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National Park In Indonesia Tanjung Puting Visit 2024

Azlan KhanBy 01,54711 Mins Read
National Park

National Park In Indonesia

For an unforgettable orangutan encounter in Borneo, Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan, Indonesia, is an ideal destination. This lush jungle is teeming with hundreds of animal species native to Borneo, including several rare and endemic ones. Visitors can experience this rich biodiversity while staying on a ‘Klook’ houseboat, which glides gracefully along the Sekonyer River.

We enjoyed an incredible 3-day, 2-night stay on a liveaboard boat at Tanjung Puting. Although it’s not the most budget-friendly destination in Indonesia, the experience is truly one-of-a-kind and memorable.

In this travel guide, you’ll find detailed information on reaching Tanjung Puting, spotting orangutans, choosing the right boat tour company, and all the essential tips to prepare for your trip.

How To Get To Tanjung Puting National Park

Tanjung Puting is on the southern tip of Borneo Island, within Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province. The closest town and airport to Tanjung Puting is Pangkalan Bun (PKN), which has daily direct flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, and Semarang.

If you’re traveling from Bali, you’ll need to connect through one of these airports before reaching Pangkalan Bun. You can search for flights on Skyscanner.

Upon arriving in Pangkalan Bun, you’ll have a 15-minute drive to the Kumai harbour. Depending on when you arrive, you can often head straight to the harbour to begin your Tanjung Puting National Park tour.

Many tour operators offer complimentary pickup from the town or airport, transporting you to the harbour where your boat will be ready. From there, it takes less than an hour by boat to reach the Sekonyer River and enter the national park.

River Boat Cruise: What To Expect

To reach Tanjung Puting, visitors typically travel by boat along the skin River on an all-inclusive live-aboard vessel known as a ‘Klotok.’ These boats come with a crew of four, including a captain, a deckhand, a tour guide, and a cook.

The river’s gentle flow ensures a smooth ride, so there’s no need to worry about seasickness, rapids, or turbulent waters during your trip into the National Park .

Besides taking in the stunning views from the boat, you’ll have opportunities to disembark and explore the jungle. This includes short, easy treks to observe wildlife up close.

Klotok boats typically accommodate up to 8 passengers, with guests on the upper deck and the crew living below.

Our boat featured a reasonably comfortable bed and bathroom, complete with a flush toilet and shower, though the amenities were fairly basic.

It’s akin to glamping—comfortable but not luxurious.

Daily meals are provided on the boat, and the food was excellent in our experience, offering a variety of dishes such as tempeh, omelettes, toast, pancakes, fish, chicken, rice, noodles, soup, and a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. Everything was freshly prepared and tasty.

While some Klotok boats are equipped with air conditioning, most are not, and it’s unnecessary. You might feel warm and sweaty during the day, but the cooler National Park  nighttime temperatures make it easy to refresh with a cold shower before sleeping.

Tanjung Puting

A generator provides electricity on the boats in the evenings, allowing you to charge your phones and other devices. However, bringing a portable power bank is advisable.

The boats are well-protected with rain covers, so you don’t need to worry about getting wet. Despite a heavy storm on our first night, everything on the boat remained dry and secure.

Tours at Tanjung Puting usually last 2 or 3 days, though you can extend your stay if your schedule and budget allow. Alternatively, if you’re short on time, a one-day tour by speedboat is also an option.

• Day 1: Tanjung Harapan

After approximately 2 hours of cruising along the river on a Klotok boat, your first stop in Tanjung Puting National Park will be at Tanjung Harapan.
Previously a rehabilitation centre for orphaned and rescued orangutans, Tanjung Harapan now serves as a feeding station where the animals receive supplemental food, mainly fruit, to help them stay healthy and thrive.
Upon arriving at Tanjung Harapan, we had some time before the 3 PM feeding session, so we explored the area and were thrilled to spot our first orangutan—a mature female climbing among the trees.
At feeding time, National Park  staff place a fruit pile on a wooden platform and call the orangutans from the jungle. While there may be a wait for their arrival, they eventually swing through the trees to the platform. Visitors can watch from a distance of about 30 meters behind a fence.
During our visit, we observed nearly a dozen orangutans, including several juveniles, a baby, and a large adult male. After returning to the boat, we were fortunate to see a group of wild proboscis monkeys (also known as long-nosed monkeys) on the opposite riverbank, watching us from the treetops.

• Day 2: Pondok Tanggui

On our second day in Tanjung Puting, National Park  we set out at 7 AM and travelled an additional 1.5 hours up the river to reach our next stop, Pondok Tanggu.
During the journey, we spotted more wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, a crested serpent eagle, and a black-and-red broadbill perched in the trees.
We arrived at Pondok Tanggu just before the 9 AM feeding session. This visit allowed us to see an even larger number of orangutans, including a impressive and photogenic male who appeared at the end of the feeding time.
It was a valuable lesson to remain a bit longer after the feeding session concludes, as some of the best wildlife sightings often occur once the tourists have started to depart.

Day 3: Return To Pangkalan Bun

On the third day, we began with a serene sunrise on the river, followed by breakfast, before heading back to Kumai port, which took about an hour. From there, we could visit a traditional Dayak longhouse near Pangkalan Bun.
With this, our tour ended. Our time at Tanjung Puting was truly memorable, and we wouldn’t have changed a thing about our experience.

Wildlife at Tanjung Puting National Park

A primary draw of Tanjung Puting is its diverse wildlife. The National Park is home to hundreds of animal species, and visiting offers an excellent opportunity to see many of them.
During our 3-day, 2-night cruise at Tanjung Puting, we encountered a variety of animals, including orangutans, proboscis monkeys, macaques, kingfishers, and hornbills, as well as a crocodile and a monitor lizard.

