See Orangutans at Semenggoh, Borneo

See orangutans at Semenggoh, Borneo. Getting to see orangutans in Borneo was an absolute dream come true. I’ve always had a soft spot for these orange fluffy primates, so this year I decided to finally travel to Malaysian Borneo to see them in real life. It’s very important to me to make sure that the wildlife encounters I participate in are ethical, so I’ve done a tonne of research so that you can be sure that you’re not doing more harm than good by visiting them.

Where can I see Orangutans in Borneo?

There are 2 main places to see orangutans in Malaysian Borneo. One is the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at Sepilok near Sandakan (in the state of Sabah), and the other is Semenggoh Wildlife Centre near Kuching (in the state of Sarawak). I was lucky enough to visit both. This post is about Semenggoh.

Why Should I Visit Semenggoh Wildlife Centre?

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is a sanctuary where you can see semi-wild orangutans. The centre used to be a rehabilitation centre, and was originally set up in the 70s to care for orangutans who had been kept illegally as pets or found orphaned or injured. The rainforest area surrounding Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is protected, and this is where the orangutans went to live once they had been released back into the wild. Nowadays Semenggoh are no longer rehabilitating new orangutans, but the original orangutans and their descendents still live in the protected area. There are feeding platforms where the orangutans can swing by if they choose to, but they’re not forced. As such, sightings are likely, but not guaranteed.

Is Semenggoh Wildlife Centre Ethical?

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is an ethical place to see orangutans. It is not a zoo, and the orangutans are not caged or forced in any way. The orangutans are free to come and go as they choose, as there are no fences. Orangutans are endangered, and the Semenggoh area provides them with a safe protected area to live in, and also educates visitors about the importance of conservation. There are feeding platforms where the rangers will lay out healthy foods such as bananas, sweet potato and papaya for the orangutans to supplement their natural diet. This is needed as although the area is protected, it is still not as large a territory as orangutans would live in naturally were it not for habitat destruction.

How to see Orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre?

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is open for visitors twice a day. These visiting hours coincide with the feeding times, which is when the orangutans are most likely to come down from the forest canopy. The opening hours and twice-daily feeding times are:

• 8am-10am (feeding starts at 9am)
• 2pm-4pm (feeding starts at 3pm)

I recommend arriving as early as possible as sometimes the orangutans come down early. The rangers will also give you a short briefing before the feeding starts.

What to Expect at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre?

You will need to keep at least 5 metres away from the orangutans at all times. Rangers will instruct visitors to be quiet so as not to disturb the orangutans. You are not allowed to bring food, and even water bottles need to be kept securely in your bag. There are absolutely no unethical activities such as touching or selfies allowed.

The entrance fee is RM10 for foreigners. The ticket can be bought at the entrance, and you then need to walk 10-15 minutes to reach the feeding area. Alternatively you can pay a small fee for the park’s electric buggy.

What Time of Year can I see Orangutans at Semenggoh?

Note that you are much less likely to see Orangutans come down to the feeding platform during fruiting season when there is plenty of food available high up in the trees. Fruiting season runs from November to March, so I recommend visiting outside of this.

How to get to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre?

The most convenient way to get to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre from Kuching is to take a Grab (rideshare app). I also did not have any problem getting a Grab to go back as the drivers know what time visiting hours end. There is also a bus (number 6, 45 minutes) to and from central Kuching.

Hopefully this post will have encouraged you to go to see Orangutans at Semenggoh, Borneo. I had the best time there and saw quite a few orangutans – including an alpha male, which was pretty incredible!