Orangutan Encounters
From: USD$13.00
Your trip to Borneo will be incomplete without visiting the ‘Man of the Forest’, the iconic Orangutan. One of the best place for this special Borneo wildlife encounter is at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre (SWC). Established in 1975 as a wildlife rehabilitation centre, the SWC is a heaven for a thriving community of semi-wild Orangutans made up of ‘graduates’ of a successful rehabilitation programme and their offsprings. The SWC is now an important centre for the study of Orangutan biology and behaviour. Be mesmerised by our closest cousin (sharing 94% of our genetic makeup) ranging from tiny infants and boisterous adolescents to dignified mature adults enjoying life in a secure natural habitat.
- Return transfers (Surcharge applies for transfer from hotels outside of Kuching City)
- Entrance fee
- Excludes:
- Alcoholic or canned beverages
- All other items not listed above
- Gratuities to local staff (at your discretion)
For over 20 years, the wardens here have trained the young Orangutans, who had been orphaned or rescued from captivity, how to survive in the wild. The success of this programme has left the surrounding forest reserve with a thriving population of healthy adolescent and young adult Orangutans, who are now breeding in the wild. Part of this programme has transferred to Matang Wildlife Centre, but Semenggoh is still home to its successful graduates, semi-wild Orangutans and their babies. They spend most of their time roaming the forest but frequently come back to the Centre for a free meal. If it is the fruiting season in the forest, some or even all of them may not come to feed. This in itself is a good sign and another step on the way to full rehabilitation.
The best time to visit Semenggoh is during the morning and afternoon feeding sessions when there is a good chance of seeing semi-wild Orangutan returning to the Centre for a free meal. Feeding takes place between 9.00-10.00am and between 3.00-4.00 pm
Although there is never any guarantee with seeing animals in the wild, Semenggoh is the best place in Sarawak to see them in their natural habitat, outside of fruiting season.
We would recommend long sleeved t-shirts and trousers, comfortable walking shoes, large brimmed hat or cap and sunglasses.
Mosquito repellent, small personal first aid kit, spare t-shirt, camera, handphone, a copy of your passport’s photo ID page, spare batteries, Lens, sun blocker anything else you can’t do without.
Just after monsoon, around January to February, fruiting trees in the jungle produce far more fruits at this time of year than at any other time.
Due to the heavy rain and climatic change caused by monsoon conditions the trees get somewhat stressed… and produce more flowers which in turn translates to more fruits being produced.
Not at this moment in time. The orangutans need to have space from us for them to fully rehabilitate back to the wild and not forgetting, these are wild animals after all so there are safety issues to adhere to.
We are at the feeding platforms for one hour.
Yes, you can as long as it is being used for personal use only.
No, not at this time.
A Selfie stick resembles a Blowpipe when extended out and pointing towards an Orangutan. A Blowpipe is what the local tribes used to hunt them with. A Selfie Stick may deter the orangutans from presenting themselves at the feeding platforms.
Yes you can but only if it is kept out of sight from the Orangutans and taken at the café and not whilst walking to the feeding platforms.
Yes, you can, from the small café/ shop within the park but please do not walk around with it in your hand or on display to the Orangutans.
Yes, there are two blocks of toilets, one at the car park and another set at behind the café and shop area.
There are a few crocodiles in cages on the far side of the second feeding area.
Just 45 minutes if the traffic is in your favour.
Hard to say, possibly only two, mother and baby but then we have incidents where over nine was spotted at one time.
No, they make look cute and cuddly but these are still wild animals and must be treated thus if they are to have any chance of surviving in the wild.
Yes, you can but you will still have to pay for transport costs and there will need to be more than just one pax going.
You can book a tour with Borneo Experiences on line or call into the Singgahasana Lodge in Kuching and book from there.