Our night treks revealed even more, including pitcher plants, various insects, frogs, and reptiles.

I don’t mean to alarm you, but we had a 4-meter python make its way into the lower level of our boat one night, and the crew had to move it back to the river!
After that incident, we carried flashlights whenever we went to the bathroom at night. While this unexpected encounter was an unusual wildlife sighting, it’s a reminder that in the jungle, surprises are always possible.
With some luck, you might also spot gibbons, leaf monkeys, tarsiers, clouded leopards, wild pigs, gharials, flying foxes, Sunda leopard cats, and Asian sun bears at Tanjung Puting. To increase your chances of seeing these rarer species, consider opting for a longer trip that allows you to venture further inland.

Orangutans At Tanjung Puting National Park

The main highlight of Tanjung Puting is undoubtedly the Bornean orangutans. Sightings of these fascinating creatures are almost guaranteed, and we encountered nearly a dozen orangutans each day during our time in the National Park.

Tanjung Puting is home to the largest population of wild orangutans globally, with an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 living in its forests.

The orangutans at the feeding stations are semi-wild, as they are familiar with human presence, but the experience is far from being like a zoo. We also encountered several orangutans well away from the feeding areas.
You’ll observe these incredible creatures climbing high into the treetops, carrying their babies, and engaging in their daily routines, providing ample opportunities to see them in their natural habitat.

Is Tanjung Puting Worth It?

There’s no denying that Tanjung Puting is pricey by Indonesian standards. Expect to spend around 11 million Rupiah (USD 700) for an all-inclusive 3-day, 2-night private cruise for two. Finding a cheaper tour in 2024 is challenging.
The high cost is because of factors such as the large boat with a crew of at least four people, the fuel required for travelling up and down the river, as well as the expenses for meals, National Park fees, and other trip-related costs.

Is Tanjung Puting worth it?

Absolutely, but if you’re on a tighter budget and don’t mind some trekking, consider Bukit Lawang in Sumatra first. It’s more affordable and offers similar wildlife sightings, including orangutans, gibbons, and leaf monkeys. There are many more activities available in that part of Sumatra.
One of the key advantages of Tanjung Puting over Bukit Lawang is the exceptional riverboat experience, which is truly unique and enjoyable. Navigating the jungle from a boat offers a distinctive and memorable way to explore the environment.

Special Moments

Falling asleep to the sounds of insects, watching fireflies, and witnessing the sunset over the river were all special moments. I particularly enjoyed sitting at the front of the boat with my camera, scanning for wildlife as we travelled. The many photo opportunities and overall enjoyment made the experience quite extraordinary.
Another benefit of Tanjung Puting compared to Bukit Lawang is the ease of trekking. Bukit Lawang’s trails can be challenging, with steep inclines, muddy paths, and thorny vegetation, which can be difficult for those who are older or less fit. In contrast, Tanjung Puting offers short and easy treks on raised boardwalks to reach the feeding stations, making it accessible to nearly everyone.

Best Tanjung Puting Boat Tour

For touring Tanjung Puting, we highly recommend Viator. They offer highly rated 3-day and 4-day tours, including options for solo travellers and honeymoon packages for couples.
While these tours are relatively expensive National Park by Indonesian standards, their rates are in line with what we found locally. Their 3-day tour offers a better price than what we paid for our tour, even though we booked directly in
Pangkalan Bun. Tanjung Puting can be costly, unfortunately.
We’ve used Viator for many tours and activities worldwide, and their service has always been excellent. We strongly recommend them!

Can You Visit Tanjung Puting Without A Tour?

Since Tanjung Puting can only be accessed by boat, a river tour is essential. Typically, this means opting for a private tour unless you can find other travelers to share the boat with, which can be challenging.

When we visited Tanjung Puting, we attempted to join an open boat but had no luck, despite my wife being Indonesian and our inquiries with locals at the harbor. This was during a weekday in the low season.

You might have better chances of finding National Park  a shared boat during weekends in the high season, particularly in July and August, but availability is not guaranteed. Options can be quite limited here.

Given these constraints, it’s advisable to book your tour in advance rather than relying on spontaneous arrangements at the harbor.

Recommended Duration for a Stay at Tanjung Puting National Park

We spent 3 days and 2 nights at Tanjung Puting, and I found that duration to be ideal. Anything shorter than 3 days wouldn’t be sufficient, and a one-day trip is too brief.

Most visitors will find 3 days to be an ample time at Tanjung Puting. However, if your budget allows and you’re comfortable spending extended time on a boat, a longer stay of 5 to 7 days could be very enjoyable.

While the jungle experience is fantastic, it’s natural to miss the comforts of modern amenities after a while.

When To Visit Tanjung Puting National Park

The ideal time to visit Tanjung Puting depends on your preferences.

The dry season, from May to August, offers sunnier weather and cooler temperatures, making it the best time for visiting since rain is less frequent. However, this period also coincides with the high season, leading to larger crowds and up to 100 boats in the National Park at once. Securing a good spot at the feeding stations might require arriving early, though your guide can assist with this.

In contrast, the rainy season, from November to April, is hotter and more humid, with daytime temperatures ranging from 32 to 35°C (90 to 95°F). While rain is more common during these months, it usually occurs at night, and the National Park is significantly less crowded.

We visited Tanjung Puting during the rainy season in late National Park  November and had an excellent experience. Despite some rain on the first day and a heavy downpour at night, we stayed dry on the boat and it did not significantly impact our trip.

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