jungle holidays in borneo : hanging out with orangutans is easier than you think

There are pockets of vast forest filled with wild and wonderful creatures unique to Indonesia. It's not just the orang-utans that hide in these forests; untapped territories reveal unheard of flora and fauna every day. Gibbons hang from forest canopies, thousands of species of birds nest in the trees. And there are also leopards, pygmy elephants, Sumatran tigers, bearded pigs, and rhinoceros.

With just over 25000 orang-utans left in the world, experts tip that by the year 2023 they will be completely extinct in the wild; tigers and rhinoceros have a lot less time than that. Don't wait until then: here are the top five places you can see orang-utans in Indonesia.

1.Tanjung Puting National Park (Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo)

This national park is by far and away the most pleasant trip you'll make in order to see orang-utans, where sightings are 100 per cent guaranteed. 

2.Kutai National Park (East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo)

Forest fires have not destroyed Kutai's resilience. Just a few hours' drive from the eastern capital of Samarinda, orang-utans continue to call this forest home. 

3.Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre (Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo)

This rehabilitation centre has been made famous by the BBC documentary Orangutan Diary. At least 600 ex-captive orang-utans reside here to be 'rehabilitated' or trained, ready for release into the forest. While you can't hang out with the babies in training, you can watch them through floor-to-ceiling glass windows.