Lake Saba Begu
A small, quiet lake in the forest, a few hundred metres off the Panyabungan–Natal road.
Lake Saba Begu lies in the forest of Sopotinjak village, Batang Natal district, in Section III of the national park. It is small and ringed by forest. On a clear day the summit of Sorik Marapi rises behind it. Local people regard the lake as sacred. It is also called Danau Hantu, the "ghost lake".
Getting there
Take the Panyabungan–Natal road, about 30 km or 40–45 minutes from Panyabungan. From the road, a footpath leads about 300 metres south to the lake. The park's section office at Sopotinjak is about 10 minutes away, and the rest stop at the Sopotinjak panatapan (viewpoint) is about 1 km from the lake.
What to do
- Enjoy and photograph the lake with the mountain behind it, best early in the morning when it is quietest.
- Watch birds. Wild animals come to the lake to drink, so sitting quietly at the forest edge can pay off.
There is nothing here but the footpath, so bring water and food and take your rubbish home. Respect the lake's sacred status: ask local people or rangers what is not allowed.
The photo above shows the Batang Gadis river valley, not the lake itself: we have not found a freely licensed photo of Lake Saba Begu.