Summary
If you want to see orangutans in Borneo, one of the best places to do it is at the Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The jungle at Tanjung Puting is home to hundreds of Borneo’s animal species, including some rare and endemic ones, and you get to see all of this while staying on a ‘Klotok’ houseboat as it winds along the Sekonyer river.
We spent 3 days and 2 nights on a liveaboard boat at Tanjung Puting and it was amazing. It’s not one of the cheapest places to visit in Indonesia, but the whole experience is really unique and special.
This travel guide will explain how to get to Tanjung Puting and see the orangutans, which boat tour company to use, and everything else you need to know before you go!
How To Get To Tanjung Puting National Park
Tanjung Puting is located on Borneo island, in the Central Kalimantan province of Indonesia. If you look at it on a map, it’s actually on the southern tip of the island.
The nearest town and airport is Pangkalan Bun (PKN), with direct flights available daily from Jakarta, Surabaya, and Semarang. Should you be traveling to Tanjung Puting from Bali, you will need to connect through one of these airports before reaching Pangkalan Bun. You can shop for flights on Skyscanner.
Upon arrival in Pangkalan Bun, it’s a quick 15-minute drive to the harbor in Kumai. Depending on your arrival time, you will often be able to head directly to the harbor and kick off your tour of Tanjung Puting National Park.
Most tour companies provide free pickups from town or the airport, taking you to the harbor where your boat awaits. The journey to the national park entrance along the Sekonyer river is typically under an hour by boat!
River Boat Cruise: What To Expect
Tanjung Puting is primarily accessed by boat via the Sekonyer river, using an all-inclusive liveaboard boat known as a ‘Klotok,’ typically staffed by at least four crew members: a boat captain, a deckhand, a tour guide, and a cook.
The river flows slowly, eliminating concerns about seasickness, rapids, waves, or similar anxieties during your journey into the park.
You will have the chance to enjoy stunning views from the boat, with several stops for short treks into the jungle to observe wildlife, requiring just a bit of short and easy hiking.
The Klotok boats typically accommodate up to 8 guests, with visitors stationed on the upper level while the crew resides on the lower level.
Our boat was equipped with a comfortable bed and bathroom, featuring a flush toilet and shower, although overall facilities are relatively basic. It’s somewhat akin to glamping: not luxury, but sufficiently comfortable.
All meals are provided on the boat, and from our experience, the food was excellent, featuring items such as tempeh, omelets, toast, pancakes, fish, chicken, rice, noodles, soup, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables. Everything was fresh and delicious.
Some Klotok boats include air conditioning, but most do not, and it’s usually unnecessary. You might feel warm during the day, yet evenings offer a drop in temperature, making it easy to cool off with a cold shower before heading to bed.
Power is supplied by generator in the evenings, allowing the charging of devices like phones. However, it’s wise to bring a power bank as a backup.
The boats feature effective rain covers, so you’re shielded from getting wet. During a heavy storm and downpour on our first night, everything in the boat remained safe and dry.
Tours typically last 2 or 3 days, with options for longer stays if your time and budget allow. Alternatively, a one-day trip via speedboat is available for those in a hurry.
• Day 1: Tanjung Harapan
After about two hours on the river by Klotok boat, your first stop in the national park will be a camp named Tanjung Harapan.
Once a rehabilitation center for orphaned and rescued orangutans, it now serves as a feeding station providing supplemental food (mainly fruit) for these wonderful animals to thrive.
Upon arrival at Tanjung Harapan, we had some time before feeding commenced at 3 PM, allowing us to explore the area, where we spotted our first orangutan, an adult female, climbing among the trees.
During feeding time, the park staff places fruit on a wooden platform and calls the orangutans from the jungle. There may be a brief wait for their appearance, yet they swing through the trees and can be observed eating from a safe distance behind a fence, roughly 30 meters back.
We witnessed nearly a dozen orangutans during our time at Tanjung Harapan, including several juveniles, a baby, and a large adult male. Following our visit to the camp, we were fortunate to spot wild proboscis monkeys watching us from the treetops across the river!
• Day 1: Night Trekking
At the end of the first day, you typically have the option to experience night trekking, exploring the jungle near Tanjung Harapan to see various animals, plants, and insects.
In just an hour of flat and easy trekking, we encountered a tarantula, pit viper, tree frogs, kingfishers, tokays, glow-in-the-dark mushrooms, and numerous other fascinating creatures.
