Sepilok - Home of the Orangutans
Trip Start
Feb 04, 2008
1
43
105
Trip End
Jan 19, 2009
Sepilok,
Malaysia
Saturday, May 10, 2008
We stopped at a transport cafe where we could use our food coupon attached to our bus ticket. However the electricity was out in this particular area so we had no idea what we were eating - we decided to go with the idea that it was chicken although I'll never be sure!
We arrived at Sepilok at about 8pm and the bus literally dropped us off in the middle of the jungle, in pitch black. We were nervous about the situation for about 15 seconds until a car pulled up to take us to our lodge - all sorted by our lovely tour lady, Nelly, back in KK
Big leaf
. We drove down a dark lane and pulled up at a cosy looking bamboo building, The Sepilok Jungle Lodge. It wasn't a very organised place - they had no idea of our arrival and had no room for us so we ended up getting upgraded to a more fancy aircon room - marvellous. Or it would have been if we hadn't walked into a dirty room with the beds unmade and towels on the floor! Back to reception we went and, looking slightly embarrased, they tootled off to sort out the problem while we had some dinner. Back they came with another key to another room, when we investigated this one the room was fine but our bags weren't there! They'd left our bags in the last room! Finally, we were sorted and (joy for Will, not so great for me) Indiana Jones (I think the second one) was on telly. I took advantage of getting an early night.
The next morning we had an early breakfast then headed to the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, about 10 minutes walk away. They have 2 feeding times a day and we were going to the morning one before heading off again.
We waited quietly and after a short while an orange face appeared in the distance, then another. Before long there were 7 or 8 big orange hairy guys and girls swinging about in front of us. They were definitely characters - they sat munching away on fruit, which was occasionally snatched by a cheeky macaque (the most common and abundant monkey in Borneo) and played together, picking fleas and contemplating their day. It was awesome seeing them so close but they didn't stick around for long.
Here's a few orangutan facts for you..
Here they come!
.- The word orangutan is derived from the Malay and Indonesian words orang meaning "man" and hutan meaning "forest", thus "man of the forest"
- They are solitary animals and hardly ever come down from the trees they live in, building a new nest of twigs and leaves to sleep in each night
- An adult male can grow to 5ft 9 and weigh up to 260lbs (that's nearly 19 stone)
- It is estimated that there are now only around 45,000 orangutans living in the wild in Borneo due to excess logging and burning
Comments
Hairy guys and girls!
The orangutans sound awesome! It must have been great to see them. 5 foot 9! That is taller than me!
Orangutans
When you said you saw an orange face coming closer my mind immediately said... Dale Winton!
Sounds like you are having a fantastic experience. Keep us posted - we love to hear your news!!
At last I comment
Hello hello - has been ages I know. Have been keeping updated on your travels though and quite frankly I am stonkingly jealous. Love from all at BP. Sophs