Sumatra City

Introduction
However fevered your dreams of the jungle, Sumatra will surpass them. Sumatra is as rugged as it gets. Thick rainforests cascade like water down towering peaks. Jungle treks are a struggle with gravity and mud. But rewards are plentiful: the world's largest flower, one of the last remaining enclaves of orang-utans, or the sulfur-spouting crater of a resting volcano.

Sumatra is a complete tourist destination-sunny beaches, rich flora and fauna, large rivers and great history. Sumatra has the richest wildlife in Indonesia and hence it is known as "Africa of Asia". It is full of tropical rainforests and if you are a wildlife lover then Sumatra is the ideal place for you. Trekking is another option that you can opt for in Sumatra. Sumatra attracts fewer tourists than its neighbours like Java and Bali. So if you are looking for a quiet holiday away from maddening crowds then Sumatra fits the bill perfectly.

Sumatra is rich in natural resources (timber, gas and oil), but very little of the profits are reinvested in the island's economy. The Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and earthquake in 2005 levelled large parts of Aceh and Nias, respectively, and rebuilding infrastructure and livelihoods is slow going.

Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +7
Area: 473607
Population: 40000000
Currency: Rupiah (Rp)
Area codes: 62

Getting there and away
Most travellers arrive and depart through Medan by air. You can fly from Jakarta to a number of places in Sumatra, and from Singapore, Penang and Kuala Lumpur to Medan. International flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur touch down in Padang. There are ferries between Penang and Medan; Melaka and Dumai; and Singapore and Pekanbaru via the Indonesian island of Bintan.

Getting around
Indonesia has a variety of airlines servicing domestic routes, including Garuda, Mandala and Merpati. Budget airlines include Adam Air, Sriwijaya and Lion Air. Each airline publishes a nationwide timetable which can be obtained from their respective head offices in Jakarta. On more popular routes, book well in advance, especially in the peak tourist season around July and August. Airport tax on domestic flights is usually between 2.00 and 4.00. Sumatra's main roads are pot-holed backroads if judged by international standards. Bus is the most common form of transport, and in many cases is the only form of intercity travel. Sumatra has only one useful rail line: between Bandarlampung and Palembang. You can rent cars, motorbikes and bicycles in the main cities and tourist centres, and there are regular ferries from Sumatra to surrounding islands.

Weather
Sitting astride the equator, Sumatra's climate is about as tropical as tropical gets. Daytime temperatures seldom fail to reach 30 ° C (86 ° F) on the coast, but fortunately the weather is appreciably cooler inland around the mountains. Places like Berastagi, Bukittinggi and Danau Toba get cool enough at night to warrant a blanket. The dry season runs from May to September. The timing of the wet season is hard to predict. In the north, the rains start in October, and December/January are the wettest months; in the south, the rains start in November, peaking in January/February. Bengkulu and West Sumatra are the wettest places, with average rainfall approaching 3500mm.