Though night trekking is generally optional, I highly recommend participating if you still have energy at day’s end!
• Day 2: Pondok Tanggui
On the second day, we arose at 7 AM and traveled another 1.5 hours up the river to reach Pondok Tanggui.
Along the way, we observed additional wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, a crested serpent eagle, and a black-and-red broadbill.
Arriving just before feeding time (9 AM), we were delighted to see more orangutans, including a large and photogenic male who made an appearance at the end of the feeding time.
This served as a reminder to remain on-site a bit longer after feeding concludes, as some of the best sightings occur when tourist groups begin to leave.
• Day 2: Camp Leakey
Following our visit to Pondok Tanggui, we boarded the boat for a two-hour ride to the next stop, Camp Leakey, where feeding takes place at 2 PM.
The river’s color turns black due to plant chemicals, and the water’s surface resembles a tranquil mirror reflecting the swamp—spooky yet beautiful.
More proboscis monkeys appeared, along with several macaques, reminiscent of those seen in Bali. We also glimpsed a monitor lizard and a crocodile, though they disappeared before we could capture any photographs.
At Camp Leakey, we spotted another dozen orangutans, with a memorable highlight being mothers carrying their babies.
The lighting at this camp seems optimal for photographs, as the jungle isn’t as dense as at the previous camps.
After taking countless orangutan photos, we returned to the boat and journeyed back to Kumai and Pangkalan Bun, pausing several times to witness more wildlife along the riverbanks.
We were thrilled to see numerous blue kingfisher birds and families of proboscis monkeys, including a mother with her baby.
We spent the second night near the entrance to the Sekonyer river, where enchanting fireflies twinkled among the palm trees, resembling festive Christmas lights.
• Day 3: Return To Pangkalan Bun
On our final day, we enjoyed a serene sunrise on the river and had breakfast before departing for the Kumai port, taking approximately one hour.
This expedition concluded our tour, and Tanjung Puting turned out to be a wonderful experiences filled with countless memories!
Wildlife At Tanjung Puting National Park
A significant reason to visit Tanjung Puting is the diverse wildlife. Hundreds of animal species inhabit the park, and visitors have a high chance of encountering many during their visit.
On our 3D2N cruise, we primarily observed orangutans, proboscis monkeys, macaques, kingfishers, hornbills, as well as a crocodile and monitor lizard.
We also encountered fascinating pitcher plants along with various bugs, frogs, and reptiles while on the night trek.
While it may sound unsettling, we had an unexpected visitor—a 4-meter python that managed to crawl into the lower level of our boat during the night, prompting the crew to safely relocate it back to the river!
This experience reminded us to carry flashlights whenever we ventured downstairs at night. Such surprises are part of the wildlife experience in the jungle!
Lucky visitors might spot gibbons, leaf monkeys, tarsiers, clouded leopards, wild pigs, gharials, flying foxes, Sunda leopard cats, Asian sun bears, or other intriguing wildlife at Tanjung Puting. However, your chances improve with a longer trip allowing for deeper exploration inland.
Spanning 4,150 square kilometers (1,600 mi²), it’s clear that one can’t witness every corner of this remarkable national park during a short visit, but the highlights are definitely achievable.
Orangutans At Tanjung Puting
Unquestionably, the star attraction at Tanjung Puting is the Bornean orangutans. Visitors can expect a near-guarantee of spotting these magnificent creatures, as we encountered almost a dozen each day during our stay.
Tanjung Puting boasts the largest wild orangutan population globally, estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 residing in its jungles.
Those seen at feeding stations are semi-wild, accustomed to human presence, yet it doesn’t resemble a zoo experience. Many orangutans can be observed far from feeding areas, enabling a natural viewing experience.
Gaze at orangutans as they climb high into the treetops, carry their young, and go about their daily lives, offering plentiful opportunities for observation in an authentic setting.
Best Boat Tour For Tanjung Puting
For Tanjung Puting tours, we recommend Viator. They offer highly-rated 3-day and 4-day tours of Tanjung Puting. Additionally, they have shared tours for solo travelers and honeymoon tours for couples.
While these tours may be pricey by Indonesian standards, they align closely with the rates we observed locally. In fact, this 3-day tour offers a better price than what we paid for our direct booking in Pangkalan Bun. Unfortunately, Tanjung Puting is not cheap.
