East Kalimantan Borneo Tour

Afternoon visits Orangutan island. Some orangutans live on man-made islands (a nice walk from the Samboja Lodge). The Island orangutans are for not releasing candidates, due to handicaps and misbehavior. Therefore, they can only be viewed from the land. Every day workers bring over many kinds of fruits, vegetables, and enrichments. Though there is No Contact for Visitors permitted with any of our orangutans. The islands are easily reached on foot from the Lodge. The Samboja Lodge’s guide will assist you to visit the island. Continue to visit Sun Bear Sanctuary. Samboja Lestari is home to one of the world's largest sun bear projects. You can help with the preparation and feeding of food. The bear compound is a short 15 min walk from the Samboja Lodge. Hotel Plan: Samboja Lodge, Standard Meals Plan: Breakfast

SUNGAI WAIN – SUNGAI HITAM Sungai Wain is a day tour. Less than one hour drive from Samboja Lestari lies the protected forest area of Sungai Wain. This was the first release site of the BOS Foundation where 75 rehabilitated orangutans were released between 1992-1998. Several female orangutans with babies have been observed on previous visits. Since they are totally wild again, there is no 100% guarantee that you will see one of those released orangutans on this trip. But on this fairly challenging trip, you will see much interesting wildlife. Sungai Hitam (Black River). Following a 30-minute drive from Samboja Lestari you take a boat ride along the Sungai Hitam tidal river to see highly endangered Proboscis monkeys and other wildlife. Local fishermen will guide you on this tidal river. The fisherman will have a daily income for their services Hotel Plan: Samboja Lodge, Standard Meals Plan: Breakfast

Hotel Plan: Samboja Lodge, Standard Meals Plan: Breakfast

After breakfast drive about 1 hour to Bukit Bangkirai (Bangkirai Hill)  an area in East Kalimantan/East Borneo made for the conservation of tropical trees endemic to Borneo Island, especially East Kalimantan province. After breakfast at the appropriate time, we drive about 1 hour to Bukit Bangkirai (Bangkirai Hill)  an area in East Kalimantan/East Borneo made for the conservation of tropical trees endemic to Borneo Island, especially East Kalimantan province. It’s located about 58 km from Balikpapan or more or less 1 ½ hours or 150 km away from Samarinda or Tenggarong or 20 km away from Samboja District with some bumpy roads. This place is called Bukit Bangkirai or Shorea Hills. Along with its uniqueness, there are also canopy bridges built for the observation towers. Bukit Bangkirai covers an 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/Kalimantan Island. Bangkirai Hill is a covered protected tropical rainforest dominated by the Bengkirai Tree about 40 – 50 m high and diameter of 2,3 meters with an average age of the tree is about 150 years old. The canopy bridges in Bukit Bangkirai were made from 64 meters of the steel connecting 5 huge Bangkirai/Shorea Laevis trees. These canopy bridges were built 30 meters above the ground. This is normal since Shorea Laevis could grow more than 30 meters tall. In this place we will observe the typical Borneo rainforest, then soft jungle trekking to enjoy with canopy bridge. This Canopy Bridge is the first Canopy Bridge built in Indonesia, the second in Asia, and 8th in the world. In this Canopy Bridge, you will spot a very beautiful canopy forest the natural habitat for gibbons, Hornbills, Asian Paradise Flycatchers, red leaf-eating monkeys, and other endemic wildlife of Borneo. Continue drives to Samarinda. Horel Plan: Swiss-Belhotel Samarinda. Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch.

After breakfast then we check out and drive for about 30 minutes – 1 hour depending on the traffic to Pampang Village a cultural site 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 the Malinau district, East Kalimantan. They left their village to stay near urban areas so that they could obtain an education and fulfill their basic needs. At present, not less than 800 members of the 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 are extraordinary and deserve 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 the tribes then we continue our journey drive to Sangatta for about 3 – 4 hours drive or about 173 km away depending on the traffic and condition of the road. Lunch on the way to a local restaurant. Hotel Plan: Hotel Victoria, Deluxe Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

After early breakfast then drive about 30 minutes away to the harbor to board the long motorized canoe for about 30 minutes to Prevab Orangutan Station. Prefab Orangutan Station is a part of Kutai National Park that is more easily accessible compared with other stations. 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 points 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 the park is continually under pressure from the encroachment of people. This place is very less chance to see wildlife. Another 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, accompanied by the ranger we searched wild orangutans, birds, gibbons, 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 forests, freshwater swamp forests, and kerangas forests. 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. Accommodation Plan: Prefab Research Station Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner