Wildlife enthusiasts and photographers, this is your trip. Experience the thrill of stepping into a real-life Jumanji during a 4D3N river safari rainforest adventure. Immerse yourself in nature as you sail through rivers, encounter magnificent wildlife, and sleep on a kelotok houseboat. This unforgettable journey will connect you with the natural world in a way you’ve never imagined.
Why go to Borneo to see Orangutans?
The only places Orangutans can be found in the wild is in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Sadly, the Orangutan population in Borneo has declined by over 50% in the past decades, and they are classified as a critically endangered species.
On this trip, we will be headed to Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan – this national park is famous for Orangutan rehabilitation efforts. Borneo is not just home to Orangutans, it is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Expect to see diverse wildlife including the proboscis monkey, long-tailed macaque, and unique bird species. You’ll also get a taste of what local life is like as you live on a houseboat during the expedition.
What will the trip look like?
Day 1 – Arrive in Pangkalan Bun & Welcome to Tanjung Puting National Park!
Upon arrival at Iskandar Airport Pangkalan Bun, the local guide will pick you up from the airport to Kumai to board the kelotok. Cruise through the rivers and mangroves to reach Tanjung Harapan Rehabilitation Centre. You will see Orangutans enjoying their meal during the feeding session. In the evening, the guide will bring you for a walk around the river banks where you’ll see nocturnal wildlife. You may even see fireflies by the river bank!
Day 2 – Trek & Canoe
After breakfast, start off your day with a trek in the rainforest and canoe along the river. Your expert guide will share with you interesting insights into the creatures and plants that live in the rainforests of Borneo. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to explore the different habitats in the rainforest – from swamps to dipterocarp forests.
In the afternoon, the kelotok will continue to cruise along the river banks back to Camp 1 – if you’re lucky, you could probably spot Orangutans out in the wild, together with other amazing animals!
Day 3 – Pondok Tanggui and Camp Leakey
Today, we will visit two rehabilitation centres, Pondok Tanggui and Camp Leakey. Start off with a morning feeding session at Pondok Tanggui, which takes care of Orangutans rescued from capture. After leaving Pondok Tanggui, you will cruise to Camp Leakey. Founded in 1971, Camp Leakey was established as a haven for Orangutans rescued from captivity. Today, it is a renowned animal research centre where scientists study the wildlife of Borneo and even Orangutan sign language abilities.
After the visit to Camp Leakey, you will spend the rest of the day exploring the rainforest on foot before unwinding in the evening.
Day 4 – Village Visit & Farewell
You will visit Sekonyer Village, a historical village next to Tanjung Puting National park. Get a glimpse of local village life, from the way they live to even the way they harvest water.
As the kelotok cruises back to the harbor, you can continue to spot wildlife along the river banks – even Orangutans foraging for food. After reaching the harbor, a private transfer will bring you to the airport where you can head home or to your next destination!
The trip is inclusive of:
| Return transfer between Pangkalan Bun Iskandar Airport and Tanjung Puting National Park |
| Experienced wildlife guide (he was previously a wildlife researcher!) |
| 3 nights accommodation on Kelotok |
| Breakfast, lunch and dinner served on Kelotok |
| Non-alcoholic drinks (mineral water, coffee, tea) |
| Crew on Kelotok, including captain, deckhand and chef |
| National Park entrance fee |
| Contributions to park rangers |
Not included:
| Flights between Iskandar Airport and Singapore |
| Travel insurance |
| Personal expenses |
| Permit fee for film-making or drone flying |
Where will I be sleeping?
Tanjung Puting National Park is only accessible by boat, so you will be moving around and sleeping in a kelotok. Living on the kelotok is one of the highlights of the trip – it is not everyday you get to stay on a houseboat in the rainforest!
While it is no luxury cruise ship, the kelotok is well-equipped for cleanliness and comfort. There is even a chef on board to whip up delicious meals so you will have plenty of energy to explore the rainforest. In the evening, the boat crew will set up the mattress, pillow and mosquito net for you. There are two levels on the kelotok – crew will be sleeping at the lower level while you will be sleeping at the top level.
There is electricity on the boat, but do note that internet signal is very weak in the rainforest. Though, the captain does know some spots with decent enough internet for sending messages.
Is this ethical?
The wildlife of Borneo have been suffering from major habitat loss because the rainforests are being cut down to make way for palm oil plantations. It’s a multi-faceted issue, but we cannot deny that human actions is driving wildlife to the brink of extinction. Wouldn’t a flock of tourist cause more harm?
Tourism in this area has helped raise awareness and donations to support conservation efforts. Even though human action did cause the problem, it is also through direct intervention efforts that we can help restore the vibrant ecosystem of Borneo.
During this adventure, we will treat the natural habitat with respect – observe the wildlife from a distance (they’re wild animals, not pets) and leave the rainforest the way it was before we came.
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