Indonesia, Wildlife Tours

The Best of Indonesia’s Wildlife

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Tailor-Made Tour
14 Days
From 4490
Birding
Off The Beaten Track
Photographic
Primate Watching
Rainforest

Tour Introduction

14 Days from  4490 per adult.

This comprehensive natural history trip has been designed to showcase the best of South East Asia’s iconic wildlife in a logistical and unhurried manner. We begin with Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo, home to highest population of wild orang-utans in the world, plus proboscis monkeys, langurs, bearded pigs, crocodiles and much more. Moving to southern Sumatra, you will likely see Sunda slow loris, siamang gibbon, elephant, deer, many birds, reptiles and, with luck, some rare mammal species in little-visited Way Kambas National Park. Cross over the Wallace Line to the remote Komodo and Rinca Islands, where the legendary komodo dragon has its last redoubt.  Finally, head to northern Sulawesi and visit Tangkoko National Park for its characterful Sulawesi crested macaques, spectral tarsiers and tree-dwelling marsupials.  We believe you won’t be able to find a better wildlife itinerary for Indonesia than this one.

Full Itinerary

Price from  4490 per adult. Based on sharing double / twin rooms
Day 1
Arrive in Indonesia

Arrive in Jakarta and connect with a flight to Pangkalan Bun, your entry point to Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan). Transfer to Kumai jetty to board your houseboat. The houseboat, or klotok, is a traditional wooden river boat about 6m by 2m with a roof forming the upper deck from where one can survey the lush rainforest. Travel upstream into Tanjung Puting National Park spotting proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques and saltwater crocodiles along the way.

Staying at Rimba Ecolodge. Includes Dinner.

Day 2
Tanjung Puting National Park

After breakfast, board your boat and travel to Pondok Tanggui to see the morning feeding of the rehabilitating orang-utans. Continue upstream (around two hours) to the famous Camp Leakey. Camp Leakey was set up in 1971 by Louis Leakey to support research into orang-utans and, over the years, scientists there have habituated and studied hundreds of orang-utans. You will have a little time to walk round the visitor centre before seeing the 3pm feeding of the orang-utans (agile gibbons and bearded pigs are also often seen). This is usually the busiest of the feeding stations (both in terms of tourists and orang-utans) and normally a large number of orang-utans can be seen, including many young apes plus the occasional large male. Return to your boat and motor to a quiet part of the river where you will moor up for the night. Enjoy dinner on board and then settle down to sleep under mosquito nets on the deck of the boat.

Staying at Klotok houseboat. Includes All Meals.

Day 3
Tanjung Puting National Park

Wake up to the sounds of the forest and enjoy a cooked breakfast on the boat. Return to Camp Leaky and begin a trek through the rainforest with your private naturalist guide, hopefully to encounter some of the wild forest inhabitants. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the rainforest and then return to your boat. Head back downstream to your lodge for a well-earned hot shower and delicious Indonesian dinner.

Staying at Rimba Ecolodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 4
Way Kambas National Park

Depart before dawn and cruise downriver, watching the forest wake up around you and enjoying your breakfast served on board. Continue to Pangkalan Bun and take flight to Jakarta. Connect with onward flight to Lampung. Transfer to Way Kambas National Park. Evening walk in search of the Sunda slow loris, nightjars, frogmouths and owls.

Located on the southern tip of the large island of Sumatra, Way Kambas National Park is one of the last strongholds of the Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger and Sumatran rhinoceros, the latter two being particularly rare and difficult to see. Enjoy a full day to explore the park through a combination of walking, boat trips and game drives. Large mammals often seen include sambar deer, red muntjac, wild boar, siamang gibbons and silvered langur. Rarer sightings include Sumatran elephant, Malaysian tapir, sun bear and small cats.

Staying at Satwa Elephant Ecolodge. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 5
Way Kambas National Park

Enjoy a day in the Way Kambas National Park. Enjoy some early morning birdwatching then return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, drive slowly through the park to Way Kanan Ranger station. Take a boat to Kalibiru for a fascinating walk either to a game-viewing platform or to Rawa Gajah, a swamp area where elephants are often seen, depending on water levels. Sambar deer, wild boar, binturong and the endangered white winged wood duck are seen too. The trail often reveals the scats, pugmarks and tree scratching of tigers. After a picnic lunch, walk slowly back to the boat and return by the river boat. Possibly see some primates, different bird species, deer and elephants en route. Evening spotlighting looking for nocturnal animals.

