Indonesia Wildlife Expedition - Orangutans & Komodo Dragons

Orangutans: they are the stars of this unique adventure. Native to Indonesia and Malaysia, orangutans are found only in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo. Join Wild Focus on this exclusive small group Indonesia Wildlife Expedition starting off in Sumatra where our group has been granted access for one full day by special permission to the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine Facility managed by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (SOCP). We will meet Director, Dr. Ian Singleton who will share his expertise, knowledge, and experience with us about Sumatran orangutans.

We will have a unique opportunity to observe orangutans (up-close) and we will photograph the human-like behavior of these charismatic and wonderful animals. After this amazingly fun experience, we will then visit Gunung Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra which is one of two remaining habitats for Sumatran orangutans. Our base will be Bukit Lawing, a small primitive jungle village that sits on the Bahorok River. From here we will cross the river to explore the rainforest looking for the orangutans.

From Sumatra we will take a flight to Borneo where we will spend 3 days exploring the jungle of Tanjung Puting National Park, the third largest tropical rainforest in Borneo. Tanjung Puting is home to gibbons, proboscis monkeys, macaques, clouded leopards, sun bears and the Bornean orangutan.

Here we will visit Camp Leakey – the orangutan research center developed by renowned primatologist, Dr. Birute Galdikas. Camp Leakey was established by Dr. Galdikas and named it after the legendary paleoanthropologist, Dr. Louis Leakey who was a mentor to Dr. Galdikas and colleagues Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Dian Fossey. The Bornean orangutans that we will meet will continue to surprise and delight you.

The Wild Focus Indonesia Wildlife Expedition offers you the best insight into orangutans, their life in the wild, conservation efforts as well as their threats. At the same time you will enjoy plenty of opportunities to photograph many other wildlife species that inhabit the Indonesia's jungles.

Our last stop on the Indonesia Wildlife Expedition but not less exciting is a visit to Komodo Island. The island is famous for its prehistoric looking reptiles - the Komodo Dragon.

Komodo dragons are the largest living lizards in the world. They are identified by their massive size, flat heads, bowed legs and long, thick tails. The name comes from rumors that a dragon-like creature lived on the Indonesian island of Komodo. No Western scientists had seen a Komodo dragon until 1912, according to the San Diego Zoo. Local people call them "ora," or "land crocodile." The average size of a male Komodo dragon is 8 to 9 feet and about 200 lbs (90 kg).

With luck we will be able to see and photography the dragons walking along the beach looking for prey. It is quite a sight watching a Komodo Dragon patrolling the beach with the ocean and mountains in the background.

 

 

  • Duration
    15 days
  • Group Size
    8 people
  • Price

    $9,560.00 – $10,960.00

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Print Itinerary

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FM7 Hotel, Jakarta

Marriott, Medan

Sam's Bungalows, Gunung Leuser National Park

Rimba Lodge, Tanjung Puting National Park

Letters correspond to points on the map in the map tab.

  • Day 1, June 16

     

    Arrival in Jakarta, Java

    After our long international flight, we arrive in Jakarta and will be transported to our hotel where we will stay close to the airport. We will fly out the next morning for Sumatra.
    Overnight stay at Hotel FM7. Lunch and dinner on your own. Breakfast included.

  • Day 2, June 17

    Medan, Sumatra

    After our breakfast, we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Medan. Upon arrival in Medan, we will be transferred to our hotel where we can take the rest of the day / evening to relax in the comfort of our hotel to recover from our long travels. Overnight JW Marriott Hotel Medan. Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch is on your own.

