The Best Places to See Orangutans in Borneo

Seeing an orangutan in the wild is one of the main reasons many people visit Borneo. These incredible primates are found nowhere else except the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, and for many travellers they are at the top of the wildlife bucket list.

During my recent trip to Malaysian Borneo, I spent time searching for wildlife along the Kinabatangan River and visiting the famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. While orangutans were certainly a highlight, I quickly realised that not all orangutan experiences are the same. Some locations offer almost guaranteed sightings, while others require patience, luck, and a willingness to spend time in the rainforest.

If you’re planning a trip to Borneo and hoping to see orangutans, this guide covers the best places to find them, what to expect, and which locations are worth prioritising depending on your travel style.

Understanding Orangutans in Borneo

Borneo is home to the Bornean orangutan, one of three recognised orangutan species. Unfortunately, habitat loss and deforestation have caused populations to decline significantly over recent decades, making conservation efforts more important than ever.

While wild orangutans can still be found across parts of Borneo, many visitors first encounter them through rehabilitation centres that rescue and rehabilitate orphaned or displaced animals before returning them to the forest.

This means you generally have two options when looking for orangutans:

Visit a rehabilitation centre where sightings are highly likely.
Search for truly wild orangutans in the rainforest.

Both experiences are worthwhile, and ideally you should combine them during your trip

1. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Best for: First-time visitors and guaranteed sightings

Located just outside Sandakan in Sabah, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is easily the most famous place to see orangutans in Borneo.

The centre has been operating since 1964 and focuses on rescuing orphaned, injured, and displaced orangutans. Animals that are capable of surviving independently are gradually released into the surrounding protected forest.

Visitors can watch feeding sessions from viewing platforms, where semi-wild orangutans often emerge from the forest to collect supplementary food.

I found Sepilok to be an excellent introduction to orangutans. Although the experience is more structured than seeing them in the wild, it provides fantastic opportunities to observe their behaviour at close range.

What to Expect

Well-maintained boardwalks and facilities
Morning and afternoon feeding sessions
Good photography opportunities
Educational displays about conservation
Easy access from Sandakan

Photography Tips

A zoom lens in the 100-400mm range works well, although some orangutans may come surprisingly close. Lighting can be challenging under the forest canopy, so be prepared to increase your ISO.

2. Kinabatangan River

Best for: Seeing wild orangutans

If your goal is to see orangutans behaving naturally in the wild, the Kinabatangan River is one of the best places in Sabah.

The river runs through one of the richest wildlife regions in Malaysia, with boat safaris offering opportunities to spot animals along the riverbanks and in the surrounding forest.

Unlike Sepilok, sightings are never guaranteed. Orangutans spend much of their time high in the canopy and can be surprisingly difficult to locate. However, when you do find one, the experience feels much more rewarding.

During my stay on the Kinabatangan River, orangutans were only one part of an incredible wildlife experience. On our very first evening cruise, we encountered a large family of wild Bornean pygmy elephants, including a young calf. That sighting alone would have made the entire trip worthwhile.

Other Wildlife You May See

Proboscis monkeys
Long-tailed macaques
Silver leaf monkeys
Hornbills
Crocodiles
Monitor lizards
Bornean pygmy elephants

Photography Tips

Wildlife often appears without warning, so keep your camera ready at all times. Fast shutter speeds are useful when photographing animals from a moving boat.

Early morning and late afternoon cruises generally offer the best light and wildlife activity.

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3. Danum Valley Conservation Area

Best for: Serious wildlife enthusiasts and photographers

For many wildlife lovers, Danum Valley represents the ultimate Borneo rainforest experience.

This vast protected area contains some of the most pristine lowland rainforest remaining in Southeast Asia. Visitor numbers are limited, accommodation is more expensive than elsewhere in Sabah, and access requires a little more planning.

What you get in return is one of the best wildlife experiences in the region.

Orangutans can often be seen moving through the canopy, and many visitors report more natural encounters here than at more heavily visited locations.

Danum Valley is also one of the few places where there is a realistic chance of seeing some of Borneo’s rarer wildlife.

Species Found in Danum Valley

Orangutans
Gibbons
Red leaf monkeys
Flying squirrels
Civets
Slow lorises
Clouded leopards (very rarely seen)

If wildlife photography is a major reason for your trip, Danum Valley deserves serious consideration.

You may also be interested in: How to Take Better Travel Photos with These 8 Simple Tips

4. Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Best for: Visitors wanting a quieter wildlife experience

Tabin Wildlife Reserve receives far fewer visitors than Sepilok or Kinabatangan but offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

The reserve protects a large area of rainforest and supports healthy populations of orangutans and many other species.

Most visits involve guided walks, wildlife drives, and observation sessions around the reserve.

While it may not be as famous as some of Sabah’s other wildlife destinations, many travellers appreciate the lower visitor numbers and more intimate experience.

5. Tanjung Puting National Park

Best for: Multi-day orangutan adventures

Located in Indonesian Borneo, Tanjung Puting National Park is often considered one of the best places in the world to see orangutans.

Most visitors explore the park aboard traditional river houseboats known as klotoks. These multi-day journeys travel deep into the rainforest, stopping at various feeding stations and conservation areas.

The combination of river travel, rainforest scenery, and regular orangutan encounters has made Tanjung Puting one of Indonesia’s most famous wildlife destinations.

If your primary goal is seeing orangutans and you have the time available, this is one of the strongest options anywhere in Southeast Asia.

Which Location Is Best for You

If You Want Guaranteed Sightings

Choose Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.

If You Want Wild Orangutans

Choose the Kinabatangan River.

If You’re a Wildlife Photographer

Choose Danum Valley.

If You Want a Multi-Day Wildlife Adventure

Choose Tanjung Puting National Park.

If You’re Visiting Sabah for a Week

My recommendation would be to combine Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River. This gives you the best balance between reliable sightings and genuine wild encounters while also providing opportunities to see many other species.

Photography Tips for Orangutans

Photographing orangutans can be challenging, particularly in dense rainforest where light levels are often low.

A few tips that helped me:

Use the longest lens you have available.
Expect to shoot at higher ISO values.
Focus on behaviour rather than just portraits.
Watch for interactions between mothers and young.
Be patient and avoid rushing between sightings.
Keep your camera ready at all times.

Some of my favourite wildlife photographs have come from waiting quietly and observing rather than constantly moving in search of the next subject.

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Responsible Orangutan Tourism

Wherever you choose to see orangutans, it is important to do so responsibly.

Always follow local regulations and guide instructions. Never attempt to feed, touch, or approach wildlife too closely. Human diseases can be transmitted to orangutans, and maintaining a respectful distance helps protect both animals and visitors.

Supporting reputable conservation centres and ethical wildlife operators also helps ensure these incredible primates continue to survive in the wild for future generations.

Final Thoughts

Borneo offers some of the best orangutan viewing opportunities anywhere in the world, but choosing the right location depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for.

If you only have a few days, Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River are hard to beat. Together they provide a combination of reliable sightings, wild encounters, and some of the best wildlife viewing in Southeast Asia.

For photographers and dedicated wildlife enthusiasts, destinations such as Danum Valley and Tanjung Puting take the experience to another level.

Whichever option you choose, seeing an orangutan for the first time is something you’re unlikely to forget.

You may also be interested in: The Ultimate Borneo Wildlife Guide: Where to See Orangutans, Hornbills and More

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Some pictures sourced from Canva