We went to Balikpapan on Borneo for Spring Break. I have always wanted to go to Borneo to see the rainforests and all the flora and fauna that exist there. Indonesia itself has some 28,000 species of plants. The diversity here is amazing.
We only had one full weekend in Balikpapan and we took the kids to the Regency Waterpark that first saturday. The kids and I had to fly out the following saturday. All week I kept debating whether or not I wanted to take the kids to Samboja Ecolodge to see the forest and the Orangutans. I found the information about the lodge online. A friend of mine that knew I was going to Borneo told me that there was an Orangutan sanctuary near Balikpapan. On the thursday before we were to leave Balikpapan, I emailed Samboja Lodge to see if we could come on saturday. I didn't hear back from them before saturday. On saturday morning, DH had the hotel call the lodge to make sure that we could come. They said they were expecting us. I just didn't check my email that morning.
Samboja is a small village about 35 km east of Balikpapan. It was once rain forest, but due to human land uses such as logging, the original forests no longer exist. The are was dominated by secondary regenerating forests and a grass species (Imperata cylindrica). As a result of some severe droughts resulting in destructive fires, the grass species became dominant and an annual burn cycle occurred.
The BOS Foundation bought up barren pieces of land and began a project to re-establish the forests in this area. They also built an ecolodge. The area now looks like a forest. The local people are employed in various projects and are taught the value of the forests and the associated wildlife. It's definitely a worthwhile cause to support because the contribution to view the Samboja Ecolodge.
The cost for visiting Samboja is a "voluntary" contribution of US $50 for adults and US $25 for children. The only day that is set aside for outside visitors is saturday. If you want to go on a different day, you have to make other arrangements and the voluntary contribution increases by US $20.
The kids enjoyed the view from the top of the lodge. We walked around one of the 6 Orangutan Islands. You can only visit the island with the Orangutans that will never be released back into the wild because of illness. Most of the Orangutans on that island have Hep B. You are prohibited from going near the other islands because those Orangutans will eventually be released. You can see the Orangutans on the other islands from the viewing platform at the top of the lodge.
After we visited the Orangutan Island, we were driven to the Sun Bear Exclosure. There was a rickety bridge that was about 10 or 15 feet above the ground with a handle bar running along one side only. The other side was totally open. The kids were allowed to go up the stairs to the bridge but they were not allowed on the bridge. On both sides you can see Sun Bears.
After viewing the bears, we returned to the lodge. We were supposed to watch a video about an Orangutan but the video didn't work. We had lunch at the lodge. Lunch was included as part of the tour package. After lunch the kids and I headed to the airport to catch our flight back to Jakarta. Although it was a rather pricey excursion since we were only able to spend a few hours there, I am so glad that we went. The kids still talk about having seen the Orangutans and going to the rain forest.
We were able to buy some souvenir sun bears at the airport. They had a meager selection of souvenirs at the lodge. The bears had the words Balikpapan city embroidered on their chests. They are very cute and cuddly. The kids love them!
I hope to have the opportunity to see some virgin rain forests while we are in Indonesia. To go to Samboja and to see the re-established forests was still very exciting for me...it's the nerd in me I guess. So, if you happen to be in Balikpapan for whatever reason, you might consider visiting Samboja. The staff at the lodge and our guides were very friendly. After we returned home, I even got a very nice email thanking us for coming and encouraging us to visit again.
