There is nothing more exciting and fun than seeing wild animals directly in nature. The moment of waiting for the presence of animals, walking along the path in the middle of the forest, plus other surprises will provide a memorable experience.
This adventure is what you can find in Tanjung Puting National Park, West Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan.
Orangutans, proboscis monkeys, long-tailed monkeys, monkeys, langurs, and various types of birds with exotic feathers are ready to welcome tourists. However, the main attraction of tourists is seeing orangutans directly.
Tanjung Puting National Park is indeed home to thousands of orangutans. Some areas in Tanjung Puting are the largest orangutan conservation locations in the world with an estimated population of 30 thousand to 40 thousand orangutans scattered in the national park.
Tanjung Puting National Park has also been designated as a biosphere reserve covering an area of 415,040 hectares since 1982.
Don’t worry about safety and comfort. Rows of local tour operators such as Be Borneo Tour are ready to welcome a variety of tour packages with standardization that will make tourists feel at home along rivers and forests. Even without a cell phone signal when in the forest.
The orangutan tour to Tanjung Puting National Park starts from Kumai Pier. The distance from the city center in Pangkalan Bun is not too far. Travel time is about 15 minutes. This is where the row of kelotok boats that will take tourists along Tanjung Puting is anchored.
From this pier, tourists will be invited to sail across Kumai Bay to the Sekonyer River which is the entrance to Tanjung Puting National Park. From Kumai Pier to the location of the point where you can see the orangutans, it will take more than four hours. However, don’t worry, the scenery along the Sekonyer River which is also known as the Indonesian Amazon River is very interesting.
Also, don’t imagine the kelotok used by a small boat that can only accommodate three people. However, like a mobile home, the kelotok boats that tourists can rent have complete facilities with bedrooms, toilets, kitchens, as well as a dining table. So that it will make tourists feel more comfortable exploring Tanjung Puting which generally lasts for three days and two nights.
In Tanjung Puting National Park, there are five area points that tourists can reach to see orangutans. Among them are Pondok Tanggui and Leakey. At scheduled hours, officials from the Orang Utan Foundation will bring a large basket of fruits such as bananas and more than five liters of milk which will serve as food for the orangutans.
Like at camp Leakey, the location I visited at that time. At this location the feeding is scheduled for 2pm every day. To get to this location, from the edge of the pier where the kelotok is attached, we have to walk for about 45 minutes. Don’t worry because the atmosphere along the way to the camp will be very impressive.
From the pier, we will follow a long wooden bridge dividing the mangrove forest. The bridge is very neat so it is very comfortable.
The location where Leakey feeds is actually the same as the forest in Tanjung Puting National Park. However, at this location there is a wooden platform where the fruit and milk are placed by officers from the Orang Utan Foundation. Meanwhile, tourists are placed in seats in front of a wooden stage with more than six meters.
After the fruit and milk were placed in their place, officials from the Orang Utan Foundation tried to call the orangutans to the location. With a distinctive shout that orangutans recognize, one by one the orangutans will arrive from various sides.
They come from all corners of the forest. Past towering trees. Male, female, and baby orangutans come and enjoy the food that is served. If lucky, tourists can see the orangutan king with a larger size.
This is where the exciting moment you can enjoy. See first-hand how orangutans act so naturally. Watching them live comfortably in their own “home”. They move from one tall tree to another. Waiting for their moments to come, will give an impressive adrenaline.
One thing that tourists can feel is seeing how orangutans look so free. Their wild instincts were visible.
However, because it is also in the wild, it is not that easy to call orangutans to the location. Five minutes, half an hour, an hour, or even three hours, it doesn’t mean that the orangutan will come.
Because to protect their wild nature, tourists who come must obey the established regulations. Namely, not allowed to cross the barrier between tourist areas and feeding locations. In addition, tourists should not be noisy at all because it will disturb the orangutans.
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