Overview

Day 1: Pangkalan Bun – Kumai Port – Tanjung Harapan 
Arrive at Pangkalan Bun Airport, located on the island of Borneo, also known as Kalimantan in Indonesia. Upon your arrival, your guide will be waiting to greet you. From the airport, you’ll take a 15-20 minute car ride to the port of Kumai, where your exciting adventure begins! You will board a traditional wooden boat called a Klotok. Your guide will confirm with the crew that everything is in order before starting the cruise up the famous Sekonyer River. If your flight arrives early (before 11:30 AM), you'll have the opportunity to visit the Tanjung Harapan Rehabilitation Center, where, at 3 PM, the national park rangers feed the orangutans—offering you your first close encounter with these amazing creatures. Tanjung Harapan, meaning ""Cape of Hope,"" is located in an area with abundant wetlands, so be sure to apply plenty of mosquito repellent, especially since there are more mosquitoes in the afternoon. You can also participate in reforestation efforts by volunteering to plant a tree, contributing to the conservation of the area. After visiting the ranger's camp, you'll continue your journey upstream, relaxing aboard the boat while keeping an eye out for wildlife along the river. In the afternoon, it's common to spot groups of proboscis monkeys and other primates in the treetops, as well as crocodiles and lizards in the shallow waters along the riverbanks. As the sun sets, the boat will anchor on one side of the river for the night. Tonight, you can join a jungle walk in search of nocturnal animals, such as snakes, tarantulas, and, if you're lucky, bioluminescent mushrooms or tarsiers. 

Day 2: Tanjung Harapan Village – Proboscis Tour – Camp Leakey 
After enjoying an incredible breakfast, you will visit Tanjung Harapan Village, located within the national park. Here, you will get a glimpse of the daily life and activities of the local community. Following the visit, you will return to your Klotok for the cruise up the Sekonyer River. Along the riverbanks, you’ll observe the lush vegetation, including Nipa palms, Pandanus, and various tree species thriving by the water. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife such as birds, macaques, proboscis monkeys, and orangutans. As you cruise, watch as the river's color shifts, and you might even spot crocodiles and large monitor lizards along the banks. 

Your journey will take you to Camp Leakey, the renowned orangutan research and rehabilitation center, established in 1971 by UCLA student Biruté Galdikas. The camp is named after Biruté's mentor, the paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey. Since its inception, over 200 orangutans have been rehabilitated and returned to the wild. However, since 1995, the Indonesian government has prohibited further rehabilitation of orangutans at this camp, allowing the existing residents to gradually adapt to life in the wild. Today, Camp Leakey continues to serve as a research site to study the behavior and feeding patterns of orangutans. You will have the opportunity to explore the jungle with your guide in search of wild orangutans and other animals. At 2:00 PM, you can witness the feeding session for the orangutans. Don’t forget to visit the small museum created by Dr. Biruté Galdikas, which showcases her work and contributions to orangutan conservation. 

Note: The Birute Galdikas Museum at Camp Leaky is currently closed for maintenance purposes. Regrettably, visits to this site will not be possible until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and will keep you updated on the reopening of the museum. 

Day 3: Pondok Tanggui – Camp Leakey – Boat 
After a delicious breakfast, you’ll head to Pondok Tanggui Camp in time for the 9 AM orangutan feeding session. As you watch, you’ll notice the branches in the treetops begin to sway, followed by the silhouettes of orangutans making their way to the feeding platform. Pondok Tanggui once served as a release camp for young orangutans undergoing rehabilitation, and food is provided daily to encourage them to remain within the park. Without this support, they could wander outside the protected area, risking encounters with traps set by settlers or falling into palm oil plantations. After lunch, you'll have the chance to visit Camp Leakey again for another feeding session, giving you more time to observe the orangutans and spot other wildlife. In the afternoon, if the weather is clear, the boat will anchor near a firefly congregation, where you can enjoy the enchanting display of their luminescence. you will return to your Klotok.

Day 4: Kumai Port – Pangkalan Bun 
In the early morning, you’ll savor the final sounds of the jungle before heading to the port for your transfer to the airport.