Orangutans

Semenggoh Orangutan Centre

Like Sepilok in Sabah, Semenggoh Orangutan Centre near Kuching in Sarawak helps to rehabilitate injured and orphaned orangutans before releasing them into the wild. Massive destruction of their habitat in recent years with the spread of palm oil plantations has had a devastating effect on orangutan numbers and centres like these are helping to preserve this beautiful and intelligent creature, the only great ape found outside Africa. At Semenggoh, you can watch semi-wild orangutans come out of the forest during feeding time, perhaps your best opportunity to see these amazing animals.

Batang Ai

Perhaps the true highlight of a trip to Borneo is travelling deep into the Borneo rainforest and staying there with traditional tribes. Of the options available, Batang Ai, east of Kuching, is one of the best. This area is home to the Iban tribe, the largest and most vibrant of Sarawak's 22 tribal groups, who live with extended family groups in traditional longhouses by rivers on the edge of the jungle. In times past the Iban used to be known as head-hunters but today they live through fishing and ecotourism. Trekking through the jungle can be strenuous and humid but is a perfect opportunity to experience unspoilt wilderness and search elusive orangutans and or their nests. Bathing in the rivers or at Enseluai Waterfall offers ideal relaxation after trekking, in addition to learning about Iban customs and trying their rice wine.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre was set up in 1964 and covers over 4,000 hectares. It is one of only three orangutan sanctuaries in the world, designed to rehabilitate injured and orphaned orangutans and teach them the skills required for them to survive in the wild. There has been massive destruction of the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra in recent years to make way for palm oil plantations and this has had a devastating effect on orangutan habitat and numbers. Orangutans are the only great ape found outside Africa and are beautiful and intelligent creatures who captivate all those who see them. Being solitary and shy animals, it is very difficult to spot orangutans in the wild, so centres like Sepilok offer a great opportunity to see these apes swinging through the trees at feeding time.

The Kinabatangan River is the longest in Borneo and as it meanders through the Sukau Rainforest it creates a flood plain that makes it an excellent environment for wildlife viewing. River cruises along the Kinabatangan enable spotting of proboscis and leaf monkeys, orangutans, Bornean gibbon, Asian pygmy elephants, long tailed macaques, sun bears, clouded leopards and barking deer, as well as over 200 bird species including frogmouth, hornbill, egret and oriole.

The Danum Valley is the largest protected lowland rainforest area in Asia, measuring some 430 km². It is home to 274 bird species and 110 mammal species, many of which are rare and endangered. From a base at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, there are many trails through the jungle that allow you to look for orangutans, giant flying squirrels, gibbons, bearded wild boars, flying frogs, Asian elephant and the extremely endangered Sumatran rhinoceros. Night drives may enable spotting of nocturnal species such as civet, sambar deer, leopard cat, slow loris or clouded leopard.

The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra comprises three national parks spread throughout the island - Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, totalling 25,000 km². The highest volcano in Indonesia and highest peak in Sumatra, Gunung Kerinci at 3,805 metres, is located in Kerinci Seblat National Park. The parks are key to the conservation of the biodiversity of Sumatra and its endangered species, particularly the Sumatran orangutan. They are home to some 10,000 plant species, 580 bird species and 465 mammalian species, of which 22 are Asian and 15 endemic to Indonesia.