#orangutan #tanjungputingnationalpark #indonisia #secretretreats #rimbaecolodge #naturalmedicines
Tanjung Puting National Park: Orangutan Cruise, Eco Lodge & Jungle Trek
We are fortunate enough to have a rare opportunity to spend four days in the deep Jungle. To be able to feel and smell the tropical humidity, see the magic light through the tall trees, and hear the sound of wildlife and the approach of orangutans. The plan is to spend three days on a Klotok (a traditional wooden boat from Borneo, with a roof forming the upper deck to seat and view the rain forest as it glides by) as we travel on the Sekonyer river, deep into the National Park. Day four will be trekking and canoeing through the Jungle with a guide. On day five, we head home.
Day one of our adventures involves us travelling from Jakarta to Pangkalan Bun, the gateway to the Tanjung Puting National Park. We bored our home for the next three days, the riverboat Kumai. Our first stop and encounter with orangutans would be the rehabilitation centre, Tanjung Harapan.
Day two saw us visiting the Camp Leakey rehabilitation centre. Camp Leakey was established in 1971 by Dr. Biruté Galdikas and former spouse Rod Brindamour. It was named after the legendary paleo-anthropologist Louis Leakey, who was both mentor and an inspiration to Dr. Galdikas, Drs. Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. Originally consisting of just two huts, Camp Leakey is now an assemblage of permanent wooden structures designed to provide a base for scientists, staff, students, and Park Rangers.
Day three is our last day on the riverboat Kumai. We visit the last orangutan rehabilitation centre, Pondok Taggui, and we get dropped at our new accommodation, the Rimba Orangutan Eco Lodge. In today's journey, we are lucky to encounter another wild orangutan and watch a troop of proboscis monkeys crossing the river.
Day four had us trekking 7km through the Jungle with expert guides showing us the park's natural wonders, flora and fauna. The trek ended with a 30-minute canoe ride on black water, heading back to Rimba Eco Lodge for lunch.
Day five we head back to civilization and a flight home to Jakarta.
Chapters
0:00 Day 1
19:57 Day 2
39:17 Day 3
1:04:10 Day 4
1:27:24 Day 5