Staying at Satwa Elephant Ecolodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 6
Way Kambas National Park

Enjoy a morning of birdwatching and return to the lodge for lunch. Drive deep into the national park looking for Siamang gibbons, birds and other animals en route. After around an hour, you will arrive at the Way Kanan river. Way Kanan offers hours of exceptional wildlife viewing as it transects the park. Common sightings include long-tailed macaques, mitred leaf monkey, silver langur monkey, sambar deer, muntjac deer, barking deer, otters, estuarine crocodiles, kingfishers, bee-eaters and a host of forest and water birds. If extremely lucky, you may see one of the rarities of the park such as forest elephants, Malaysian tapir, sun bear, Sumatran rhino or even a Sumatran tiger.

Continue downstream almost to the sea where palm forest dominates. Wait for sunset and make the journey in reverse spotlighting to see nocturnals such as the buffy fish owl, civets, flying squirrels, Malaysian tapir and porcupines. This area is particularly renowned for its nocturnal cats with excellent chances of spotting leopard cats. If very lucky, you may even glimpse the exceptionally rare clouded leopard.

Staying at Satwa Elephant Ecolodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 7
Way Kambas National Park

In the morning visit Bambangan, a ranger station and reforestation project. Learn about anti-poaching patrols of the rangers, travel downstream by boat and plant a tree at the reforestation centre. Take a guided walk through the forest in search of birds and other wildlife. Enjoy another afternoon boat trip on Way Kanan to look for wildlife. If lucky, you may be allowed to visit the Sumatran Rhino Breeding Centre to learn about their work and to see some of the resident rhinos. Please note that visits to the centre cannot be guaranteed due to the sensitive nature of the breeding programme (entrance fee/donation not included). In the evening take a night walk/drive in search of nocturnal birds and mammals.

Staying at Satwa Elephant Ecolodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 8
Labuan Bajo

Drive back to Lampung and take a flight to Jakarta. Connect with onward flight to Labuan Bajo and transfer to hotel on arrival. Located on the island of Flores, Labuan Bajo is the main departure point for Komodo and Rinca Islands, home to the infamous Komodo dragon, the main draw of the islands. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure at the hotel.

Staying at Puri Sari Hotel. Includes Breakfast.

Day 9
Rinca Island

This morning transfer to the harbour to board your private local boat with naturalist guide and full crew and sail to Rinca Island. Disembark on Rinca Island and enjoy a morning trek with your guide and local ranger in search of Komodo dragons and other wildlife. Perhaps enjoy some snorkelling in the afternoon, before sailing to Komodo Island. Drop anchor and watch the sun set over Komodo Island. Spend the night on board the boat (there are mattresses, mosquito nets, flushing toilet and a cold shower).

Staying at Local Klotok boat. Includes All Meals.

Day 10
Komodo Island

After breakfast, land on Komodo and take a walk on the island with your guide and a local ranger to see more Komodo dragons and other wildlife. Komodo is more heavily forested than Rinca and has more wildlife to see: expect Timor deer and wild boar plus a wide range of bird species including yellow-crested cockatoo and white-bellied sea eagle. In the afternoon, visit the Pink Beach for some wonderful snorkelling, then return to Labuan Bajo.

Staying at Puri Sari Hotel. Includes Breakfast.

Day 11
Manado

Take a flight to Jakarta. Connect with onward flight to Manado. Transfer the short distance to your hotel.

Staying at Novotel. Includes Breakfast.

Day 12
Tangkoko National Park

Pick-up for 2 hour private road transfer to the Tangkoko National Park. En route you will stop at Airmadidi village, famous for the local produce including dried nutmeg, candied fruits, snacks, etc. Afternoon guided tour of the Tangkoko National Park. Explore the dry tropical forest in search of some of the commonly seen species here including a habituated group of endemic Sulawesi crested macaques, bear cuscus and red-knobbed hornbill. This is also one of the best places in the world to see spectral tarsiers, small nocturnal primates that inhabit some of the huge fig trees of the park. Stay to watch the Tarsiers emerge at sunset and return to your lodge for dinner and OPTIONAL night walk.

