One of the best places in the world to see semi-wild orangutans in their natural rainforest habitat, swinging from trees and scurrying up vines, the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, is home to 25 orangutans who often swing by (literally) park HQ to dine on bananas and coconuts. There’s no guarantee that any orangutans will show up, but even when there are plenty of fruit in the forest the chances are excellent.
Hour-long feedings, in the rainforest a few hundred metres from park HQ, run from 9am to 10am and from 3pm to 4pm. When the feeding session looks like it’s over, rangers sometimes try to shoo away visitors (especially groups, whose guides are in any case eager to get back to Kuching), but orangutans often turn up at park HQ, so don’t rush off straightaway if everything seems quiet.
For safety reasons, visitors are asked to stay at least 5m from the orangutans – the animals can be unpredictable – and are advised to keep a tight grip on their backpacks, water bottles and cameras because orangutans have been known to snatch things in search of something yummy. To avoid annoying – or even angering – the orangutans, do not point at them anything that looks like a gun (such as a walking stick or camera tripod); do not scream or make sudden moves; and, when you take pictures, do not use flash.
Rangers keep an eye out and radio back with news of the approach of Semenggoh's dominant male orangutan Ritchie, who is easily recognised by his cheek flanges. If he decides to stop by, his food must be ready for him when he arrives to avoid provoking his wrath.
Semenggoh Nature Reserve has two trails that pass through primary rainforest: the Masing Trail (Main Trail; red trail markings; 30 minutes), which links the HQ with the highway; and the Brooke’s Pool Trail (yellow and red trail markings), a 2km loop from HQ, but they are not normally open to the public to try and limit the orangutans' contact with humans.
