BORNEO (Indonesia) - Great Ape Photography Tour

Borneo is the third biggest island in the world and at 130 million years old, Borneo’s Rainforest is one of the oldest in the world. Located in the province of Central Kalimantan it is home to some of the most endangered and endemic primates of this region including the critically endangered Bornean Orangutan. In this exclusive photography journey we will venture into the interiors of Tanjung Puting National Park of Central Kalimantan in Klotok to come face to face with these Great Apes native to Asia.

Your images will just not be limited to the Orangutans, which in Malayan language mean the “ man of the forest“. The ride of the Klotok boat through the prestine forests would give you the opportunity to come across other endemic species like Proboscis monkeys, Silvered Leaf Monkeys or Silvery Lutung, Red Leaf Monkeys, White Bearded Gibbons, and many more. Apart from the primates there are almost 420 species of birds, two species of crocodiles. You will not just have a once in a lifetime adventure but we will make sure you get the most of opportunities and make the best of images in this pristine tropical rainforest.

The best-known animals in Tanjung Puting are the Orangutans, made famous through the long-term efforts of the Orangutan Research and Conservation Program (predecessor to OFI), based at the landmark Camp Leakey research station.

Tanjung Puting also boasts the bizarre looking proboscis monkey with its “Jimmy Durante” nose as well as seven other primate species. Clouded leopards, civets, and Malaysian sun bears cavort in the park, as do mouse deer, barking deer, sambar deer, and the wild cattle known as banteng. Tanjung Puting hosts over 230 species of birds, including hornbills, deep forest birds, and many wetland species. Tanjung Puting is well known for its “bird lakes,” seasonal rookeries for a half a dozen species of endangered waterbirds. Tanjung Puting also has two species of crocodiles, dozens of snakes and frogs, numerous threatened species, including the fortune-bringing and highly endangered “dragon” fish also known as the Arwana (bony-tongue). Among the most flamboyant of these animals are the many species of colourful birds, butterflies, and moths found in the Park.

 Day 1: Arrival at Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan

The tour begins at Pangkalan Bun Town of Central Kalimantan in Borneo Island. Depending on your flight timing (which generally arrives in the noon or later) we will pick you up from Iskandar Airport and drop you at your Hotel which is 20 mins drive from the Airport in the town of Pangkalan Bun. Brief orientation about the next 5 days and the rest of the day you can relax. (L/D)

 Day 2: Pankalan Bun – Kumai – Tanjung Putting National Park

We get up early and have breakfast in the Hotel around 8 AM. Freshen up and pack our baggages as our cab waits to take us to the Klotok, the houseboat we stay for next 5 days. It is approx. 20 – 30 mins drive while we cross across the beautiful town of Pangkalan Bun before we reach the port of Kumai. Once we reach we will be greeted by our boat crew along with our guide. We settle down while they take care of our stay and comfort. Today rest of the day we cruise through the Sekonyer River. The first day we get used to the conditions in the forest, understanding and estimating the efforts required to shoot in this new set up of the boat. The late afternoon is a good time when we come across the Probiscis Monkeys sitting on trees near the banks in beautiful evening light. In the evening we sit and overview the images we made today. Dinner will be served at 7:30 PM and then lights would be off. (B/L/D)

 Day 3 – 5: Cruise through Sekonyer River – Camp visit

The next three days we will follow almost the same routine. Get up early around 5:30 AM, get ready over a cup of tea/coffee while the captain and crew prepare the boat for sail. We start our cruise around 6AM. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be cooked and served fresh on the boat. You will have fresh water in bathrooms, charging points for camera gears and crew at your service all the time for any needs. While they are busy keeping us comfortable, we look through various opportunities to make good images cruising through the Sekonyer River. Though our primary target are the primates of the region like Orangutans, Silvered Leaf and Red Leaf Monkeys, Probiscis Monkeys, and Gibbons, we might also get the opportunity to capture few rare bird species across the riverbank. If we are lucky we might come across the endemic Rhinoceros Hornbill, Helmeted Hornbill, or the Black Hornbill.

There are three camps, namely Pondok Tanggui, Tanjung Harapan and Camp Leaky, in Tanjung Puting National Park which we will visit, one on each day. These camps were previously used for rehabilitation and release for formerly captive orangutans. Though these camps are not in use anymore but they provide daily feedings to ex-captive orangutans and their offsprings as a nutritional supplement to their diet. One should note the orangutans are not reliant on the food provided at the camps as they are well accustomed with the natural habitat and food supply in the forest. However, visiting the camp is the only chance when you could spend a couple of hours on foot inside the dark and deep rain forest. You also get opportunities to closely capture the wild orangutans, and occasionally other primates like white-bearded gibbons and red leave monkeys, which roam freely in the surrounding. The natural light inside the forest is something which any photographer would love.

Once we are back in our boat, we spend the rest of the day cruising through the Sekonyer River and exploring the area for other primates or birds. Enjoying the beautiful sunset in the Bornean Forest, at 5:30 PM we anchor the boat. This is the time when we review the images we made over a cup of tea/coffee. At 7:30 PM we have dinner after which the light goes off. (B/L/D)

 Day 6: Tanjung Putting National Park – Kumai – Pankalan Bun Airport

This will be our last morning in the beautiful Bornean Forest. We set sail around 6AM on our journey back to the port of Kumai while enjoying the ride and our breakfast. From the port we drop you to Iskandar Airport around 9AM for your forward journey. (B)

Please note:

i) The program has been prepared keeping in mind the daily flights between Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, T1) and Pungkalan Bun (Iskandar Airport). 

ii) There are direct domestic flights daily from Jakarta to Pangkalan Bun (Recommendation: NAM Air Flifgt IN190 at 10:25 AM from Jakarta/NAM Air Flight IN191 at 10:50 AM from Pangkalan Bun)

iii) Book your flight and Hotel in Jakarta a day before the start of the tour. (Recommendation: Air Asia flights which comes via Kuala Lampur arrives in Terminal 2 in Jakarta. Book Jakarta Airport Hotel for your stay which is strategically inside Terminal 2 and you won’t need any pickup and drop)

iv) Our program starts from Pangkalan Bun on Day 1and ends in Pangkalan Bun on Day 6. Your round trip domestic flights to and from Pangkalan Bun needs to be booked by you. We may however assist you if you need any help.

v) Indonesian Visa for tourists in on arrival. However, to save time in immigration we recommend you apply eVOA (eVisaOnArrival) online before travelling on their official website Indonesian eVoa Information (imigrasi.go.id)

Visitor Visa fee is IDR 500.000,00 (Approx. Rs 2800) and will be send to your mail immediately.

vi) At immigration you need the following.

1. Passport valid for atleast 6 months from your date of entry.

2. Return Flight Details.

3. Hotel bookings

To register for this photography tour you may send us your query/information through the ‘Contact Us’ tab or directly write to us at info@wildwondersexpeditions.com. We will revert soon with further details and the mode of payment. You may also give us a call at the below numbers.

+91 9874847774 / +91 7439705797