Day 1: Arrive in Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo
Today you will be met at the airport and transferred to your guesthouse. Check in and settle into the guesthouse; a welcome dinner will be held at the local restaurant. Dinner is included.
Day 2: Orangutan & Animal Wildlife Centre
Enjoy a relaxing morning and head to the Matang Wildlife Centre in the afternoon. This wildlife centre is located near the Kubah National Park and you will get “back stage" passes to visit the Ape Centre. At the Ape Centre you will come face to face with the world famous Aman. On the 16th of May 2007, after ten long years in the dark, Aman became the first orangutan in the world to receive eye cataract surgery. You can also meet Aman's baby daughters. You will see first hand the efforts being made to rehabilitate orangutans back into the wild and to establish new populations in the Sarawak jungle. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 3: Kubah National Park
After breakfast you will journey to the Kubah National Park. You will spend the day trekking and visiting the park's beautiful waterfalls and swimming in the waters of the jungle river. You will return to the wildlife centre for lunch and have the afternoon to visit with the resident orangutans. You will spend the night at the centre. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 4: Kuching
After enjoying a tasty breakfast, you will travel back to Kuching. Spend the afternoon relaxing in town and doing some shopping. This is your last opportunity to purchase those last minute supplies before heading into the jungle! Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 5: Semenggoh Nature Reserve & Bako National Park
Indulge in a filling breakfast and then travel to the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, just a short drive from the centre of Kuching. You will arrive at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve just in time to see orangutans inhale their mid day meal. In the afternoon, you will depart for Bako National Park by boat. The ride from Kuching to the park is only 25 minutes. Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife including the amazing proboscis monkeys. You will stay overnight in park chalets. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 6: Bako National Park
Welcome to the jungle! Today you will be hiking through jungle trails, enjoying the sunset, and swimming in the sea by secluded beaches. Be one with nature! Overnight accommodation is in the park chalets. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 7: Bako National Park to Kuching
After a peaceful morning, you will return to the guesthouse in Kuching in the early afternoon (exact time of schedule will depend on the tide). Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 8 to 12: Batang Ai National Park - Orangutan Country
Welcome to orangutan country. Today you will arrive in Batang Ai National Park, passing through the rubber, cocoa and pepper plantations on the way. Stop en-route to sample some of the local delicacies and see the local wildlife. Visit the colourful native market in Serian town where you can buy a variety of jungle produce including edible ferns, bamboo shoots and unusual tropical fruit. Catch a boat through the valleys to see the Iban tribe longhouses. You will stay at the jungle lodge for the next few days. Here you can enjoy various activities including trekking through the jungle in search of wild orangutans and participating in orangutan nest counting. You will be working with the Iban tribe and truly experience the Iban way of life. If you find orangutans in the wild, do not approach them but appreciate them from a safe proximity. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Note: Jungle trekking can be hard work and it is travellers do need a medium level of fitness in order to appreciate the treks.
Day 13: Transfer back to Kuching
After breakfast you will make the journey back to Kuching. You will arrive in Kuching in the afternoon and enjoy a warm shower at the hostel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 14: Departure
Say your goodbyes and continue on to your next adventure. Breakfast is included.
NOTE: Please be advised that throughout the trip touching of the animals is strongly discouraged by the Borneo authorities.
Accommodation Details:
You will stay in various accommodations during your trip. While in Kuching you will stay at the Singgahsana Lodge. This guesthouse is comfortable with all the modern amenities including: internet, shower with warm water, phones and television. You will be expected to share a bedroom with a fellow traveller. While visiting the Matang Wildlife Centre, you will be staying in a basic dormitory at the centre. While in the rainforest at Batang Ai National Park, you will be staying in a basic jungle lodge. This is jungle living at its best but you should not expect luxury. The shower is run by cold water from the nearby waterfall and electricity is produced by a generator which is not switched on all the time. A mosquito net is provided - you will need it! However the geckos tend to help keep the insect population down for you!
According to the World Wildlife Fund, fewer than 63,000 orangutans exist in the world today, and the majority of these call Borneo home. In the past 100 years, orangutan populations have fallen by over 90% due to destruction of their habitat, poachers, and illegal pet trading. Because orangutans give birth to a single offspring only every 8 years or so, concentrated efforts are needed to conserve current populations and to promote and protect breeding programmes to encourage orangutan population growth. This tour gives you the opportunity to see a number of different orangutan conservation organisations, focusing on education and raising awareness.
You should fly into Kuching (KCH) airport for this project. Please ensure that you arrive into Kuching on the start date of the tour, unfortunately early airport pick ups cannot be arranged if you arrive early.
Malaysia was created in 1963 when Sabah and Sarawak (north Borneo states), and for a brief time Singapore, joined Malaya to form the 13 state federation that exists today. The earliest Malay settlers are believed to have arrived around 10,000 years ago on the Malaya Peninsular from the north. Malaya’s prime maritime position made it an attractive location for traders and colonists alike. While Indian and Chinese traders had long held an attachment to the country, by the early 16th century Portuguese colonists lay claim to the land. In 1641, the Dutch gained control until they were overthrown by the British in1795. Malaya achieved independence by 1954 but not before the country was occupied by the Japanese during WW II and Chinese communists attempted to gain power.