Travel Guide Parc National De Tanjung Puting

Tanjung Puting National Park (Taman Nasional Tanjung Puting) lies 300 kilometers southwest of Palangkaraya, measures 4,150 km2 and begins near the town of Pangkalan Bun, which you'll reach by plane. Tanjung Puting has long been a research and rehabilitation center for captive orangutans and orphaned monkeys. It is the most interesting of Borneo's parks in terms of its natural wealth. Originally a hunting reserve, it became a national park in 1982. Camp Leakey, founded in 1971 by Dr. Biruté Galdikas, a pupil of primatologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey, as were Dian Fossey (gorillas) and Jane Goodall (chimpanzees), has done much to save the orangutans. Tanjung Puting National Park is full of surprises, especially near the feeding platforms at Tanjung Harapan and Pondok Tanggui. In this immense territory, you'll find many different types of vegetation, from swampy ground to tropical forest, from mangrove to peat. All these types of terrain create an infinite variety of micro-habitats for numerous animal species, as well as for the great diversity of flora. The fauna is extremely varied. In addition to the orangutans, made famous by the efforts of Camp Leakey's conservation program, there are seven other species of primate, including nasal monkeys, gibbons and macaques, as well as clouded leopards, civets, Malay bears, porcupines, deer... and over 250 types of bird, not to mention insects and butterflies. In the swamps, it's not uncommon to come face to face with large reptiles, snakes and amphibians. Several cruises are offered by different tour operators, but you can always hire a klotok (private boat) with a private guide for a few days. The crossing is a constant spectacle, with plenty of fascinating things to discover. But beware, you're in a hostile environment. In addition to Rahai'i Pangun Jungle River Cruises and Tours, Borneo Orangutan Adventure Travel is an agency in the town of Pangkalan Bun that will show you all these wonders in all seriousness (Jalan Kawitan 1 Sidorejo Pangkalan Bun. ✆ +62 852 4930 9250 www.orangutantravel.com)