Location : Bukit Bangkirai & Kutai National Park, East Kalimantan
Start / End : Balikpapan City (accessible from Singapore, 3 times a week by Silk Air)
Accommodation : Samboja Lodge or Convenient Hotel in Balikpapan
Highlight of the trip are :
Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, Red Leaf Eating Monkey, Gibbon, Horn Bill, Long House, Long Ear Dayak People
Duration : 04 DAYS 03 NIGHTS
DAY 01 : BALIKPAPAN – BUKIT BANGKIRAI - SAMARINDA
Upon your morning flight in Balikpapan pick up service by our guide team then drive to Bukit Bangkirai (Bangkirai Hill) an area in East Kalimantan. It’s located about 58 km from Balikpapan or more or less 1 ½ hour or 150 km away from Samarinda or Tenggarong or 20 km away from Samboja District with some bumpy road. This place is called Bukit Bangkirai or Shorea Hills. Along with its uniqueness, there are also canopy bridges built for observation tower. Bukit Bangkirai covers the area of 1500 hectares to protect Bangkirai trees (Shorea laevis), Keruing trees (Dipterocarpus Comutus), Jelutung trees (Dyera Constulata), Kempas trees (Koompassia malaccensis), rattan (Calamus sp.), and other tropical trees endemic to Borneo. Bangkirai Hill covered protected tropical rain forest dominated by Bengkirai Tree with about 40 – 50 m high and diameter 2,3 meter with average age of the tree about 150 years old . The canopy bridges in Bukit Bangkirai were made from 64 meters of steel connecting 5 huge Bangkirai/Shorea Laevis trees. This canopy bridges were built at 30 meters above the ground. This is normal since Shorea Laevis could grow more than 30 meters tall. In this place we will observing the typical Borneo rainforest, then soft jungle trekking to enjoy with canopy bridge. This Canopy Bridge is the first Canopy Bridge were built in Indonesia, second in Asia and 8th in the world. In this Canopy Bridge you will spot very beautiful canopy forest the natural habitat for gibbon, Hornbill, Asian Paradise Fly catcher, red leaf eating monkey and other endemic wildlife of Borneo. . Lunch on the way at local restaurant or lunch box. Then we drive to Samarinda about 150 km away or more or less 2,5 hours for check in and stay overnight in Samarinda. (L, D)
DAY 02 : SAMARINDA – PAMPANG – SANGATTA
After breakfast then we check out and drive about 30 minutes – 1 hour depend on the traffic to Pampang Village is a cultural site to see when traveling to East Kalimantan. About 20 km from Samarinda city. Dayak Kenyah tribe live in this area after their migration in 1967 from their original hometown of Apokayan in Malinau district, East Kalimantan. They left their village to stay near urban areas, so that they could obtain education and fulfill their basic needs. At present, not less than 800 members of Dayak Kenyah community live in Pampang village. Pampang is without any doubt it is the most impressive in terms of color and intricacy of Kenyah art. The external & internal beauties of this longhouse is extraordinary and deserves every tourist’s visit. Dayak Kenyah performing art is held every Sunday from 2 pm to 3 pm. No show is held other than Sunday. After enjoying with the tribes then we continue our journey drive to Sangatta for about 3 – 4 hours drive or about 173 km away depend on the traffic and condition of the road. Lunch on the way at local restaurant. Dinner at local restaurant or hotel (B, L, D).
