Travel experiences

In this blog we discover the stunning rainforests of Borneo and the orangutans that call it home.

See orangutans in Borneo

If you love wildlife, seeing orangutans in their natural habitat is one of the most special, life-affirming experiences you can have.

Orangutans are closely related to humans, sharing 97% of our DNA. They are patient, intelligent and inquisitive creatures, known to have escaped from zoos after watching zookeepers locking and unlocking doors!

An encounter with these gentle great apes is an unforgettable experience, and one of the best places to see them is Borneo. There are two ways to do this: either visit one of Borneo’s Orangutan Rehabilitation Centres, or venture out into Borneo’s virgin rainforest to see these fascinating animals in the wild.

Kinabatangan River flows through the heart of orangutan territory. Travellers can take a small boat along the river looking out for orangutans, proboscis monkeys and other wildlife from the water. Not only is this the most leisurely way to see wild orangutans, it is also the least damaging to their habitat, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is dedicated to the rehabilitation of young and adult orangutans who have suffered through habitat loss, poaching or the illegal pet trade. Although you may not get the ‘buzz’ of seeing orangutans in the wild, you’re almost guaranteed to see these beautiful animals playing, eating and swinging through the trees.

Combining both experiences – seeing orangutans in the wild and also in a rehabilitation centre – gives you the most rounded picture of how the orangutan – or ‘people of the forest’– are faring in the world today.

Experience Borneo for yourself on our Borneo Rainforest Adventure tour.