     

    Day 2, June 17

  • Day 3, June 18

     

    Quarantine Center and Orangutan Haven

    After a restful night’s sleep and breakfast at our hotel, we will be picked up and transferred to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programs’ (SOCP) Orangutan Quarantine Center. Upon arrival, we will be given masks to wear while in the Quarantine Center for the protection of these tiny orangutan infants. We will spend a full day here learning about orangutans, palm oil, the illegal pet trade and the care of these orphan orangutans. We are very fortunate for this special privilege of access behind the scenes at the Center because it is not open to tourism. You will gain a unique insight into these precious animals who are so similar to us and you will be touched in a very deep way. After having spent time in the Orangutan Care Center, if you should feel compelled to support these orangutan individuals and the work and research of the staff and scientists, we at Focus Expeditions encourage you to make a (tax deductible) donation in person. The staff and the orangutans will be more than grateful!
    Overnight JW Marriott Hotel Medan. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

  • Day 4, June 19

    Bukit Lawang

    After our last breakfast in the city of Medan, we will be picked up for our drive north to Gunung Leuser National Park. During our four hour drive, we will see the vast palm oil plantations and palm oil factories. We will drive through Sumatran villages until we notice the difference in vegetation as we enter the rainforest of Leuser National Park. We will come to the small jungle village of Bukit Lawing and will get assistance with our baggage as we climb the pedestrian walkway to our jungle Cottage. Overnight Sam’s Bungalow. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

     

    Day 4, June 19

  • Day 5-6, June 20-21

     

    Bukit Lawang

    After breakfast, we will leave for our first jungle walk. With the help of our forest guide Darma, we will cross the river and enter the jungle. We will begin our trek looking for the wild Sumatran orangutan. After our trek, we will return for lunch. After lunch and weather permitting (sometimes there are afternoon rains), we can either relax in our open-air cafe on the river to sip on a cool drink (with internet) until the rain stops, go river rafting or visit a bat cave. Overnight Sam’s Bungalow. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

  • Day 7, June 22

    Depart Bukit Lawang, Flight connection via Jakarta

    After breakfast, once again we are picked up and driven back to Medan. We will stop for lunch en route before arriving at the airport. We have to fly back to Jakarta for an overnight as there are no direct flights available to Pangkalan Bun, Borneo. Once again, we will stay by the airport in Jakarta. Overnight stay at Hotel FM7. Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner on your own.

     

    Day 7, June 22

  • Day 8, June 23

     

    Arrive Pangkalan Bun, Borneo

    After breakfast, we make our way to the airport for our flight to Borneo. We will arrive in Pangkalan Bun in Central Kalimantan of Borneo. We will transfer by car to the riverfront town of Kumai and then cruise by Klotok up the river for 2 – 3 hours into the jungle of Tanjung Puting National Park. The river will narrow as we pass beneath thick forest canopy. We will have glimpses of colorful birds and several species of primates as the Klotok makes its way deeper into the forest. Hopefully we will get to see one of the highlights of this trip, the proboscis monkeys! They are playful and busy animals leaping through the trees. Their funny antics and large pendulous noses make them comical and delightful to observe and photograph. When we finally arrive, we will get settled in our comfortable jungle lodge. Overnight Rimba Lodge. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

  • Day 9-10, June 24-25

    Tanjung Puting National Park, Camp Leakey

    The next two days will be dedicated to orangutans and the other wildlife of Borneo. We will visit two sites that conduct supplemental feeding for orangutans, Camp Leakey, and Pondok Tanggui. These two days will be full of exploration and encounters with Borneo’s orangutans. Upon arrival at Camp Leakey, there is a good chance that we will be greeted by some of the resident orangutans, like Siswi (dominant female) or her offspring. If we are lucky, the dominant male Tom may be visiting this part of his territory. We will spend these days photographing orangutans up close and observing their fascinating behavior. Game drives on our Klotok in the mornings and evenings will be spent looking for proboscis monkeys, gibbons and other wildlife. Overnight Rimba Lodge. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

     

    Day 9-10, June 24-25

  • Day 11, June 26

     

    Travel day; Transfer through Bali

    We will have our last breakfast in the jungle today and after we finish, we will make our way by Klotok back up river to Kumbai. Once again, we will transfer to the airport for a flight to Bali. We will overnight in Bali and transfer to the airport to connect with our flight to Komodo. This is considered a travel / transfer day so meals on your own.