We’ve utilized Viator for numerous tours and activities worldwide, and they consistently deliver excellent experiences. Highly recommended!
Other Tips For Tanjung Puting National Park
- Camera: Given that most of the time, you’ll be at least 15 to 30 meters away from the orangutans and other wildlife, using a good zoom lens can be quite beneficial. I utilized a 70-300mm lens on a Fuji X-T5 (APS-C) camera. Occasionally, animals will inch closer to you.
- Cell Service: Our Telkomsel connection was reliable with a 3G/4G signal until we reached Tanjung Harapan, where we camped the first night. Reception vanished completely on the second day while heading to Pondok Tanggui and Camp Leakey, returning only on the third day while passing Tanjung Harapan during our journey back to town.
- Crocodiles: Swimming in the Sekonyer river is strictly forbidden due to the presence of crocodiles; they have unfortunately attacked people in the past. Always assume they’re hidden just below the surface, even if unseen.
- Drones: The park prohibits drone usage at camps or around the orangutans, which is wise. However, you can fly a drone from your boat while cruising on the river. I coordinated with my boat driver to capture some stunning aerial photography of the river.
- Mosquitoes: Being a jungle area, expect plenty of mosquitoes. When the boat moves, you’ll enjoy a refreshing breeze that keeps mosquitoes at bay. However, it’s advisable to apply repellant when disembarking for treks. Wearing long sleeves is also recommended. Each boat company provides a mosquito net for sleeping. Ensure you double-check this; I would not stay overnight at Tanjung Puting without a mosquito net.
- Malaria: Based on a 2018 Lancet study, Malaria has been eradicated from the Tanjung Puting region, which is encouraging. Nonetheless, it’s wise to remain cautious and protect yourself from bites. We did not use Malaria pills.
- Tipping: Tipping isn’t customary in Indonesia but is always appreciated. A nice tip for the guide would be roughly 100k Rupiah for each day spent on the boat and 50k Rupiah for the rest of the crew. This is optional and not obligatory, but they do an excellent job, so a little something extra is likely to be well-received.
Other Tips For Pangkalan Bun
- Cash: While credit cards are accepted for flights, hotels, and boat cruises, cash is still necessary for smaller expenses in town.
- Hotels: If you need accommodation before or after visiting Tanjung Puting, numerous comfortable hotels are available in Pangkalan Bun. Some good options include Arsela, Brits, Grand Kecubung, and Mercure Hotel. Budget travelers might consider Mimi Guest House, Almas Guest House, and more.
- Restaurants: Pangkalan Bun has numerous dining options. We frequently dined at Ayam Bakar Wong Solo, which even delivers food to nearby hotels via WhatsApp. For those craving western fast food, there is a KFC and Pizza Hut in town.
How Many Days To Spend At Tanjung Puting
Our stay at Tanjung Puting included 3 days and 2 nights, which I found ideal. Anything less might feel rushed, while a one-day trip is definitely insufficient.
Though most visitors may only require three days, enjoying a longer trip of 5 to 7 days could be quite exciting if your budget permits, and you don’t mind spending extended time on the boat.
While the jungle is captivating, eventually, the comforts of modern living become missed.
When To Visit Tanjung Puting
The optimal time to visit depends on your preferences.
The dry season, from May to August, features sunnier weather and milder temperatures, making it the most pleasant time to explore Tanjung Puting with reduced rain.
However, the dry season also means high tourist activity, leading to crowded conditions. Up to 100 boats might be in the park simultaneously, and securing prime viewing spots at feeding stations can require early arrival—your guide may assist here.
The rainy season, especially from November to April, can produce daytime heat and humidity, with temperatures ranging from 32 to 35 °C (90 to 95 °F). Though rain is more probable during these months, the park sees significantly fewer visitors, and rain mostly occurs overnight.
We visited Tanjung Puting during the rainy season (late November) and had an exceptional trip. We experienced light rain on the first day and a substantial downpour overnight; however, our boat remained dry, not affecting our experience at all.
More Indonesia Travel Tips
Thank you for reading! I hope you found this travel guide for visiting Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan, Indonesia, helpful. Witnessing the orangutans here was a remarkable experience.
Don’t forget to check out our complete guide for the best places to visit in Indonesia!
