Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

The Entrance of Pusat Hidupan Liar Semenggoh Wildlife Centre Sarawak

If you're stationed in Kuching and wish to do more than shopping, then there are quite a number of interesting day trips to take. One of them is the Semengoh Wildlife Rehab Centre, where travellers would normally go to, for a glimpse of Orang Utans in their natural surroundings. The word 'rehab' is a little misleading - sounds like an institution for drug or alcohol dependent inmates. This could be true for certain captive pets for example, I once had the 'privilege' to meet a berok (macaque) who was completely addicted to cigarettes. His master would reward him with a cigarette after a day's work plucking coconuts at the plantation and once there was a white cockatoo that had to have his coffee in the morning to get rid of his morning blues. Imagine! Pets are just as prone to addiction as we are.

Semengoh Rehab Centre is a sanctuary. a place where orphaned or illegally incapacitated animals like the orang utan, sun bears, gibbons, even hornbills are brought to once having been confiscated from their owners/ customs or brought in by members of the public and rangers.

The bus 

So how do I get there?

If from Kuching city, it's a 45min drive south to the centre. You can either take the STC (Sarawak Transport Company) bus No 6, 6A, 6B, or 6C from opposite the Public Bank in town, on Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg. That costs about RM2 per person per way. Tell the bus driver you wish to be dropped off at the Semengoh Rehab Centre and the bus will stop you at the gates. Give yourself another 30minutes for the stroll from the gates to the centre. 

If you're short of time, try to flag down a white mini van, sometimes, if they have no passengers, the driver may be obliged to take you to the centre for only RM4 per person per way. But then, you may have to negotiate the price with them and make sure they agree to it before hopping into the van. The plus side to the van is that they can drive all the way into the centre's parking area which saves you the time for the 30min walk to the centre from the gates. And if you want them to wait for you, just let them know but pay for the returning trip only when you leave the centre. 

If you don't mind forking out some money for a taxi, it's about RM30 per way per taxi. 

Once you get to the gates, you will be required to purchase an entry permit for RM3 per person.

And what is there to do at the Centre? 

Orang Utan chilling like a boss

For those wanting to see the orang utans, it is best to be at the centre by 8.30am or 3.00pm daily. These are the feeding times. 

Before heading off to see the orang utans, a ranger will brief visitors on the orang utans, a short note on what to do and what not to do and then it's off to the feeding area. 

A feeding platform is located off the path some 10minutes walk into the jungle. This is where semi-wild orang utans are fed twice daily with a healthy mix of fruits, vitamins, bottles of milk with mixed boiled beans /sugar cane/sunflower seeds and fresh young coconuts. The ranger lays a buffet spread on the feeding platform and once that's done, he normally calls out to the orang utans by their names. Visitors are requested to keep as quiet as possible. In a few minutes or so, a rustling in the trees from the far distance, high up in the treetops signals the arrival of these great beings.

Young Orang Utan climb to find their partner

Periuk Kera or " Nepenthes Phyllamphora"

The orang utan swinging from tree to tree is not as you'd imagine Tarzan would do - swinging from vine to vine. These majestic beings move slowly but steadily, lending their weight to bend the pole-like tree, connecting it to the next tree, crossing the treetop highway with ease. It approaches the platform, climbs down the thick ropes and scours the buffet table where it leisurely picks up its favourite food. A ranger maintains his distance although occasionally passing the orang utan a bottle of milk and its vitamins to make sure that it goes away with a balanced diet. Don't be too disappointed though if you do not get to see the orang utans. These are semi-wild ones. They are in the process of being reintroduced into their natural habitat and as is, the rangers prefer that they come and go when they wish to. There are in fact a few who have been completely rehabilitated and do not return to the centre for their daily feed unless during months when the jungle fruits are scarce. However, there are several too who have become so used to human interaction that they simply cannot be returned to the jungle. These are especially so for ones that have been brought up by humans from young. A number of the fully rehabilitated orang utans have been repatriated to the Matang Wildlife Centre, adjacent to the Kubah National Park . Its eventual release to the adjacent jungle would allow them a larger roaming area.

