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Borneo Orangutan6
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Borneo is 'one great wild, untidy, luxuriant hothouse, made by nature for herself', wrote Charles Darwin in the 1800s.

He was fascinated by this immense island's unique wildlife and despite the impact of logging and mining, it remains a rainforested trove of birds, plants and animals.

Exotic orchids, orangutans, sun bears, pygmy elephants, Irrawaddy dolphins, clouded leopards: there is much to see, but some, like the orangutan, are under threat.

Away from a number of very worthy sanctuaries, it's not easy to spot these rare creatures. So take a paddle up river deep into the jungle to stay with tribespeople in a traditional longhouse. Here, you can get a local to show you around.

Hidden gems in Borneo

Borneo

Indigenous cultures & conservation on the Kahayan River

Gaye Thavisin
Gaye Thavisin

The Kahayan River, immediately east of Sebangu National Park, is a real hidden gem which doesn't feature highly on most 'mainstream' orangutan-spotting itineraries. The main reason I recommend the Kahayan River to almost anyone who visits Indonesian Borneo is because it's here that you can combine wildlife spotting with real and meaningful cultural interactions with the indigenous Dayak people which is, I believe, key to ensuring the long-term survival of both the orangutans and the people who live here. You access the Kahayan River from the town of Palangkaraya, which is close to the forested island of Pulau Kaja. This is a pre-release habitat for rescued orangutans managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, and it's possible to spot orangutans from the river. Downstream from Palangkaraya are Dayak villages of Bukit Rawi, Sigi Tumbang Nusa and Pilang, where you can learn about indigenous religion, cultures and traditional livelihoods. At night the captain will simply find a sheltered location on the bank to moor the boat – it's a true expedition! If you're solely interested in tracking orangutans, the Kahayan River area might not be for you (although it can be easily combined with a visit to nearby Sebangu National Park). However, if you're remotely interested in traditional culture and the interaction of cultural preservation and wildlife conservation, I can't recommend this area highly enough.

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Tanjung Puting National Park

Tanjung Puting National Park & Camp Leakey

Tamara Thiessen
Tamara Thiessen

“One of the natural wonders of the world”, according to the UK’s Orangutan Foundation, Taman Nasional (National Park) Tanjung Puting is home to the world's largest population of wild orangutans and represents their best hope for survival. It was at Tanjung Puting in 1971 that leading orangutan authority Dr Biruté Galdikas established the Camp Leakey research station — an instrumental step in bringing the plight of the park’s most famous resident to worldwide attention. Set amid the largest swathe of coastal tropical heath and peat swamp forest, which used to cover much of southern Borneo, Tanjung Puting started out as a game reserve in 1935 before becoming a National Park in 1982. The best way to experience the wonders of Tanjung Puting is on a traditional klotok (houseboat) puttering gently along Sungai Sekonyer as you search for pot-bellied macaques, hornbills and the odd crocodile. Starting from the Kumai river port in the central Kalimantan city of Pangkalan Bun, your guides will typically stop at three main feeding stations within the park, where you will get to experience semi-wild orangutans during feeding sessions. The best option for this is at Tanjung Harapan, but you’ll also stop at Pondok Tangui. Your final destination will be Camp Leakey, a 4-4 ½ hour journey upriver. From the docking point, be prepared for a 45-minute walk to the first feeding platform at Camp Leakey, on a flat and well-maintained path. Here, as well as orangutans, you will see Bornean bearded pigs, gibbons and mangrove-loving proboscis. Camp Leakey is your best chance to see orangutans — most were released around here and stay close to the site. In general, orangutans around Camp Leakey are the most relaxed around humans. Look out for Tom, the camp’s alpha male (but if you do see him, be careful not to engage in a staring match). Once feeding time is over, you can explore the camp’s excellent information centre. Tanjung Puting offers plenty of other activities including birding, hiking and wildlife tours — as well as cultural trips to remote villages.

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Borneo travel guides

Conserving the orangutans
Article

Conserving the orangutans

Ashley Leiman
Ashley Leiman

The official Indonesian government population figures state that there are 57,400 Bornean orangutans, 13,000 Sumatran and 800 Tapanuli. The only places you can

Where To See Orangutans
Guide

Where To See Orangutans

Tamara Thiessen
Tamara Thiessen

The best place to see orangutans is in the wild, on their native islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In Borneo, orangutans are found in the two Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, and in Kalimantan on the Indonesian side of the island.

Where To See Orangutans In Sabah
Guide

Where To See Orangutans In Sabah

Borneo is the only island in the world that is home to three nations: Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesian Kalimantan. Sabah is one of the two Malaysian Borneo states in the northern part of the island.

Where To See Orangutans In Sarawak
Guide

Where To See Orangutans In Sarawak

Sarawak together with Sabah makes up Malaysian Borneo — also known as East Malaysia.

Where to see orangutans in Indonesian Borneo
Guide

Where to see orangutans in Indonesian Borneo

A massive state, Kalimantan is split into five provinces: central, east, north, south and west. For the traveller it presents a challenge: it is huge with poor roads and undeveloped tourism infrastructure.

Where To See Orangutans In Sumatra
Guide

Where To See Orangutans In Sumatra

Lush and volcanic, the Indonesian isle of Sumatra is a land of rugged tropical terrain and orangutan-filled jungles. Wedged between Java and the Malay Peninsula, the island envelopes the Leuser Ecosystem, one of the most biodiverse places on earth.

The Best Time To See Orangutans in Borneo
Guide

The Best Time To See Orangutans in Borneo

Tamara Thiessen
Tamara Thiessen

Sitting astride the equator, Borneo has a warm, tropical climate. Although it is broadly possible to separate Borneo’s climate into the usual two seasons for the region — wet and dry — weather conditions are often very localised and extremely difficult to predict.

Wildlife-spotting in the jungles of Borneo
Article

Wildlife-spotting in the jungles of Borneo

A trip to see the orangutans in Borneo will inevitably bring you into contact with some of Malaysia and Indonesia’s other weird and wonderful wildlife.

Orangutans: why you must avoid animal shows
Article

Orangutans: why you must avoid animal shows

World Animal Protection believes it is not possible to create the environment needed for orangutans, elephants and many other animals in captivity. To get them to interact with humans in the way organised shows need involves shackling and controlling the animals.

Borneo tours

Orangutans and Tanjung Puting
Borneo

Orangutans and Tanjung Puting

Wildlife of Central Kalimantan
5 days
Sarawak’s national parks
Borneo

Sarawak’s national parks

Wildlife spotting and colourful Kuching
7 days
The best of Sarawak
Borneo

The best of Sarawak

Orangutans, rainforests and beaches
14 days
Off The Beaten Track in Borneo
Borneo

Off The Beaten Track in Borneo

Kota Kinabalu, Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River
15 days £4,000£8,000 pp
Beach and Wildlife
Borneo

Beach and Wildlife

Explore Borneo's national parks and beaches
14 days £4,000£8,000 pp
Luxury, Adventure & Boutique Beach
Southeast Asia

Luxury, Adventure & Boutique Beach

Explore Borneo's beaches and cities
15 days £4,000£8,000 pp

Borneo travel companies

Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia

Experience Travel Group

Immersive Holidays That Give Back
South America, South Asia, Southeast Asia

Rainforest Cruises

Exotic Riverboat & Small Ship Cruises
Southeast Asia

Wow Borneo

Orangutan tours in Indonesian Borneo
Southeast Asia

Orangutan Odysseys

Saving the Environment through Tourism
Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia

Sundowner Holidays

Tailor-made holidays and unique moments

Places to go in Borneo

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