Wildlife guide
This wildlife travel guide is meant to be like a trailer for the new Attenborough series. Because we also have individual travel guides for more specific wildlife holidays, such as our safaris, bear watching and whale watching.
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 centre 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 centre 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.
Our Orangutan Holidays
Borneo orangutan holiday
Trekking, wildlife and beach adventure holiday to Borneo
From
£3650
14 days
inc UK flights
Borneo tour, Great Apes and Beach escapes
Explore bustling cities, lush jungles and paradise beaches.
From
£1658
9 days
ex flights
Sarawak wildlife & beach holiday
Encounter orangutans and hike through virgin rainforest
From
£1244 to £1480
10 days
ex flights
Borneo tailor made holidays, wildlife & beaches
A luxury tour of the best wildlife & beaches of Sabah
From
£2965
15 days
ex flights
Borneo family volunteering holiday
Encounter orangutans and meet local tribes in magical Borneo
From
£845
7 days
ex flights
Orangutan photography in Borneo
Develop your photography skills in Borneo
From
£2575
10 days
ex flights
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Our top Orangutan Holiday
Borneo orangutan holiday
Trekking, wildlife and beach adventure holiday to Borneo
From
£3650
14 days
inc UK flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Orangutan or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
01273 823 700
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Watching orangutans
Watching orangutans can generally be done in two ways: in rehabilitation centres 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 centres 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 centres.
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 travellers 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 about Orangutan
You can see orangutans any time of year - especially if you're heading to one of the superb sanctuaries or rehabilitation centres. But if you're also planning to head to the beach, Mount Kinabalu or the jungle, read our advice on when to see orangutans.
Borneo and Sumatra are the only places you can see orangutans in the wild. Both Sumatra and the Indonesian region of Kalimantan, in Borneo, are somewhat more intrepid destinations, while the Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak are easier to get around.
Most travellers head to the rehabilitation sanctuaries to see orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra. But there are plenty of places to see orangutans in their natural habitat, too. Read our guide to find out the best places to see orangutans in the wild.
Orangutans are supremely adapted for life in the rainforest, but they are not the only unusual creatures you are likely to encounter here. Track sun bears in the forest; spy comically ugly proboscis monkeys; and watch out for slow lorises on night walks.
Orangutans are only found naturally on Borneo and Sumatra, yet each year thousands go on orangutan volunteering holidays to see the numbers that remain. Each visit to a sanctuary or rehabilitation centre supports the conservation of these creatures.
Seeing orangutans is a surprisingly family friendly option, but only if you do your research and read up on the best places for watching orangutans with kids. Take a look at our guide to find out if Sabah or Sarawak is for you and the sprogs.
We've spoken to our holiday companies working in Borneo and Sumatra and asked them for their best orangutan watching tips. From wild orangutans vs. sanctuaries to how to support local communities - read their orangutan watching advice here.
Orangutans are highly endangered across their range, so responsible orangutan watching is the only way to go. Find out more about volunteering, deforestation, and how to support the communities that live alongside these "old men of the forest".
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