  

Feeding times:
8.30am - 9.00am	3.00pm - 3.30pm

Kuching & Surrounding Day Tours ~ Sarawak, Borneo

Half Day Tours (ex- Kuching)

Tours	Hrs	Daily Departure		Min adult	Include	Rate
		AM	PM			Adult (RM)	Child (RM)
Kuching City Tour	3	9.00	2.00	2	Transport, driver/ guide, entrance fees	70	35
Semenggoh Orang Utan Wildlife Centre	3	8.15	2.00	2		85	43
Crocodile Farm & Mini Zoo Tour	4	9.00	2.00	2		90	45
Fairy & Wind Caves Tour	4	9.00	2.00	2		105	50
Sarawak Cultural Village + Cultural Show	4	8.30	2.00	2		120	60
Annah Rais Bidayuh Longhouse	4	8.00	1.30	2		110	55
Semenggoh Orang Utan & Crocodile Farm	4	8.15	2.00	2		130	65
Crocodile Farm & Annah Rais Longhouse	5	9.00	2.00	2		130	65
Semenggoh Orang Utan & Annah Rais Longhouse	5	8.15	2.00	2		135	68
Matang Wildlife Centre	4	9.00	2.00	2		100	50
Serikin Border Trading & Fairy Cave	5	8.00	1.00	2		145	73
Santubong Wildlife Cruise	4	-	4.30	2		300	150
Mangrove & Irrawaddy Dolphin Watch	4	8.30	-	2	Transport, driver /guide, entrance fees	280	140

Full Day Tours (ex- Kuching)

Tours	Hrs	Daily Departure		Min adult	Include	Rate
		AM	PM			Adult (RM)	Child (RM)
Kuching City (South & North) Tour	7	9.00	-	2	Transport, driver / guide, entrance fees & lunch	110	55
Kuching City & Sarawak Cultural Village	7	9.00	-	2		160	80
Semenggoh Orang Utan, Annah Rais Longhouse & Crocodile Farm	8	8.15	-	2		185	93
Annah Rais Bidayuh Longhouse & Semenggoh Orang Utan	7	9.00	-	2		175	88
Semenggoh Orang Utan, Crocodile Farm & Fairy Cave	8	8.15	-	2		205	105
Semenggoh Orang Utan, Annah Rais Longhouse & Fairy Cave	8	8.15	-	2		205	105
Bako National Park – Proboscis Monkey	7	8.30	-	2		200	100
Gading National Park – Rafflesia Flower	6	9.00	-	2		200	100
Gading National Park & Fairy Cave	7	8.30	-	2		225	115
Lemanak Iban Longhouse	12	7.00	-	2		335	170
Kubah National Park	7	8.30	-	2		240	120
Borneo Highland Day Trip	6	9.00	-	2		290	175
Sarawak Cultural Village & Semenggoh Orang Utan	7	8.30	-	2		195	98
Tanjung Datu National Park	7	8.30	-	2		600	300
Satang Island Day Trip	7	8.30	-	2		340	170
Kuching Caving (On booking)	8	9.00	-	2	meal; transport; guide	from 199	-
Kayak in Kuching (On booking)	6	8.30	-	2	transport, kayak, oars and life jackets mineral water	188	188
Borneo Highlands Kayaking and Semengoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Adventure Trip (On booking)	6	8.00	-	2	transport , kayak, oars and life jackets, mineral water, lunch	218	218
The Tringgus Trail (4WD Adventure) (On booking)	7	8.00	-	2	transport; mineral water	260	260
The Bau Gold Mining History Trail (On booking)	7	8.00	-	2	transport; lunch; Water; Souvenir photo	350	350

More Info:
www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-nr-semenggoh.html
http://www.wonderfulmalaysia.com/sarawak-borneo-attractions-semenggoh-wildlife-centre.htm

Some of the other species of Orang Utan that can be found in Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

The amazing crocodile