Staying at Tangkoko Hill Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 13
Tangkoko National Park

Enjoy a final morning guided walk in the Tangkoko National Park. As well as the excited endemic primates you can also see many birds here including Lilac Kingfisher, Sulawesi (Dwarf) Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Hornbill, Knobbed Hornbill, Maleo, Red-bellied Pitta and Tabon Scrubfowl. Then return by road (2 hours) to Manado and check-in to your hotel.

Staying at Novotel. Includes Breakfast.

Day 14
Fly home.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Manado airport and fly home.

Includes Breakfast.

Tour Accommodation

Indonesia West Of Wallace Line

Rimba Eco Lodge

Overview

The solar powered Rimba Eco Lodge is truly in keeping with its unspoilt environment, surrounded by forest and only accessible by boat. Proboscis monkeys and a resident troop of long-tailed macaques are frequently sighted from the lodge.

Rimba Eco Lodge is the only land accommodation within Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) and makes a great base to visit the nearby orang-utan feeding stations and the famous Camp Leakey rehabilitation centre.

Accommodation is in wooden cabins (most having private bathrooms) with comfortable beds, mosquito nets, air-conditioning and fans. Electricity is on from 5pm to 10am and there is good mosquito proofing. A series of boardwalks connect the rooms to the large restaurant which serves delicious local cuisine.

Swimming Pool
No
Air Conditioning
Yes
Rooms
35
Facilities

All rooms have hot water and mosquito nets, and some have air-conditioning and fans. There is also an excellent restaurant.

Local Wildlife

Proboscis monkeys, wild orang-utans, agile gibbons, silvered langurs, long-tailed macaques, estuarine crocodiles, Malayan false gharial crocodile, Storm’s stork, oriental pied hornbill, black and red broadbill and many fireflies. Clouded leopard and sun bear both occur in the park but are very rarely seen.

Optional Activities

Excursions by boat into the National Park and to visit the organ-utan feeding and rehabilitation centres including Camp Leakey. Other activities include treks through the forest, village visits and an excursion to the Pesalat Reforestation Centre or far up the Sekonyer River to see the devastating effects of gold mining on the forest ecosystem.

Indonesia West Of Wallace Line

Camp Leakey Klotok Boat

Overview

The houseboat, or klotok, is a traditional wooden river boat about 6m by 2m with a roof forming the upper deck from where one can view the rainforest. The boat crew includes a captain, a cook and a guide.  The houseboat is equipped with mattresses, pillows, mosquito nets, kitchen and a simple toilet located at the back.

Swimming Pool
No
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
1
Facilities

The houseboat is equipped with mattresses, pillows, mosquito nets, kitchen and a simple toilet located at the back.

Local Wildlife

Orang-utans, proboscis monkeys, long tail macaques, birds and various reptiles.

Indonesia West Of Wallace Line

Satwa Elephant Eco Lodge

Overview

Satwa Elephant Ecolodge is a small, solar powered forest lodge conveniently located only five minutes’ drive from the entrance to Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra. Accommodation is in four attractive cottages spread around lush gardens, each with two separate en suite rooms. Each room can sleep four and has a mixture of double and twin beds with a private bathroom and shower. The rooms are well screened, spacious clean and comfortable with a small veranda outside.

The restaurant serves local and western food, and there is free Wi-Fi that sometimes stretches to the nearer rooms. The lodge has a small gift shop and a few resource books as well as a sightings board.

Way Kambas is one of the oldest protected forests in Indonesia. Thankfully the park has been able to retain populations of some of the most endangered mammals in South-East Asia, including Sumatran rhino, Sumatran elephant and Sumatran tiger. Way Kambas covers 1300 square km of costal lowland and dipterocarp forest in southern Sumatra to the east of Bandar Lampung.

Swimming Pool
No
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
8
Facilities

All rooms are en suite with western style hot water showers and toilet, ceiling fans, mosquito screens and have a veranda. There is Wi-Fi in the restaurant which extends to some of the rooms.

