There is a special feeling that invokes Borneo. There's really no other experience that approximates the cruise on a quiet river in Central Kalimantan surrounded by lush tropical jungle and watching the rehabilitated orangutans frolicking in nature reserves.
Inspired by the virtually untapped tourism potential of Central Kalimantan, two British ladies, Gaye Thavisin and Lorna Dowson-Collins, converted traditional Kalimantan boat known as a rangkan in the boat comfortable cruise, we now know that the Rahai'i Pangun. Their company provided the first jungle cruise the Rangoon river in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan.
Ecotourism is at the heart of Kalimantan Tourist destinations. This social enterprise is a way to protect the environment and the creation of alternative livelihoods in the region. With this river cruise, they are able to demonstrate that business can be a way to support the development problems by showing there is a different value for the forest, while supporting the locals.
Our journey aboard Rahai i Pangun started at 08:30 when we were taken to our local hotel in Palangkaraya brought by car to the river port. Here you can see how the river is a source of life for so many lives along the river bed; motor boats through from top to bottom of its waters, the locals fish, swim and find their livelihoods here.
Stepping aboard Rahai'i Pangun, you feel instantly rejuvenated. It is a floating wonder with five bedrooms, an outdoor dining area and a lounge with a large observation deck. All rooms are air conditioned with bathroom, and although not five star luxury, the rooms are very comfortable.
The ship left the port at 9am and we started the cruise upstream on the Rangoon River. The first half hour and we passed through villages and fishing boats with friendly people waving to us. Then the forest engulfs us and after a few hours we reached the island of Kaja, a sanctuary of 25 hectares where the rehabilitated orangutans live, still fed by the guards who watch over them on the opposite side of the river. The views of three fur, oranges friends hanging in the trees was breathtaking - but there were many more meetings orangutan to follow over the next two days
As have continued upstream, the sites and sounds. rich fauna of the forest, with hornbills flying above, was a sensory delight.
But every now and then we would spend an illegal gold miner, working on gold-mobile screening units along the river, expelling smoke and loud noise of their engines. Our guide told us the water of the river is brown because of these illegal miners, stirring silt along the river. "I'll take you where the river is tomorrow black - which is the actual color of the river," he said
A delicious lunch was served on the boat before we stopped at Kanarakan -. Dayak traditional village. The children welcomed us with curiosity and we were given a traditional Dayak welcome ritual to cleanse our minds, ensuring that no harm will not come to us when we visited their village. I have to admit, I fell in love with the children, and walked through the village with a string of girls holding my hands over the length of the tour.
Sampling betel in Kanarakan Village
guest in one of the houses of the villagers to enjoy the local coffee, it was clear that this social enterprise provides local first and foremost. After each visit, the local representative is given received, the winner and a livelihood to welcome and entertain tourists. Ecotourism at its best.
One of the highlights of visiting this village was sampled betel nut, equivalent to the area to coca leaves in South America. The taste is bitter and bad, but suddenly you get rivals that of coffee. It is no wonder villagers chew the nut throughout the day, causing the gums and blackened teeth.
After some very insightful hours spent in the village, we returned to the boat and a delicious dinner was served, we continued upstream. The food is on board definitely a highlight of the weekend - fresh and locally sourced, with the ability to respond to different dietary needs
The next morning, we left on smaller boats 7am on an island surrounded by black water. . Cruising through thick, dense jungle on either side, we felt reassured that there was still hope in the world. With these canoe-like boats, we were able to get much closer orangutans on the island of Kaja, this time spotting seven in total; relaxation, grooming and playing with each other, quite unconscious of our curious eyes.
After lunch, return to the Rahai'i Pangun, we fell into a sweet nap on the deck on the comfortable sofas to the sound of the gentle breeze blowing through the leaves of the jungle. Feeling rejuvenated, we hopped on another, larger boat with a canopy and cushions - any initiative "villagers. - At Bapalas island, another reserve, where 10 orangutans were suspended on
Bapalas Island is a 14- hectare national park is home to about 25 rehabilitated orangutans. one in particular caught my attention, whose name is Kesi. She was missing a hand. It turns out she was rescued from a planting palm oil, where the director of the planting his mutilated.
the Rahai'i Pangun
50 percent of the orangutans saved in the region are on the palm oil plantations, lost when demand in these areas as they continue to encroach on natural habitats of the orangutan. plantation workers are often afraid of the creatures that they consider harmful and order their staff to kill on sight.
Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS) work hard in the area to rescue and rehabilitate these beautiful animals. Their sanctuary in Palangkaraya has a capacity of 500, currently over capacity with 0. The rehabilitated orangutans live on or Bapalas Kaja island until they are ready to be taken individually by helicopter to Bukit Petikap in North Kalimantan , a region where the ancient forest is still intact and they will hopefully find a home forever
seeing these magnificent animals in the wild, although rehabilitated and protected by guards, is both a show full of hope and with a poignant reminder -. our ongoing development threatens their survival. Participation in a sustainable social and environmental business as tourist destination Kalimantan is a responsible way to see the orangutans up close, while giving the population and ensure the traditional crops in the region are preserved for generations to follow .
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In short
Country: Indonesia
province central Kalimantan
Capital: Palangkaraya
population 2,368,654 (2014)
House 153,564.5 km 2
Directions: daily flights Garuda Indonesia Palangkaraya. To catch the river cruise with Kalimantan Tourism Destinations, you can fly in on a Friday night or take the first flight with Garuda on Saturday morning, which takes you in at 7:30
What to bring: long pants, jumper, sun block, hat, insect repellent, camera, a good book
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