Sebangau Wild Orangutan Tracking Expedition (NEW TOUR)

Experience Life as an Orangutan Field Team

5 Days 4 Nights  |  Punggu Alas | Sebangau National Park | Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Not Just Watching. Understanding.

Overview: A Wild Orangutan Tracking Experience

The Sebangau Wild Orangutan Tracking Expedition is not like most orangutan tours. Instead of simply watching from a boat, you join a real orangutan field team — tracking wild, non-habituated orangutans through Punggu Alas, deep inside Sebangau National Park.

Rather than waiting for wildlife to appear, you learn to read the forest itself. Together with experienced Indigenous forest trackers, you search for fresh nests, feeding remains, and broken branches — the same signs conservation practitioners use to locate wild orangutans in one of Borneo’s most important peat swamp forests.

Because this is genuine wild orangutan tracking, sightings can never be guaranteed. However, we believe this uncertainty is exactly what makes every encounter meaningful. Nature decides. We simply follow.

Led by Yun & Indigenous Forest Trackers

The expedition is led by Yun, Founder of Central Borneo Guide and Co-Founder of HIRAI Foundation, who has worked in orangutan observation, peatland conservation, and habitat restoration across Central Kalimantan since 2018.

Joining her are experienced Indigenous Forest Trackers from communities surrounding Sebangau National Park, whose knowledge comes from generations of living alongside the forest and years of involvement in orangutan monitoring and conservation programs — combining modern conservation practice with Indigenous ecological wisdom.

Expedition Highlights

• Experience life as an orangutan field team.
• Track completely wild, non-habituated orangutans.
• Learn basic orangutan monitoring techniques.
• Keep your own Field Journal.
• Learn from Indigenous forest trackers.
• Explore Sebangau’s tropical peat swamp forest.
• Discover nocturnal rainforest wildlife.
• Experience Manyuar, traditional Dayak spear fishing at night.
• Visit Pulau Kaja to understand orangutan rehabilitation and pre-release conservation.

5 Days 4 Nights Expedition

Day 1 — Into the Heart of Sebangau

Arrive at Tjilik Riwut Airport, Palangka Raya. Travel by vehicle (~3 hrs) to Kereng Pakahi Port, then by traditional getek boat (~30 min) into Punggu Alas. Settle into the jungle camp before dinner.

Evening — Orangutan Field Briefing

Interactive briefing covering Sebangau National Park, orangutan ecology, monitoring techniques, wildlife observation ethics, forest safety, and your Field Journal.

Overnight at Punggu Alas Jungle Camp.

Day 2 — Experience Life as an Orangutan Field Team

Begin before sunrise with Indigenous Forest Trackers, searching for signs of wild orangutans — nests, feeding remains, broken branches, travel routes, vocalisations. Once located, observe quietly from an ethical distance, recording behaviours such as feeding, resting, travelling, and nest building. Return to camp in the afternoon.

Evening — Nocturnal Rainforest Walk

Search for Sebangau’s nocturnal wildlife after dark — slow lorises, frogs, civets, tarantulas, snakes, and more.

Day 3 — Following the Orangutan

Return to the previous observation area, relocating the same orangutan where possible to better understand its movement, feeding, and nesting behaviour. Continue your Field Journal.

Evening — Manyuar, Traditional Dayak Spear Fishing

Join local community members in the peat swamp waterways to learn traditional spear fishing by torchlight — a practice reflecting generations of ecological knowledge. Participants may try it under expert guidance where conditions allow.

Day 4 — Understanding the Forest

Your final day of tracking, continuing to observe feeding behaviour, habitat use, and nest construction. Return to camp in the afternoon.

Evening — Expedition Review & Conservation Discussion

Reflect with Yun and the Indigenous Forest Trackers on your Field Journal, orangutan behaviour observed, and topics including peatland restoration and community-based conservation.

Day 5 — From the Wild to Rehabilitation

Return by getek to Kereng Pakahi, then by road to Palangka Raya. Visit Pulau Kaja, a pre-release island for rehabilitated orangutans, offering a contrast to your experience of wild orangutans in Sebangau. Transfer to Tjilik Riwut Airport.

Important Information

The orangutans of Punggu Alas are completely wild and non-habituated — never fed, called, or encouraged to approach visitors. Because tracking takes place in a natural rainforest, sightings cannot be guaranteed, tracking may require several hours of walking, and every expedition is unique.

This expedition is an immersive educational conservation experience inspired by real orangutan monitoring practices — not a scientific research expedition. Participants learn observation techniques and keep a personal Field Journal, but do not collect official scientific data or contribute to formal research programs.

INCLUDING

Transportation

• Airport pick-up and drop-off (Tjilik Riwut – Palangka Raya)
• Private land transportation and getek boat transfers
• Boat transportation for the Manyuar experience
• Transportation to Pulau Kaja on Day 5

Accommodation & Meals

• 4 nights at Punggu Alas Jungle Camp (shared/twin-sharing)
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout, plus coffee, tea, and drinking water

Expedition Activities & Guiding

• Wild Orangutan Tracking Experience & Field Briefing
• Indigenous Forest Tracker interpretation
• Nocturnal Rainforest Walk, Manyuar, and Pulau Kaja visit
• Expedition Leader, Indigenous Forest Trackers, English-speaking guide

Field Equipment & Fees

• Personal Field Journal and basic field equipment (binoculars, GPS demo, field guide, first aid kit)
• Sebangau National Park permit, local community & conservation contribution, Pulau Kaja fee (if applicable)

EXCLUDING

• International and domestic flights, airport taxes
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Personal expenses, laundry, souvenirs
• Personal trekking equipment, medications, camera equipment
• Drone / photography / research permits
• Tips, alcoholic beverages, extra accommodation, porter service (optional)

Expedition Contribution

An investment in an extraordinary wildlife experience and community-based conservation.

Participant Category	Expedition Contribution
International Guest	IDR 22,500,000 / person (≈ USD 1,380)
Indonesian Guest	IDR 20,000,000 / person

Booking Information

Detail	Information
Duration	5 Days 4 Nights
Departure Type	Private Expedition
Minimum / Maximum Participants	2 – 5 Persons
Single Traveller Supplement	Additional IDR 5,000,000

Why limited to only five participants?

To ensure ethical observation of wild orangutans, minimal disturbance to wildlife, a more immersive and personal learning experience, and greater interaction with Indigenous Forest Trackers. Small groups are fundamental to our conservation philosophy.

Recommended to Bring

Trekking shoes or rubber boots · long-sleeved shirt & trousers · rain jacket · hat · headlamp · insect repellent · reusable water bottle · dry bag · binoculars (optional) · camera · personal medications · power bank · lightweight backpack.

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