Borneo Orangutan Safari: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
As an avid wildlife lover, Borneo had been on the top of my bucket list for quite some time! After traveling to Uganda multiple summers in a row for gorilla trekking, I was looking for another incredible primate encounter.
Imagine drifting down a jungle river, the sounds of the rainforest all around you, spotting wild orangutans swinging through the trees and then watching them up close at feeding platforms.
It’s raw, it’s magical, and it’s unlike anywhere else in the world.
If you’re planning your own trip, here are my biggest tips to make the most of it.
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1. Book a Houseboat Safari
Skip the day trips—this is one experience where you’ll want to fully immerse yourself. I highly recommend booking a houseboat safari. We went with a company called Local Guides and stayed on a boat named Milo—just two of us (myself and Tessa) and a crew of four. I cannot recommend this company enough!
It was so special and unique. Our crew Yuni, Eddy, Damias and El were SO wonderful!
We knew we would love the wildlife and the scenery but we were not expecting to love the food so much!! Everything our chef Yuni cooked was incredible. Fresh, flavorful, and way beyond what you’d expect in the middle of the jungle. We loved having our bed on the boat and sleeping with the fresh air. Each night Eddy would come add the mosquito net to our bed so we could comfortably sleep outside without worrying about mosquitos.
The bathrooms are definitely more rustic, but still totally manageable. And yes, there’s a shower. Which felt great after getting sweaty walking to the platforms!
But the real magic is the river cruising experience itself: sitting at the front of the boat, wind in your hair, cruising past lush jungle while spotting wildlife along the riverbanks. It’s peaceful, surreal, and something I’ll never forget.
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2. Avoid Fruiting Season: June to September
Timing matters more than you might think. If you visit during fruiting season, orangutans are less likely to come to the feeding platforms because they have plenty of food in the wild. Many websites will say this a good time to come for orangutans but if you’re specifically visiting the national park with feeding platforms, they have enough food in the wild during fruiting season.
Outside of fruiting season, they rely more on the platforms—meaning you’ll have a much better chance of seeing them up close at the feeding stations.
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3. Most travelers do 3 days/2 nights but we did 4 days/3 nights
Most people opt for a 3 day/2 night boat trip, but we chose 3 nights/4 days and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Why? More time with the orangutans, more chances to see different individuals, and more time to simply enjoy being on the river. It’s also incredibly relaxing. I read two full books while we were there (which I feel like I never have time to do with my busy schedule!), and it felt like the perfect balance of adventure and downtime.
We also went on a night walk through the jungle, walked through a local fishing village (I loved this!) and could have added on some more walks or canoeing if we wanted to.
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4. Manage Expectations at Feeding Platforms
If you’ve done gorilla trekking before, this will feel very different.
Gorilla treks are intimate (usually just a handful of people.) At the feeding platforms in Borneo, it’s more of a shared experience. We often had 30 or so tourists at a time.
There are rules to stay quiet, but realistically, there may be families with kids or people talking louder than they should. It can be a little frustrating in the moment, but honestly—it didn’t take away from how special the experience was overall. Seeing orangutans in their natural environment is still absolutely incredible.
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5. Book Early—Boats Sell Out
There aren’t unlimited houseboats, and the best ones get booked up quickly. If this is a must-do on your trip (and it should be), plan ahead and secure your spot early.
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6. Arrive Early to the Feeding Platforms
The walk to the platforms is easy. Usually about 30 minutes and totally flat. There is no big hike to reach the orangutans. So if the feeding was at 2pm, we’d dock and start walking in at 1pm. Then we could leisurely walk through the forest, take pictures and arrive at the platform early.
Sometimes the orangutans were already there just waiting in the trees or sitting on the platform before the official feeding time. By arriving early, we got front-row, unobstructed views and had time to photograph them before the crowds showed up.
It felt like a completely different experience compared to arriving later.
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7. Pack Bug Spray (You’ll Thank Yourself Later)
You’re deep in the rainforest so bugs are part of the deal. A good bug spray is essential, especially in the evenings when mosquitoes come out. It makes the experience way more comfortable.
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8. Wear Lightweight Clothing
Borneo is hot, humid, and sticky. Think breathable, lightweight fabrics that dry quickly.
You’ll be much more comfortable on the boat and during excursions. Pack a fan to use throughout the day. If you book with Local Guides, one was provided and super useful.
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9. Timing Your Trip Matters (April Was Perfect for Us)
June and July are peak season, which means more crowds and higher demand for boats.
We went in April, and it felt like the sweet spot. We had great weather, fewer people, and an overall more relaxed experience. If you have flexibility, shoulder season is definitely worth considering. It’s possible you could have more rain in April but May would also be a great time to go!
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10. Come Prepared—There Are No Stores Once You’re On the Boat
The food onboard was amazing, and we definitely didn’t need extra snacks or meals. But if there’s anything specific you want, bring it with you or stop at a grocery store before boarding.
For example, we brought a few iced coffees because we weren’t sure what the coffee situation would be like. The crew happily stored them in the cooler for us.
Once you’re on the boat, that’s it. There are no shops, no snack stops. The feeding stations are very rural and don’t have markets or places to buy anything.
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11. Bring Cash to Tip the Crew
Wages in Indonesia are relatively low, and the crew works incredibly hard to make your experience special.
We tipped about 15% of the total cost of the tour because we truly loved our guides and crew. There were four staff members, and we divided the tip to give to each person individually, which felt more personal.
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12. Pack Pajamas You’re Comfortable Lounging In
The sleeping area is open and doesn’t have any doors, so while you’ll likely change in the bathroom, you’ll also be hanging out in your sleepwear during breakfast or relaxing on the boat.
Bring something you feel comfortable wearing around others.
Tessa and I opted for cute jungle-themed matching pajamas we bought on my India group trip!
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13. Bring Simple Bathroom Slippers (Optional but Worth It)
We grabbed a pair of hotel slippers from our stay the night before and used them as “toilet shoes.”
The bathroom is very basic, and since the shower and toilet share the same space (and you flush with a bucket), the floor is often wet.
It’s clean water, but having disposable hotel slippers made it much more comfortable to go in and out of the bathroom.
Not essential, but we were very glad we had them.
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14. Stay at the hotel Mercure Pangkalan Bun the night before your boat trip
We stayed at Mercure Pangkalan Bun the night before our tour, and it was the perfect start.
Great rooms, amazing breakfast, solid room service, and even very affordable massages. They also let us check in early at 7am and added breakfast for just $20 total, which was such a nice bonus after traveling.
Highly recommend it as your pre-safari base.
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15. Pack Light
The boat is small, and space is limited.
We each brought just a small backpack, and it was more than enough. You don’t need many clothes, and the company provides essentials like fans and umbrellas.
If you’re traveling with larger luggage, consider leaving it at your hotel (like Hotel Mercure) and just bringing what you need for the safari. It makes the whole experience much more enjoyable without clutter.
An orangutan safari in Borneo is one of those rare travel experiences that feels both adventurous and very relaxing.
Between the slow pace of river life, the thrill of spotting orangutans, and the peaceful jungle surroundings, it’s a trip that stays with you long after you leave.
If you’re even thinking about it, go. You won’t regret it.
And stay tuned for a possible Wanderlust Group Trip here in the future!
