Gaye is the founder of Wow Borneo, one of the leading specialists in small-ship wildlife cruises in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). Gaye has been working in Borneo for the last 20 years, establishing Wow Borneo in 2007 to help conserve Borneo's threatened ecosystem by supporting small-scale and low-impact tourism.
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.
At a glance
Destinations
Borneo
Activity
Cruise & Sailing, Safari, Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Water Sports, Kayaking, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Indigenous Tourism, Responsible Travel, Slow TravelRelated Guides

Where To See Orangutans

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

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
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

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.
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Indigenous cultures & conservation on the Kahayan River
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