Orang Utan Island

Orang Utan Island sits in the middle of Bukit Merah, about 40 km from Kurau Inn, and it is one of the more memorable day trips from here.

What it is

A 35-acre sanctuary, opened in 2000, dedicated to rehabilitating and conserving the Bornean orangutan. It has grown from a refuge into an ex-situ conservation centre known well beyond Malaysia.

Getting there

The island is reached by a 15-minute boat ride from Bukit Merah Laketown Resort. The jetty crossing is part of the pleasure of it.

The visit

A guide takes you along a covered steel walkway that runs through the forest, which puts you close to the orangutans while leaving them their space. Tours run between 45 minutes and an hour and a half, and the staff know the individual animals and their histories.

The infant care unit is usually the part people remember. You can watch the young orangutans play, and at feeding time you can help.

Worth setting aside most of a day for.