Borneo is one of only two remaining refuges where you can still see orangutan in the wild. To spot one of these elusive animals swinging through the treetops will stun you into complete silence. They are semi solitary creatures, but if you are lucky, you may see a mother and up to two offspring.
Orangutan have a curious habit. Before sunset, they make their nests for the night, sometimes with their babies clinging tightly to their bellies. This is unusual behaviour for primates, but nesting is one of the things which make an encounter so memorable. With their golden hair and endearing eyes, and their friendliness towards humans - with whom they share 97% of their genetic makeup - you can’t help but fall in love with Borneo’s most engaging species.
The best place to see a large number of wild orangutan is Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan. The orangutan are free to roam but often visit feeding centres to supplement their diets. If you want to see them even closer at hand, visit the Camp Leakey Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, which cares for orphaned and rescued orangutan.
