The rather tiny town (by Indonesian standards) of Kumai makes visitors feel that they have stepped back several generations. The markets reflect the traditional life of many Indonesian towns and villages, but it is i the jungle that one has the feeling of having left the 21st century behind. I experienced this feeling and as I wondered through the marketplace and down the main street. I knew there was something special about the location.
Orangutan Tour
I was in Kumai for just one reason, I wanted to see the orangutans. There were a couple of tour guides actively encouraging us to hire them for the trip to see these giants; the guides informed me it would be a 'magical trip'. After selecting a tour company, a river boat was duly hired for a cruise into the depths of the river's tributaries. I then set out with my husband and another couple for three glorious days in the jungle.
A Package Tour
Not knowing exactly what to expect I made the excursion with an open mind. The experience I had made me want to tell people that the orangutans were the best thing that I had ever seen. I also became aware that the journey as a whole should be given equal importance and appreciated for what it is. To leave out the journey itself would be to do an injustice to the overall fascination of this jungle experience.
The journey to find the orangutans took me on a gentle cruise down ever-narrowing river bends and quiet tributaries. I passed many river folk skimming across the surface of the water in their water taxis as they went about their business. The journey took me to visit some of the villages along the river banks. The mix of 'River Queen' and 'Jungle Jim' was how I felt, particularly as the boat on which I was cruising was very traditional and extremely comfortable if somewhat lacking in privacy. The crew, who spoke reasonable English, were very attentive.
Memorable Experiences
Seeing orangutans at a very close range has to rank as one of my most memorable experiences. But so too was the experience of going to bed at night cocooned by a mosquito net and waking in the early hours of a new day serenaded by a cacophony of jungle noises. Laying in my bunk I watched proboscis monkeys dangling from thin vines, while macaws and other unseen birds called and warbled.
My journey into the jungles of Kalimantan allowed me to view a kaleidoscope of raw nature. The interludes experienced with the orangutans felt like a privilege that would be difficult to surpass.
The Indonesian government and many non-government animal welfare agencies are working to restore more Orangutans back into the wild. These mostly non-government centres work with animals that had been removed from the jungle due to illness or safety issues; after a period of rehabilitation during which they are retaught the ways of survival in the jungle, they are returned to the habitat. However the decimation of a number of jungles throughout South East Asia is an ongoing worry. It may not always be possible to view these magnificent creatures in the region of Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Source:
Hybreasail Log Book
Blog Leo Biddle
Visit Orangutan Website
Orangutan Tours and Travel Website
Parania Wilson - Parania attained her degree with a double major in welfare and sociology then spent a number of years in welfare working in Mental Health, ...
