Animal & Wildlife in Indonesia

The tropical climate of Indonesia makes it an inviting place for unique wildlife. Perhaps the most well known and beloved is the orangutan, meaning "man of the forest" in Bahasa Indonesia. Make sure you don't miss the opportunity to see these creatures in their native habitat.

All Animal & Wildlife in Indonesia

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What other guests say

4.8

251 reviews

This was an amazing and rewarding adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed. We were incredibly lucky with wildlife sightings — over 40 orangutans, including massive alpha males! Honestly felt like we were on a live David Attenborough episode. Big shoutout to our Seek Sophie guide, Guh, and the boat crew. They were such a huge part of what made the experience special. Super passionate, knowledgeable, and always went the extra mile. The food on the boat was another unexpected win — tasty and varied, especially considering it was all cooked on a tiny houseboat kitchen. And while the setup is definitely basic, sleeping on the boat was surprisingly comfy. Mosquitoes and flies were manageable (though there were quite a few flies during dinner at night which can't be avoided because you're in the wild) Canoeing into the quieter parts of the river was a peaceful highlight, and I’m so glad we ventured deeper into the national park — it felt like we were truly off the beaten path. My personal tip for photographers/videographers: charging ports are limited on the boat, so pack extra battery packs

Paul Pan

Booked: 4D3N Tanjung Puting Slow Cruise with Expert Guides | Time to Observe Wildlife in Natural Habitat

This was a trip of a lifetime, never thought it could be possible to see the sights that I saw all condensed into this trip. I was constantly learning something new! Our guide was amazing, and getting to see wildlife up close, just doing their thing in the wild, was such a highlight. One thing that pleasantly surprised me: we actually managed to avoid the crowds most of the time. We did a 4-day Seek Sophie cruise instead of the usual 3-day one, which gave us the flexibility to start each day 30 minutes to an hour earlier — and that made a huge difference. Everything felt more peaceful and unhurried.

Jon Ho

Booked: 4D3N Tanjung Puting Slow Cruise with Expert Guides | Time to Observe Wildlife in Natural Habitat

When I decided to go on a 4D3N slow boat cruise through Tanjung Puting National Park, I honestly didn’t expect to fall in love with the place. It wasn’t the most comfortable or luxurious trip (we were sweating buckets most of the time, and even a cold towel felt like a five-star treat), but if you love disconnecting and being in nature, this trip is such a treat. And I really appreciated being off-grid - no signal, just the sounds of the jungle and the river! One of the biggest highlights for me was of course the orangutans. My last encounter with them was at the zoo. So to see them in the wild, where they truly belong, was surreal. You’re not guaranteed to see one of the dominant males, but when I saw King Roger calm, powerful, and completely at home in the trees — I was like… daaaamn. What a privilege it is to see him in his natural habitat. Honestly, the more time I spent in the park, the more I was reminded of how important it is to be mindful about the companies and organisations we support when it comes to eco-tourism. Coexisting means learning to respect space, set boundaries, and accept that animals deserve a home just like we do. And big shout out to the boat crew! Always making sure we were well-fed, and pampering us with little touches like cold wet towels and a bottle of Coke after our wildlife walks (which were very well needed and appreciated). It's those thoughtful details that really made the experience extra comfortable.

Erfy Arriany

Booked: 4D3N Tanjung Puting Slow Cruise with Expert Guides | Time to Observe Wildlife in Natural Habitat

I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this trip as much as I did, especially since it’s not usually the kind of adventure I’d go for, but I wanted to try something different. And it turned out to be such a great experience! My favourite parts were definitely the peaceful river cruises and just chilling on the boat. Tree planting was also a meaningful highlight - we even got to personalise and name our own tree, which was a nice touch. And of course, seeing wild orangutans and monkeys up close was super cool. You really feel like you're in their world. Sleeping on the boat was actually way better than I expected. It was cool at night, the mosquito nets worked well, and I managed to get good rest. I was pleasantly surprised food-wise. The meals were tasty and filling for a houseboat. Also, I usually get motion sickness pretty easily, but the boat was stable and moved slowly along the river, so it was very manageable. Our Seek Sophie guide was fantastic too — knowledgeable, friendly, and made the trip smooth from start to end. If you’re thinking of going, just be prepared that it’s a bit of a “roughing it out” kind of experience. No signal, cold water for showers, limited power for charging. Would also recommend bringing a small fan for the hikes. But if you're up for an adventure, it's well worth it. Definitely recommend!

Yun Hua

Booked: 4D3N Tanjung Puting Slow Cruise with Expert Guides | Time to Observe Wildlife in Natural Habitat

