Wildlife guide
The perfect introduction to getting your head around the extraordinary life on earth, and where to go to find it.
Orangutan watching travel guide
‘Orang-hutan’ means ‘person of the forest’, and this term was originally used to refer to forest dwelling humans as well as their shaggy, branch swinging counterparts, who share over 96 percent of our DNA. Their excitable “longcalls” resonate around the canopy, drawing eyes to rust red fur amid the leafy treetops.
Orangutans are only endemic to the far flung islands of Borneo and Sumatra, yet each year, thousands make the pilgrimage here to see the dwindling numbers that remain, despite long haul flights, high costs and the fact that interaction is not permitted. The lure of seeing something so unique and intelligent – which may cease to exist within a few decades – is powerful, and each visit to a sanctuary, rehabilitation center or remaining tract of virgin rainforest supports the conservation of these creatures for future generations.
Orangutans are only endemic to the far flung islands of Borneo and Sumatra, yet each year, thousands make the pilgrimage here to see the dwindling numbers that remain, despite long haul flights, high costs and the fact that interaction is not permitted. The lure of seeing something so unique and intelligent – which may cease to exist within a few decades – is powerful, and each visit to a sanctuary, rehabilitation center or remaining tract of virgin rainforest supports the conservation of these creatures for future generations.
It's not hard to see why the orangutan was anthropomorphised so – these long-limbed apes are wise old men with grizzled brows and groomed, auburn beards.![]()
The isolated forests still shelter a marvellous menagerie, including proboscis monkeys, hornbills, slow lorises and pygmy elephants, so tracking orangutans reveals a whole, wonderful world of weird wildlife. Read our orangutan watching guide to find out more.
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Sumatra orangutan experience, Indonesia
Sumatra orangutan and wildlife adventure experience
From
AU $2390
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 5 Dec
2024: 2 Jan, 13 Feb, 15 Mar, 15 Apr, 15 May, 15 Jun, 15 Jul, 15 Aug, 15 Sep
2023: 5 Dec
2024: 2 Jan, 13 Feb, 15 Mar, 15 Apr, 15 May, 15 Jun, 15 Jul, 15 Aug, 15 Sep
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Watching orangutans
Watching orangutans can generally be done in two ways: in rehabilitation centers and sanctuaries, and in the wild. The former is the most popular option, as it offers a greater chance of seeing the orangutans, and is much more accessible. Some centers do have caged individuals – as they may need extra care, or be waiting for transferral to a more permanent home in the sanctuary. The big attraction are the twice-daily feeding times, where semi wild orangutans who have been reintroduced into protected areas of forest clamber down from the canopy to visit the feeding platforms. You’ll see them up close but interaction is not allowed, and sanctuary staff will do their best to keep wandering individuals away from the tourists. Sometimes you can also walk through the sanctuary forests with a researcher, who will give you more information on the orangutans, and the work carried out by the centers.
Tracking orangutans in the wild is quite a different experience. You may be on foot or in a boat, and jungle expeditions may last several days – with no guarantee of sightings. For this reason it is important to choose a knowledgeable, experienced guide who can talk about all the other wonders of the forest, rather than focusing on this one goal. If you do see them they may simply be orange blobs in the treetops – but those who have been lucky enough to observe this claim it is a far more moving and meaningful experience than seeing them in the sanctuaries.
Hardcore travelers also have a third option – volunteering. Contrary to popular belief, this does not include any handling of the orangutans themselves, as diseases are easily spread and long quarantine periods would be necessary.
Volunteer work generally involves cleaning out cages, and building fences, enclosures and structures for the orangutans to climb on – volunteers should be physically fit, especially given the heat and humidity.
Volunteer work generally involves cleaning out cages, and building fences, enclosures and structures for the orangutans to climb on – volunteers should be physically fit, especially given the heat and humidity.
A brief History
At the turn of the 20th century, an estimated 315,000 wild orangutans inhabited the impenetrable tropical forests of Sumatra and Borneo; today that number stands at just over 60,000. Bornean and Sumatran orangutans are two distinct species, and the Sumatran orangutan has suffered the most – just 6,600 are estimated to remain on the island and the species is classified as critically endangered.
Read more
More Orangutan articles
Unlike many other wildlife watching trips, you can see orangutans any time of year.
Borneo and Sumatra are the only places you can see orangutans in the wild.
Beyond sanctuaries, learn where to see orangutans in their natural habitat.
Track gentle sun bears, see comically ugly proboscis monkeys, and look for nocturnal slow lorises on night walks.
Volunteer vacations help support orangutan conservation - learn more here.
We've spoken to our vacation companies working in Borneo and Sumatra and asked them for their best advice.
To help travelers, we keep a list of orangutan sanctuaries.
Orangutans are highly endangered so responsible orangutan watching is vital.
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