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.
When to see orangutans
Unlike many other species, orangutans neither migrate nor hibernate, and their two natural homes are free from cyclones and tornadoes.![]()
In theory, orangutans can be seen year-round, especially in the rehabilitation centres and sanctuaries, where the question of when to see orangutans only concerns the set feeding times. November to February can be soggy, though, with most of the rain falling mid-afternoon in monsoon-style downpours, so jungle hikes can end up being pretty miserable in these months, and leeches more prevalent. However, there are savings on both flights and accommodation to be made by travelling in the low season. Shop around, and you might snag a bargain.
Sepilok (Sabah) Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
23
29
443
FEB
23
30
278
MAR
24
31
188
APR
24
32
120
MAY
24
32
154
JUN
23
32
190
JUL
23
32
184
AUG
23
32
241
SEP
23
32
231
OCT
23
32
230
NOV
23
31
300
DEC
23
30
435
Our Orangutan Holidays
Borneo orangutan holiday
Trekking, wildlife and beach adventure holiday to Borneo
From
£3460
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
Borneo 8 day tour, the wild heart of Borneo
A unique experience in the untouched, beautiful Sarawak.
From
£855
8 days
ex flights
Orangutan photography in Borneo
Develop your photography skills in Borneo
From
£2375 to £2565
10 days
ex flights
Borneo family volunteering holiday
Encounter orangutans and meet local tribes in magical Borneo
From
£795
7 days
ex flights
Orangutan conservation holiday in Borneo
Meet Iban tribes and encounter orangutans in Borneo
From
£1195
13 days
ex flights
Borneo luxury holidays, tailor made
Rainforests, orangutans, beaches tailor made
From
£3150
13 days
inc UK flights
Sarawak wildlife & beach holiday
Encounter orangutans and hike through virgin rainforest
From
£1285 to £1390
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
Orangutan conservation in East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Work with orangutans & sun bears in stunning East Kalimantan
From
£1295 to £1995
13 days
ex flights
Borneo orangutan conservation volunteering
Care for rescued orangutans in beautiful Borneo
From
£1280
15 days
ex flights
Borneo small group holiday
Head into Borneo's jungles, rivers and villages
From
£1690 to £1915
10 days
ex flights
Wild Borneo holiday, private departure
Highlights of Malaysian Borneo including Deramakot
From
£4340
18 days
inc UK flights
Indonesia holiday, orangutans and culture
See wildlife and stay in a sustainable lodge development.
From
£4320
16 days
inc UK flights
Borneo holiday, Highlights of Borneo
The highlights of Sabah, from Orangutans to Mt Kinabalu
From
£2469
12 days
ex flights
Orangutan volunteering in Borneo
Volunteer at an award-winning orangutan rehabilitation centre in Malaysian Borneo
From
£795 to £1995
8 days
ex flights
Highlights of Borneo group tour
Small-group culture and wildlife tour of Borneo
From
£3075 to £3295
14 days
inc UK flights
Sarawak and Sabah tour, Orangutans & Ibans
Explore Borneo's unique culture, heritage and wildlife
From
£1744
13 days
ex flights
Borneo tailor made tour on a shoestring
The Best of Borneo: Wildlife, Adventure, Idyllic Beaches
From
£1295
11 days
ex flights
Best of Borneo adventure holiday, wildlife encounters
Delve into the vibrant depths of Borneo
From
£5640
14 days
ex flights
Borneo wilderness adventure holiday
A totally immersive Borneo Wilderness Experience.
From
£4475
16 days
ex flights
Sabah wildlife holiday in Borneo
Explore the best of Borneo's unique wildlife
From
£5940
14 days
ex flights
Camp Leakey and Tanjung Puting NP tour, 4 days
Sail downriver to the Orangutan Sanctuary at Camp Leakey
From
£650
4 days
ex flights
Kuala Lumpur and Sabah wildlife tour
Wildlife adventure in the heart of Borneo
From
£4300
11 days
inc UK flights
Indonesia orangutan and komodo dragon holiday
See two unique animals found only in Indonesia
From
AU $3850
9 days
ex flights
Borneo and Malaysia small group holiday
Visit both halves of Malaysia
From
£2979 to £3299
16 days
inc UK flights
Orangutan expedition in Central Borneo
Orangutan and Dayak culture adventure in Central Borneo
From
AU $2590
8 days
ex flights
Tanjung Puting orangutan holiday, Borneo
Orangutan Adventure Holiday, Tanjung Puting, Borneo
From
£1450
7 days
ex flights
Clouded Leopards and rare mammals in Borneo tour
A dedicated rare mammal watching tour of Sabah, Borneo.
From
£3995
15 days
ex flights
Borneo wildlife holiday, 13 days
Borneo adventure holiday to see wildlife such as orangutans
From
£2950
13 days
inc UK flights
When to watch orangutans
Our top Orangutan Holiday
Borneo orangutan holiday
Trekking, wildlife and beach adventure holiday to Borneo
From
£3460
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
Call us until 5pm
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The best time to see orangutans
Nicki Hollamby, a Borneo expert at our tailor made holiday specialists Audley Travel, shares her advice on when to see orangutans: “If you are spending the day at Sepilok, I always suggest you go to the afternoon feeding in your own time because although there are fewer orangutans, there are also fewer people.”
Kate Tyler, from our partner Odyssey World, on when to see orangutans:
“If you are looking to go to the Kinabatangan River area, I would avoid going earlier than about March or April, or in December, because the weather is atrocious. The rain is so heavy. It can be a year-round destination but when the rain is at its heaviest it can really hinder your experience. It can be really humid. Peak is probably from end of April through to October, so it’s perfect for a summer holiday destination – but it does get really busy.”
“If you are looking to go to the Kinabatangan River area, I would avoid going earlier than about March or April, or in December, because the weather is atrocious. The rain is so heavy. It can be a year-round destination but when the rain is at its heaviest it can really hinder your experience. It can be really humid. Peak is probably from end of April through to October, so it’s perfect for a summer holiday destination – but it does get really busy.”
Tom Hewitt, founder of our supplier Adventure Alternative Borneo, shares advice on when to see orangutans: “It’s an all-year-round destination really. That’s the great thing about it. It doesn’t have huge typhoons like the Philippines, or monsoons like other parts of Southeast Asia. There’s no volcanoes, no earthquakes... If you’re doing serious trekking then you don’t want to go in the rainy season. But other than that it’s great year-round.“
More about Orangutan
Only two islands in the world are home to the orangutan: Borneo and Sumatra. Find out the best places to spot them swinging through the trees in their native forests as well as up close in superb sanctuaries in our orangutan watching travel guide.
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".
More relevant guides
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