11 independent reviews for Orangutan photography in Borneo
Reviews for Orangutan photography in Borneo
Judy Parker review 30 Nov 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most memorable part was hearing the trees snap and bend, looking up and seeing orangutans coming through.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for the heat and the humidity.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I understand that a decent sum of money was donated to the orangutan conservation groups. I also believe that the use of the boat reduced our environmental impact.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was an amazing holiday. We spent all of our days on the boat, stopping at various feeding stations and other places of interest. The crew on the boat were wonderful, so helpful and brilliant at spotting wild life as we drifted down the river. Although the whole point was to see orangutans, we also saw many proboscis monkeys and macaques, as well as crocs, insects, and so many wonderful birds. Ian was very good at helping us to achieve the best shots with our cameras. This is a trip not to be missed.Read the operator's response here:
Thanks so much Judy for being part of such a great trip; thoroughly enjoyed your company. Yes we donated £2500 from this trip to The Orangutan Foundation and the Big Give then doubled this amount so a very successful week.
Jennifer Maloney review 24 Nov 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the Orangutans (of course!), plethora of bird species and even a clouded leopard in the wild! I do believe we saw an amazing amount of wildlife and had good guides to try and help spot!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Borneo is very hot and humid so just be prepared and drink plenty of water. Expect to be comfortable with basic needs at the lodge, however do not expect luxury. Everyone we encountered on the trip was so nice and accommodating. Pack light as there is great laundry service available and try to support the local economy as much as possible.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, I definitely felt we helped to support the local people. I'm happy that the orangutan tourism and conservation efforts to restore rainforests give the local villagers options besides working in the palm oil industry. Seeing the firsthand efforts to replant destroyed portions of rain forest (and planting a tree myself!) was a wonderful experience.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would go again, 5 starsRead the operator's response here:
Thanks so much Jennifer for being such a positive part of this trip. Together we raised £2500 from this trip which has been donated to the Orangutan Foundation's current appeal to protect forests by empowering the local community and then the Big Give doubled this donation.
Clive Davies review 25 Nov 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Every day seemed to have its own standout highlight, from the initial speedboat ride into the jungle, the first encounter with the Orangutans, the amazing colours of the Kingfishers, the big male Orangutan strutting his stuff a few feet from us, wonderful food on the boat, the coffee (its an experience all of its own), evenings spent chatting surrounded by the jungle noises, our terrible song to the local village kids, but for me the most memorable was the Proboscis monkeys doing Tom Daley drives into the river.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It's a rain forest - it does rain occasionally and when it does, it really does! A simple rain poncho is probably a better option than the expensive rain jacket I took - you can get your camera under that was well if needed. Also DEET works !3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely, to begin with as part of this holiday a donation is included to the Orangutan Foundation of about $500 each. There is a clear desire by Ian to not only support the Foundation but minimise the environmental impact of our visit, and support the local populations, for example avoiding single use plastic, and sourcing locally as far as possible. Most of the those employed by the River Lodge and the boat were from the local village and as part of the trip we were able to visit the local village and encouraged to donate a few small gifts to the school children.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Absolutely Loved it! I have been lucky enough to visit a number of rain forests and this combination of slow boat travel and short walks to the feeding stations seems by far the best way of seeing wildlife. Much of the action is generally up in the canopy but here the river is a draw for the animals and the boat a perfect platform for viewing. In addition you have wonderful company and Ian has clearly been doing these trips for a long time and they have been refined to perfection.Elizabeth Chang review 26 Nov 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Never expected my first close encounter with Orangutans to be THAT close! For a novice 'photographer' that's a bonus.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
None really. As the headline suggests - would take a relatively good camera.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, enjoyed the village visit. Yes, bring a refill-able bottle - good idea. Yes, really loved the plant a tree hour (quite emotional).4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good. Particularly liked the small group and having a host who has so much experience and attachment to the local community and conservation activities is always an advantage. Being centre based means not having to pack and unpack.Read the operator's response here:
Thanks for your lovely feedback Elizabeth ...
along with planting your tree we also donated
£350 each from every person on this trip
which went towards the massive tree planting
project in Lsmandau so you also contributed
to the planting of many hundreds of other
trees there too.
