Species profile
The Bornean orangutan
Pongo pygmaeus morio
The Bornean orangutan is why most first-time visitors travel to Sabah. Finding wild apes requires knowing where to look.
Species profile
The Bornean orangutan
The Bornean orangutan is a highly intelligent and primarily arboreal ape. Unlike the highly social monkeys found in Sabah's forests, wild orangutans are naturally dispersed and solitary for much of their lives.
They spend their days high in the canopy. They move methodically through the branches in search of fruit, young leaves and bark, building a fresh sleeping nest every evening.
Where to see them
Danum Valley is the flagship destination for wild encounters. The apes here are resident and seen on most stays. The Kinabatangan River is the other major stronghold.
What changes your chances
Their movements track the fruiting cycles. During the drier months from April to October, they rely heavily on riverine fig trees, making them much easier to locate.
See them on these
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Keep planning
Danum Valley
2.5 hours by road from Lahad Datu, Danum Valley is 438 square kilometres of lowland rainforest that was never logged with three very different places to stay inside it.
Kinabatangan River
The Kinabatangan floodplain holds the highest concentration of wildlife in Borneo. This is where you go to track orangutans and proboscis monkeys from a boat.
Tabin Wildlife Reserve
A 122,500-hectare lowland reserve bordered by oil palm, Tabin is Sabah’s premier destination for night drives. The sharp forest edge concentrates small cats and civets along the boundary roads.
Species profile
Plan your wildlife trip
Tell the team whether you prefer the deep rainforest trails of Danum Valley or the river cruises of the Kinabatangan.