Following the waves of fire that ravaged forests in the early 1980s, making many locals sick and endangering unprotected endemic fauna, the Borneo Orangutan Foundation (BOS) began a project with the aim of providing a safe haven for rehabilitated orangutans and reforestation efforts while at the same time providing a source of income for the local population.
On this 3-night tour in the Samboja Lestari Reserve, translated as “Samboja Forever” you will have the opportunity to explore the behavior of these rehabilitated orangutans in their new natural habitat. In addition, you will enter the tropical jungle, which is the home of 137 species of birds and 9 species of primates, and you will witness one of the canopy bridges built on its old trees, which are more than 40 meters high. Let the adventure begin!
Welcome to Balikpapan! It is now a port city but was once a fishing village built by the Bugis people. You can find jewelry and gemstones sold at many markets, as well as nice white sandy beaches in the coastal area.
Upon arrival at Balikpapan airport, meeting service and transfer to Samboja Lodge. The journey takes about 1,5 hours, and we will pass by rainforests. Upon arrival at the lodge, we will check in, and afterwards, you are free to take a walk around the lodge. Samboja Lodge organizes daily visits to the orangutan islands and the sun bear sanctuary on two different schedules: 8 AM and 1 PM. Depending on your flight arrival, you may participate in one of the schedules. Each visit is approximately 4 hours. Lunch and dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
After breakfast, we will drive for about an hour to the Bangkirai Hills, where we can find several species of hard wooden trees and a tree-top hanging bridge about 40 meters high with beautiful views over the Bornean emerald jungle. The platform provides a perfect vantage point for observing macaques, leaf monkeys, maroon langurs, gibbons, and hornbills. Then go soft jungle trekking to enjoy the canopy bridge. A lunch box will be provided during the trip. If there is enough time in the afternoon, continue to enjoy the canoe trip at Black River (Sungai Hitam), the river system of the wetland of Balikpapan Bay. Sail by canoe to the mangrove forest to search for proboscis monkeys and birds. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Breakfast at the lodge, then transfer by car to Sungai Wain for about an hour for a jungle and wetland safari. The area of Sungai Wain (Wain River) forest originally spreads about 10 thousand hectares.
This was the BOS Foundation’s first release site, where 75 rehabilitated orangutans were released between 1992 and 1998. Several female orangutans with babies have been observed on previous visits. Nowadays, it still houses some wildlife species such as orangutans, proboscis monkeys, sunbears, and deer. 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 a lot of interesting wildlife. In the afternoon, return to Samboja Lodge for overnight.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
After Breakfast, free time to trek through the jungle of Samboja Lestari Reserve. Until departure time to Balikpapan Airport for your next destination. Thank you for exploring this little haven. Sampai Jumpa!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
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