  • Day 12, June 27

    Komodo Island

    After breakfast, we will return to the airport in Denpassar in time to connect with our flight to Komodo Island. Upon arrival at the airport, we will take a 3 - 4 hour boat ride to Komodo. We will meet our local guide who will transfer us to the houseboat that will be our floating home for the next 3 nights. Staying on our Indonesian houseboat allows us convenient access to the forest and beach where we will find the Komodo dragons. We want to be able to find the dragons in the best morning light. The next few days will be an exciting adventure with lots of wildlife including the Komodo dragons.

     

    Day 12, June 27

  • Day 14-15, June 28-29

     

    Komodo Island

    The next few days will be spent on the beaches and in the forest of Komodo Island. We will have the help of national park rangers in helping us locate the dragons. We will photograph them early in the morning when the direction of the light is best. During midday, we can go to a pink sand beach, relax on our boat and work on our photos until we return to the forest in the afternoon for more Komodo dragons. We also have the opportunity to go herping at night in search of blue pit vipers. These gorgeous reptiles are actually white-lipped pit vipers and are normally green in every other part of the world.  Komodo Island is the only place where the beautiful blue pit viper can be found.If we find that after a few times with the Komodo dragons we are satisfied, we can alter our plans to go snorkeling with huge Manta rays. Our time in Komodo will be unique in that we will find wildlife here that cannot be found elsewhere.

    Komodo Island Houseboat (B,L,D included. Soft drinks and alcohol not included)

  • Day 15, June 30

    Transfer to Bali; International flight home

    Today we depart Komodo to make our way to Bali where we fly home from Indonesia. Depending on your return flight time, transfer to the airport.

    End services.

     

    Day 15, June 30

Included

  • Accommodations for 14 nights in jungle, airport hotel, exclusive lodges and house boat
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Airport transfers and assistance on arrival and departure at each destination
  • All land transportation
  • All domestic flights
  • National park fees
  • Local English-speaking drivers/ guides as well as two Wild Focus Expeditions leaders
  • Donation to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program on behalf of our group

Not Included

  • International airfare to and from Jakarta, Java
  • All drinks and alcoholic beverages
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Items of a personal nature including laundry, bar, personal shopping and internet
  • Travel medical insurance
  • Additional individual USD cash donation to the Sumatran Orangutan
  • Tips and Gratuities

Participants on this trip should be fit and capable of hiking up sometimes steep forest trails that are possibly muddy and uneven (roots and rocks). Depending on the location of the orangutans, hikes through the rain forest can take between one and three hours. We will take our time, and porters will be available for hire to carry your camera gear and/or daypack. The fee for the day is approximately USD $20. We will hike at a comfortable pace to accommodate all participants with their designated porter for assistance.

The accommodations in Sumatra and Borneo are comfortable, but very basic due to the remote locations that we visit. Do not expect western standards when we are in the jungle. The bungalows are constructed from local materials and provide an authentic and truly off-the-beaten-path experience.
For our participants who have an appreciation for wildlife and natural history, possess a sense of humor, flexibility and spirit of adventure, your expedition to the rainforests of Indonesia will be a trip of a lifetime and will be remembered always. Spending time with wild orangutans cannot be compared with anything else. The slight rigors that you may experience from the hike will be long forgotten when you are in close proximity to these amazing, intelligent and human-like great apes.

Expedition Leaders

Theo Allofs, portrait

Theo Allofs

A visit to Indonesia and being face to face with a dominant male orangutan was one of my most emotional experiences as a wildlife photographer. As powerful and intelligent as these great apes are they are still victims of human greed and destruction. If palm oil plantations keep spreading with such a pace the next human generation will only be able to admire these magnificent creatures in zoos. We all can help preventing this by avoiding to buy products that contain palm oil and by spreading the word and pointing out its destructive attributes.

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Jami Tarris

Indonesia is an intense mixture of culture, wildlife and beauty – from the jungles to the beaches. And then, there are the orangutans. They have a way of capturing your heart like no other animal. Our support is essential to their future existence. I hope you will join us.

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