DAY 03 : SANGATTA – PREVAB KUTAI NATIONAL PARK – SANGATTA
After early breakfast then drive about 30 minutes away to the harbor to boarding the long motorized canoe for about 30 minutes to Prevab Orangutan Station. Prevab Orangutan Station is a part of Kutai national Park that more easily access compare with other station. Kutai National Park is located north of the Mahakam river and includes several lakes: Danau Maau, Santan, Besar and Sirapan. It is adjacent to the towns of Bontang and Sangatta and 120 km north of the provincial capital Samarinda. There are several traditional Bugis settlements within the national park. The Kutai National Park extends over an area of 2,000 km2, part of the former Kutai Game Reserve which has been protected since the 1970s. However this status did not prevent the logging of a third of the forest in subsequent years and the following introduction of mining companies. In an attempt to prevent further deforestation the Kutai National Park was established in 1982. Nevertheless, the great Borneo fires of 1982/83 destroyed large sections of the forest, and the constant encroachment of people along the eastern boundary continues to reduce the true park area. Approximately only 30% of the primary growth forest remains. There are two main point for tourist access to the park. Sangkima is on the road between Sangatta and Bontang and thus is accessible by car or bus. The area has a number of old formal national park buildings. There is a large loop walking track, with sections of elevated boardwalk to what was one of the largest trees known in the park. Given the ease of accessibility and being adjacent to the road, this area of park is continually under pressure from the encroachment of people. This place is very less chance to see wildlife. Other site called Prevab is the second tourist area, approximately 25 – 30 minutes boat ride up the Sangatta River from Kabo Pier (a boat ramp on the northern bank, on the western side of the town of Sangatta). Access to the park is gained by road travel to Kabo Pier and the short river trip in a ketinting (a traditional small boat for navigating rivers). The more remote nature of this section sees the jungle in fairly good condition with little disturbance of the area. Upon arrival in Prevab, accompany by the ranger we searching wild orangutan, birds, gibbon and other endemic wildlife of Borneo living in Kutai National Park. Kutai National Park is dominated by a Dipterocarpaceae lowland tropical rainforest and has 958 species of flora, including 8 of the world's 9 genus of Dipterocarpaceae family, 41 species of orchids and 220 species of medical plants. The other vegetation types include coastal mangrove forest, freshwater swamp forest and kerangas forest. The park provides habitat to 10 species of primates, 90 species of mammals and 300 species of birds. They include orangutan, Malayan sun bear, sambar deer, banteng, maroon leaf monkey, white-fronted leaf monkey, Hose's leaf monkey, proboscis monkey, Bornean gibbon, clouded leopard, black flying squirrel, marbled cat, flat-headed cat, yellow-throated marten, otter civet, and smooth-coated otter.The number of orangutans was found to have decreased dramatically, from 600 recorded in 2004 to about 60 in 2009. However a survey conducted in 2010 identified over 2,000 orangutans to be inhabiting the park.Then we will back to the Ranger Station for having lunch. In the late afternoon we will slowly explore Sangatta River for spotting Crocodile and Proboscis Monkey. Then we will back to drop to the pier again and drive to Hotel in Sangatta for overnight. Dinner at local restaurant.
DAY 04 : SANGATTA - SAMARINDA – BALIKPAPAN DEPARTURE
After breakfast packing then we will have long drive from Sangatta to Balikpapan via Samarinda. It’s about 207 km away or 6 – 7 hours drive. It’s depend on your flight schedule (we highly suggest night flight from Balikpapan), if time permit we will stop at Sungai Wain. It is the nearest protected tropical rain forest from Balikpapan, since 1934, Sungai Wain Prptected Forest under control of Sultanate Kutai. In 1947, this area use to supply fresh water to Balikpapan. In 1992 and 1996, Sungai Wain used for releasing site for 80 rehabilitant from the effort of Borneo Orang Utan Survival Foundations (BOSF). Since this period Sungai Wain also use for flora and fauna laboratory as well as for conservation education center in Balikpapan. Sungai Wain flows until reaching the length of 18.300 meter; become the natural habitat for crocodile, many species of fish and of course Long Nosed Monkey the endemic primate in Borneo along the nipah palm mangrove tree. Sungai Wain covered 10.025 Ha consist of Lowland Dipterocarpa , Hilly Dipterocarpa Forest, and Open Air Swamp Forest, Sungai Wain is the natural habitat for endangered species such as Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), 80 rehabilitant Orang Utan (Pongo Pygmaeus), 60 Malayan Bear (Helarctos Malayanus), Red Lead Eating Monkey, Gibbon, Squirrel and some others. Upon arrival in Sungai Wain, we meet local team and ranger who will bring us to the jungle searching for all those beautiful creatures. This is one of preserve jungle close to Balikpapan City. The trek is easy and some part little bit muddy but rich of exotic wildlife. At the appriate time transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to your country. TOURS END – END OF SERVICE /EXTENTION TRIP WITH US.
We are not simply about bringing visitors to see the Orangutan but to raise awareness about the threat they are facing as a big number of Orangutans keep decreasing in the past years. You are invited to Take part in supporting Borneo orangutan conservation project !
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