Enter the homeland of the Orangutan and track for wild and rehabilitated animals under the guidance of the Orangutan Foundation.
. For 33 years Dr Biruté Galdikas, the world’s leading orangutan expert has been studying and saving orangutans as well as bringing their struggle to world attention. She is the force behind The Orangutan Foundation that was initiated to fund the work and to try and secure the future for these great apes. The foundation has been rehabilitating ex-captive orphans, raising awareness and funds, doing research and ensuring habitat preservation. The Foundation, in exclusive cooperation with Discovery Initiatives for the last nine years allows a privileged few participants per year an opportunity to go backstage in their rainforest study area.

Families are comfortably accommodated at the Rimba Lodge, from where they catch their klotok (the traditional long boat of this part) to Camp Leakey; the historic research site established by Dr Biruté Galdikas. Here they will be led by their own personal guide through the rainforest, where hopefully they will spot wild orangutans and watch them at feeding time.

From the comfort of the Lodge set right on the edge of the gently flowing Sekonyer river in light forest hear the plaintive cry of Gibbons, early birdsong and the resident Macacque monkey troop. From here groups can also take a night safari to see tarsiers, glowing mushrooms fireflies and perhaps owls. An alternative option is to stay the night aboard a klotok, sleeping under the stars, waiting for the jungle to come alive at dawn. Although adults and children do not have direct contact with orangutans, they will meet and get to know some of the rehabilitated orangutans that inhabit Tanjung Puting National Park and watch them at feeding time.

In participating on a tailor-made programme not only will you have the privilege of seeing these gentle creatures in the wild but also help in the fight against their extinction.

Please note – these trips are not volunteer programmes and whilst we are aware of some of our clients desire to hold the organutans, due to the strict rehabilitation and release programme, human contact is strictly forbidden – after all, these types of centres are for the orangutans benefit and not ours! Please respect the wishes of our hosts by adhering to these rules, which will ensure the rehabilitation programme has the greatest chance of success.