One of the best wildlife/nature trips I've done in Southeast Asia!! 12/10 experience. We went during end May and saw 40 orangutans in 4 days! As well as so much other wildlife like rare birds, proboscis monkeys, macaques. Our Seek Sophie guide Guh was the BEST - he was so knowledgable and could answer any questions that we threw at him, and of course, was so good at spotting wildlife. We learnt so many things during these 4 days - like how orangutans are actually solitary creatures, and have a complex social hierarchy. It was sooo interesting (and sometimes funny) to see it all play out - like watching a Nat Geo documentary live! Because we did a 4 day Seek Sophie slowboat instead of the usual 3 days, we were able to go to the feeding stations earlier (to get a good spot) and leave later (to have higher chances of spotting more wildlife). And we got super lucky on our last day - we spotted a huge male orangutan up in the trees while still on the boat! It was extra special because unlike the feeding platforms, sightings like this when you're on the boat are way less guaranteed. Besides spotting a ton of wildlife, we really enjoyed chilling on the boat. No motion sickness because the boat moves really slowly! And because there's no signal, it was a good time to disconnect and just enjoy nature. The boat is not fancy by any means, but it was decently comfortable. The toilet even had a rain shower. Food was also yummy. And the boat crew took the best care of us! Other things that we got to do like tree planting and canoeing down the river in a sampan (small wooden boat) was very peaceful. Appreciated that the tree planting here is legit and not greenwashing - they plant native trees to restore the orangutans' habitat and saw 8 orangutans come to feed in this area! Loved that this whole trip was done super ethically - no touching, feeding or getting close to orangutans. Just observing them in their natural habitat. And we learnt so much about the conservation efforts too. Pro-tip: the sun and mosquitos are relentless so make sure to cover up. I personally wore a sleeveless sports crop top + layered with a thin breathable long sleeve + covered pants + socks + shoes + wide bucket hat + polarised sunglasses.

Jialin

Booked: 4D3N Tanjung Puting Slow Cruise with Expert Guides | Time to Observe Wildlife in Natural Habitat

The trip was great, we spent 4d3n on the river and it was a wonderful adventure from beginning to end. The crew took care of us very well and our guide was fantastic telling us local stories and searching for wildlife as we went down the river. We saw so many wild animals, from wild orangutang and monkeys to kingfishers and hornbills; the landscape was so pristine. It felt like going back in time and discovering a untouched piece of the jungle as we slowly made our way up and down the river. We had the entire deck to ourselves to just lounge as the boat slowly chugged along.

Dex Zhao

Booked: 4D3N Tanjung Puting Slow Cruise with Expert Guides | Time to Observe Wildlife in Natural Habitat

This was such an authentic experience. Perfect for, as our guide called it, the ‘deeper tourists’. If you want to learn something really personal about Balinese traditional ways (farming, housing, and gastronomic) you won’t be disappointed. The guides are super insightful, open to any questions, and super kind hearted. We got to share a tasty meal between a great, like-minded group, we visited a real Balinese family house and then went to the rice fields at night to see the fireflies. There were so many!

Daniel and Filipa

Booked: Rice Paddies & Fireflies: A Magical Evening in Balinese Village Life

We booked a 3 days 2 nights tour and it was great. Booking with Yommie was easy, and we got all that we were promised. We had a wooden boat, a captain, a cook and a guide. Everyone was very friendly, the food was truly delicious and waaaaay to much for us two girls :) the tour also included pick up from the airport. We departed on day one in the morning around 11 and visited the first feeding point the same day. It is quite an experience to see the Orangutans climbe their way through the forrest, really impressive! Later in the night we had a jungle night walk which was very interesting too! The guide spotted all kind of insects and even got a tarantula out of its nest (that was kind of crazy :D ). A mosquito net is included, just bring repellent for the day. The second day we visited two feeding points and were not disappointed since more Orangutans came around. In the evening we parked the boat near a sea of fireflies, nice to watch. The third day we got back in the morning and since our flight was in the afternoon, Yommie showed us around little bit. He introduced us to a friend and we accompanied him to nearby forrest fires since he took some pictures with a drone to estimate the damage done by the fires. It was all a very interesting experience especially with all the background information how the wildlife and especially the orangutans in Borneo are threatened by companies (palm trees,mining, etc). If you are in Indonesia and want to see Orangutans, this is money well spent!

Paulina

Booked: 5D4N Hidden Dayak Village Trek and Orangutan Houseboat Safari

Animal & Wildlife in Indonesia FAQs

What are some of the rarest animals in Indonesia?

Indonesia is home to many rare and unique animals, including the Javan rhinoceros, Sumatran tiger, and orangutan. Other rare species include the Bali myna, Javan gibbons, and the Komodo dragon.

What are the popular national parks in Indonesia for wildlife viewing?

Indonesia has many national parks that are popular for wildlife viewing. Some of the most popular ones include Gunung Leuser National Park, Komodo National Park, and Ujung Kulon National Park. These parks offer a chance to see a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitats, including tigers, elephants, rhinos, and many bird species.

Are there any conservation efforts to protect the wildlife in Indonesia?

Yes, there are many conservation efforts underway in Indonesia to protect the wildlife. Some of the most notable ones include the Sumatran Tiger Conservation Programme, Orangutan Foundation International, and the Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation. These organizations work to protect and preserve the unique wildlife in Indonesia through research, education, and habitat restoration.

What is the most iconic animal of Indonesia?

The Komodo dragon is perhaps the most iconic animal of Indonesia. This species of lizard can grow up to 3 meters in length and is only found on a few islands in Indonesia. Its unique appearance and size make it a popular attraction for tourists, and efforts are underway to protect the species.

What is the importance of wildlife in Indonesia's ecosystem?

The wildlife in Indonesia plays a vital role in the country's ecosystem. Many of the plants and animals found in Indonesia are endemic, meaning they are only found in that area. Some of these species play crucial roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and population control. Protecting the wildlife in Indonesia is essential for maintaining a healthy and thriving ecosystem.

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