Orangutans in Indonesia
October 2018
October 2018
This is our adventure visiting orangutans in Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo, Indonesia.
Orangutans, the majestic great apes native to the lush rainforests of Borneo, are captivating creatures that evoke a sense of wonder and admiration. These gentle giants, known for their incredible intelligence and captivating personalities, hold a significant place in the hearts of both locals and conservationists alike. The dense tropical jungles of Borneo provide an ideal habitat for these critically endangered animals, where they swing gracefully from tree to tree using their long, powerful arms. Endemic to the island, orangutans are masterful climbers and spend most of their lives high up in the canopy, feeding on fruits, leaves, and occasional insects. Unfortunately, their habitat faces constant threats due to deforestation and illegal logging, pushing these remarkable creatures closer to extinction. Despite these challenges, numerous conservation efforts and dedicated organizations strive to protect these enchanting creatures and their precious habitat, ensuring a brighter future for orangutans in Borneo.
Tanjung Puting National Park is nestled in the heart of Central Kalimantan of Indonesia, on the island of Borneo. It is a biodiversity treasure trove and a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike. Encompassing over 400,000 hectares of lush rainforest, rivers, and swamps, the park boasts a rich variety of flora and fauna, making it one of Indonesia's most renowned protected areas. One of the park's most iconic inhabitants is the critically endangered orangutan, whose thriving populations have been at the center of numerous conservation efforts. Visitors to Tanjung Puting are treated to extraordinary opportunities to witness these gentle great apes in their natural habitat, swinging gracefully from tree to tree or engaging in social interactions.
To get to Tanjung Puting National Park from Jakarta, you'll need to take a combination of flights and boat rides. Here's a general outline of the journey:
Fly from Jakarta to Pangkalan Bun: Pangkalan Bun is the nearest airport to Tanjung Puting National Park. You can find direct flights from Jakarta to Pangkalan Bun's Iskandar Airport (IATA code: PKN) offered by various airlines. The flight duration is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Transfer to Kumai: From Pangkalan Bun Airport, you'll need to travel to the nearby port town of Kumai, where you can access the boats that will take you into the national park. Kumai is approximately a 20 to 30-minute drive from the airport. You can easily find taxis or private transport to get there.
Take a Boat to Tanjung Puting National Park: Once you reach Kumai, you'll board a traditional klotok, a wooden boat equipped for river travel. These boats are specially designed for visitors to explore the park's waterways and are the primary means of transportation within Tanjung Puting. The boat ride from Kumai to the heart of the national park can take around 2 to 3 hours, depending on the exact location of your destination within the park. Most klotoks include a small cabin or sleeping area where guests can rest during multi-day trips. Basic amenities such as mattresses, mosquito nets, and simple bathroom facilities may be provided to ensure a modest level of comfort during overnight stays.
The park is also home to other fascinating creatures, including gibbons, macaques, proboscis monkeys, and a plethora of colorful bird species. Traveling along the winding rivers by boat, guests can immerse themselves in the serene surroundings and admire the diverse ecosystem that the park fervently protects. By promoting ecotourism and conservation initiatives, Tanjung Puting National Park has emerged as a beacon of hope for the future of Indonesian wildlife and a shining example of sustainable nature preservation.
We spent an incredible 3 days and 2 nights in Tanjung Puting with Ecolodges Indonesia (http://www.ecolodgesindonesia.com). They arranged EVERYTHING including return transfer from/to Pangkalan Bun airport, all meals, lodging and excursions. Our nights were spent at the Rimba Orangutan Eco Lodge and our days were spent on the Rimba Princess klotok.
Our guide, Eros was well prepared and customized the tour to our interests (no snakes or tarantulas, please). During our hikes to the orangutan feeding stations, he brought bottled water, binoculars, mosquito repellent, and umbrellas in case of rain. He pointed out plants and interesting insects, as well as the different bird sounds of the rainforest. The hikes ranged from 15 to 45 minutes long, easy walking. Eros adjusted the pace, stopping frequently to offer us water. After each hike we returned to the boat and were given cold wash cloths.
They thought of everything to keep us comfortable. The boat crew was excellent at spotting wildlife from the river. We saw orangutan, proboscious monkey, long-tailed macaque, crocodile, swimming monitor lizard, fireflies, and an owl. The meals prepared on the boat were as good, if not better, than anything that could be prepared in a restaurant. On our final night, we lay on the boat deck looking up at the stars, on the ride back to our lodge. It was magical.
The accommodations at the lodge were excellent. It was clean and environmentally friendly, running on solar power, with minimal amenities to help conserve resources. It was nice returning to a hot shower and cool AC after a full day in the rainforest. The monkeys running across our rooftops in the morning were our natural alarm clocks and added to the experience of the rainforest.
On top of all of that, additional, unexpected activities were included in our tour. We took a night trek through the rainforest with our guide Eros and a park ranger. The ranger spotted a Tarsiers monkey, the smallest primate, which only comes out at night. We came within 2 meters of it and got incredible photos.
On our last day we went to a reforestation center where the ranger showed us medicinal plants that were destroyed by fire. We selected two of them to plant, alongside plantings from other visitors, to rejuvenate the forest. It was refreshing to see support from so many different countries.
Simply email reservation@ecolodgesindonesia.com with the dates you would like to take the 3 day 2 night tour and they will take care of everything. We recommend visiting in late September, early October (after the busy season, before the rainy season). Payment was made conveniently through Paypal. All we had to do was arrive in Pangkalan Bun.