Jane Savage review 6 Dec 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were many but to narrow down my top 3. The mother and baby at the feeding station that had 4 of us females in tears when she left as it was just one of those amazing magical moments. My nicknamed Missy Attitude teenage female who blocked us from walking down the path but gave us an amazing show and stole a little piece of my heart and finally the troop of Probiscus monkeys diving (well belly flopping) into the river and swimming across. Just got to love nature.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It is very very humid so definitely no cotton. Take quick dry T-shirt’s and long sleeves for the rainforest walks and mozzie time! I took a pack of micro fibre cloths - brilliant for wiping sweat (sorry!). Play with your camera before!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes definitely. Donations to the Orangutan foundation, planted a tree, visited a school with useful gifts and filled water into our own drink containers so no plastic bottles.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A fantastic trip with like minded people, great playing with the camera daily - Had good tuition from Ian when asked and everyone shared tips too. Learnt more tips of the trade! Food at the lodge and on the boat was superb and the boat crew, guide and cook were brilliant! Throw in unbelievable wildlife daily and the magic of Orangutans - how could you go wrong!!Maggie Jefferies review 4 Dec 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It’s difficult to pinpoint just one highlight of this wonderful trip. Seeing nature at its finest is always such a privilege, but those wonderful Orangutans stole my heart.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Try and get to know your camera well and everything will make sense under Ian’s expert tuition. Also plenty of mossie spray!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I was delighted to make a donation to the Orangutan Foundation (included in the cost of the trip) give the local school children useful gifts, plant a tree in a conservation area and the fact that we all refilled our own water bottle must have saved a considerable amount of plastic.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Time spent together with likeminded people who have a combined love of wildlife and photography resulted in a week of many memorable moments and fun. Ian was always there to give as much photographic support as we needed, from those of us just at the beginning of our photography journey to the more advanced.Charlie Davidson review 20 Nov 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Watching the Orangutans in the wild.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
do not think about it, get it booked its an amazing experience!!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes definitely4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic, an amazing experienceNikki Biggs review 3 Nov 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We had the privilege of seeing orang-utans, and a whole host of other wildlife, up close and personal on a daily basis. A wealth of magical moments that I shall treasure forever! There were only 7 of us on the trip, so we got the chance to get to know each other really quickly, so it more like you were sharing the experience with friends after a few days together which added to the experience!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Get the camera out and start practising for a few weeks before the trip so you're ready to go! Check out Ian's website for some inspiration and to get even more excited about what you're going to see! Pack lots of long sleeved tops (the mosis are a little bothersome!)3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely! There was a significant donation from the cost of the trip, given to The Orang-utan Foundation and we had the pleasure of visiting some of the sites of the foundation to see first hand what an incredible job they are doing. Ian is also clearly incredibly passionate about wildlife and conservation and endeavours to support it with his trips whenever possible. My only worry was that we were only drinking from plastic water bottles the whole time and I am doubtful that this plastic would have been recycled.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An absolutely magical experience. A full immersion into the Bornean wilderness, it's wildlife, beautiful scenery and an introduction to a really incredible wildlife photographer! Thank you!Read the operator's response here:
Thanks for your lovely feedback Nikki. Totally agree with your comment about plastic drinking bottles ! We've been looking into the solution to get people to bring their own re-usable drinking bottles which they can then fill up as and when needed from a large mineral water deposit.
Henriette Hradocka review 17 Nov 2015
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
My ambition was to see both orangutans and proboscis monkeys and this trip fulfilled this every day and more with such close and intimate sightings. A real highlight was watching the interaction between orangutans at Camp Leakey one day. But we saw so much other wildlife too including macaques, gibbons, hornbills and crocodiles. I also very much enjoyed our visit to the village and the interaction with the local children. On a personal level I also learnt a lot about photography which Ian always explained in a fun and easy to understand way.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
To just travel with an open mind and heart.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, yes and yes. And in many ways too. As part of this holiday we all made a donation to the Orangutan Foundation of about $500 each so together we really helped to raise some money for this cause. Ian gave a moving presentation one evening about the plight of orangutans and the hopes and fears for their future. All the local people employed such as boat crew and guides were from the local village. As part of the pre-trip information Ian asked us all to bring items that the village needed too. So we all arrived there with things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, books and toys for the children. To see the happinness in the children faces was unforgetteble and uplifting.Ian’s friendship with the local people really makes this trip extra special.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall just absolutely amazing. As a nature lover, traveler and with an interest in knowing new cultures and interacting with local people I really appreciated the program of the trip. As a beginner in photography I really appreciated the patient and willing attitude that Ian had on this tour. It was for me an incredible experience and new knowledge in every aspect despite the difficult situation we faced at the end of our trip from the fires and smoke in Borneo. In such a situation, it is crucial to have an experienced guide with good contacts with local people especially who speaks the local language which Ian does. When we arrived at the airport to take our flights back to Jakarta it was closed due to the level of smoke from the forest fire. Ian was able to present to our group and to realise possible solutions for safe and quick return to Europe. Thanks to his professional approach and personal engagement he handled this situation with compassion and humour. We all felt safe and returned back to Europe enriched by this adventure. I cannot praise Ian enough and will be booking future tours with him. Thanks !Greg Morrison review 11 Nov 2015