Local Wildlife

The park has an exceptional diversity of mammals including Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhino and clouded leopard – but they are seldom seen. Siamang gibbon, various macaques, silvered and mitred langurs, Sunda slow loris, wild boar, muntjack and sambar deer, lesser and greater mouse deer, Malayan and palm civets and giant squirrels are all frequently seen. With more luck Sumatran elephant, sun bear, Malaysian tapir, binturong, marbled and leopard cats, banded civets and colugo (known as flying lemur but not a true lemur) can be seen. The birdlife is equally impressive with several species of frogmouth and owl, white winged duck, green broadbills, woodpeckers and nightjars.

Optional Activities

Game drives, walking and boat trips along the Way Kanan River. Local mahouts are available for elephant safaris, plus guides for walking or cycling.

Indonesia East Of Wallace Line

Puri Sari Hotel

Overview

Located south of the main town of Labuan Bajo, this small hotel offers 21 rooms situated in pleasant tropical gardens and benefits from a pleasant swimming pool and 350 meters of beach (not safe for swimming).  All guest rooms have a private balcony and are equipped with air-conditioning, Western toilet and shower with hot water.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
Yes
Rooms
21
Facilities

Private balcony, air-conditioning, Western toilet and shower with hot water.

Indonesia East Of Wallace Line

Novotel Manado Golf Resort

Overview

The four-star Novotel hotel is just 15 minutes’ drive from Manado International Airport and sits on the edge of a large golf course with views towards the nearby mountains.

The 199 air-conditioned rooms and suites are smart and spacious and are all equipped with a flat-screen TV, minibar safety deposit box and attached modern private bathroom. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, gym, sauna and hot tub and free Wi-Fi can be found in the public areas. The attractive restaurant offers a range of local Indonesian cuisine with plenty of western and French influenced choices also available.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
Yes
Rooms
199
Facilities

Restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, sauna, gym, golf course, Wi-Fi in public areas, TV, minibar, safety deposit box and room and laundry services.

Indonesia East Of Wallace Line

Tangkoko Hill

Overview

The Tangkoko Hill Cottage and resto is a small, comfortable accommodation located conveniently close to the gates of the Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve, in the North Sulawesi province. Established in 2012 as a base for visitors who want to explore the natural delights of the reserve, Tangkoko has retained its basic ethos that the wildlife is the most important thing, and has not tried to detract from this with overly luxurious accommodation and facilities. The basic nature of the accommodation allows guests to feel more at one with their wild surroundings.

Tangkoko Nature Reserve covers an area of 87000 hectares, and includes three mountains: Mount Tangkoko; Mount Duasudara and Mount Batuangus. The lowland tropical rainforest is a fantastic habitat, popular amongst scientists, researchers and birdwatchers alike. There are at least 233 species of bird to be found here, amongst which 103 are Sulawesi endemic – hence why this is a unique and popular birding experience.

The majority of guests visit here for the wildlife, and a full bird watching tour of the Reserve typically takes around 3-4 days. However, the staff at the hotel will happily arrange custom trips of any focus or duration, and have top quality guide to help make the most of your time in the reserve.

Swimming Pool
No
Air Conditioning
Yes
Rooms
9
Facilities

Rooms have double or twin beds, air conditioning, TV and en-suite bathrooms. There is a restaurant serving Asian cuisine, and a buffet breakfast.

Local Wildlife

There are at least 127 species of mammal where 79 of these species are Sulawesi endemic, 233 species of birds where 103 of these birds are Sulawesi endemic and 104 species of reptiles and several amphibians found in Tangkoko Nature Reserve.

Optional Activities

Bird watching tours, boat trips, off-site snorkelling, diving and fishing excursions can also be arranged.

Route Map

Departure Dates

This tour has no set departure date and can be tailored to suit your travel requirements. Contact us for more details.

Travel Information

Are International Flights Included?

No. Please contact us for a quote if required.

Flight Info:

Domestic flights within Indonesia are included.

Best Visited:

May to October

Are you ATOL Registered?

Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.

Jonathan Morris

Area Specialist

If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965

It was tiring, but we had a fantastic time and the holiday was up there with the best of them!  The boats in particular were brilliant ways to travel, and it was great that each place we visited had something different to offer.  The people were so lovely, and the food was great.  In fact, it’s one of the few places that we’ve been to over the last few years that I really feel I’d like to revisit.

Dr SG - Hitchin