Orangutans and Rainforest Adventures in Tanjung Puting

Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan spreads across coastal heath, peat swamp, and towering dipterocarp forest. It remains one of the most biodiverse corners of Borneo, home to orangutans, proboscis monkeys, gibbons, and hornbills. Travelers often glide through its wild heart aboard “klotok” riverboats, traditional wooden boats now offering accessible, low-impact ways to explore the dense green canopy. This region symbolizes how tourism in Indonesia can honor the wild and still inspire wonder.

The Bornean orangutan is critically endangered, with habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade posing ongoing threats. Conservation and ecotourism have become critical allies in reversing the trend. Organizations like Orangutan Foundation International have rehabilitated and released hundreds of orangutans, with research centers such as Camp Leakey and Pondok Ambung guiding both science and sanctuary. These efforts exemplify the work of the Indonesian ecotourism network, intertwining protection, study, and sustainable visitor engagement.

Visitors travel via “klotok” boats along the Sekonyer and Kumai Rivers, reaching feeding stations at Camp Leakey, Pondok Tanggui, and Tanjung Harapan. At appointed times, rangers gently feed bananas and fruit to ex-captive orangutans and their offspring, inviting soft, respectful moments of connection. Between stops, the boat drifts alongside riverbank life and lush green towers, and at night the jungle sings under the stars. It is wildlife watching made intimate, immersive, and deeply human.

This is more than jungle tourism. It is a living lesson in responsibility, where travelers witness both the forest and the efforts to defend it from decline. Tanjung Puting offers a rare opportunity to witness rehabilitation in action and to know that your journey supports real stewardship. It reminds us how tourism in Indonesia can serve both discovery and duty. For nature-lovers and storytellers alike, this destination elevates travel into something unforgettable.

Floating under canopy and starlight, meeting caretakers and gentle giants, this is how transformation can begin. If you want a journey that reconnects you with wild wonder and meaningful purpose, let Tanjung Puting be your calling. Travel with care, watch with respect, and let this rainforest guide you toward deeper connection.