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Nothing holiday totally disappointing and expensive a total waste of time ,effort and money. Due to the forest fires I personally arrived back to the UK four days late. As a result of the forest fires being known about and the degree of smoke prior to the start of the holiday, the holiday should have been cancelled, and with being known , this is outwith the terms of force majeure or act of god on you policy guidelines as this would have been preventable if the holiday was cancelled2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't if lead by Mr Iain Wood3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes this would have benefitted the local people. Rimba Lodge from what we could see because of the smoke was good, I could not fault the staff at the lodge in any way. Rooms very clean even though they were a bit basic, staff excellent and very friendly and helpful.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Total disaster, holiday should have been cancelled due to the level of smoke from the forest fires tour guide knew about this before the party left their homes to go on this tour, in my opinion this breaches health and safety as the tour guide has a duty of care to his clients supplying industrial face masks against the smoke does not constitute duty of care. There was supposed to be tuition on the best way to take photographs on this holiday( there was no tuition given).Tour leader. also failed to see his clients back to Jakarta, he left with his son to go diving on another part of Borneo thereby not fulfilling his contract with the clients. In all this holiday which was supposed to be a memorable and enjoyable tour reduced to a five day very expensive and dissapointing holiday .This review has been submitted after discussion and agreement with the majority of the party who were on this holiday. With reference to your star rating wich does not go low enough for this holiday, the star rating needs to go into the minus range, TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLERead the operator's response here:
I'm so sorry if Greg genuinely felt like this. He gave me no indication throughout the trip of his feelings so I'm afraid to say that I have found this review very odd. Where to start in a reply !? Let's focus on a couple of hard facts that might put his comments in some sort of perspective. For example number 3 ) Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation? Greg knows that one of the main purposes of these trips is to raise money directly for orangutan conservation. He is fully aware that he donated £350 directly to the Orangutan Foundation which I have then doubled using the Big Give project. I gave a presentation to the group on our last night thanking them for their donations and showed them some photos showing exactly how their money has helped orangutan conservation.
Over the the ten years that I've been running these trips I've raised tens and tens of thousands of pounds towards protecting these forests. This money has all been donated to the Orangutan Foundation whose work ticks all the boxes in conservation. Ie very few overheads with nearly all of the money going directly to projects in Borneo which empower the local people to protect, what is after all their land. The director of the Orangutan Foundation is Mrs Ashley Leiman (OBE) and she can be contacted directly here to verify this: ashley@orangutan.org.uk
Also as part of this trip people get full pre-trip information where they are encouraged to bring a selection of gifts that the local village need. These include items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, books, pens, pencils and clothes. Everyone on this trip brought such items and were really touched (apart from Greg !?) when we went to the village and were welcomed by the head along with all of the children. So I guess my question to Greg is why have you not mentioned any of this as a response to this question ... very very bizarre !?
Greg also states that the other people on this trip felt the same as him. I think all I need to say on this subject is to refer Greg to another review here from someone else on this trip. My website has a review section for each trip that I run and you'll also find unedited reviews from scores of people who have traveled with me.
I'm genuinely moved by how many of these have become close friends over the years and how many people come on future trips with me to many parts of the world. Right at the end of this trip we were affected by the fires that have been so tragic in many parts of Indonesia this year. We lost 1 day at the end of the trip and were then held up in Borneo as the airport was closed. Other people on the trip have personally thanked me for how I dealt with this situation. Again I'd refer you to another review on this site from someone on the same trip.
Celia Allen review 16 Oct 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The first sighting of the great male orang-utan swinging through the trees and then the look in his eyes as he eyeballed anyone who looked at him, his hands and the strength in his arms -- completely awesome. By contrast a little later observing the tenderness and care shown by the mother to her tiny baby who doesn't leave her side until he is seven years old.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a good camera and watch every movement you can --- unless you are very fortunate this is a one off opportunity. Don't miss all the other wildlife that abounds in the jungle. Watch out for crocodiles and don't go swimming!!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Very much so. They are very aware that tourism is important and realise that they have to protect the environment that the great apes live in. It was good to know that we contributed to the orang-utan foundation4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A very educational trip from learning more about photographing wildlife to the environment that they inhabit.Holiday Reviews
You can trust Responsible Travel reviews because, unlike many other schemes, reviews can ONLY be written by people who we have verified have been on the holidays. In addition, we don't run these holidays ourselves - our only interest is giving you the best independent advice.
