ketambe.  And I will give you tips for accomodation in Ketambe.

Enjoy your holiday in Sumatra, especially in Ketambe!

Iwan