The best guide of the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Why Semenggoh Wildlife Centre?

Well, what is the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre exactly? Since 1975, it has been a sanctuary for orangutans. The centre is the largest of its kind in Sarawak. It is a safe haven wherein these critically endangered can live. Besides, it is also the place where captive orangutans, who’ve previously lived in captivity, are brought to reintegrate into the wild.

The difference between Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and Semenggoh Nature Reserve

It’s important to understand there is a difference between the wildlife centre and the nature reserve. The former is where you can admire the orangutans, while the latter is the nature reserve made available to them. Be aware that the orangutans live semi-wild, which means by visiting the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre there is no guarantee given in spotting orangutans.

Feeding times at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre: twice a day

There are two feeding moments each day: once in the morning from 09:00 – 10:00 am and again in the afternoon from 03:00 – 04:00 pm. The park is only open during the feeding times, so plan your visit either in the morning or the afternoon. We ourselves visited the park on a Sunday afternoon during the second feeding session.

How to get to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre from Kuching?

Now that you are aware of when you can visit Semenggoh, let us help you with the various ways to reach it. On the day we visited Semenggoh Nature Reserve, we travelled by bus. Another alternative is to use a taxi service.

Travel by bus to reach the Wildlife Centre

Andrea and I took a bus ride to the Wildlife Centre. Ever since we arrived in Malaysia, we have been traveling quite a bit with Grab, so we seized this opportunity to give public transportation a try. The Kuching metro (line 103) initially travels to various stops in the city before proceeding, via the airport, to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

We got on at the Spring Mall stop. However, it was unclear to us when the bus would arrive at our stop. The bus departs at 12:00 pm for the second feeding, but of course, this is at the first stop. The Spring Mall stop is several stops further down the line. After 45 minutes, we were on the verge of giving up when the bus finally arrived. The bus ride was completely free of charge. Moreover, it was spotlessly clean and a smooth ride. While traveling by bus inevitably takes longer than by car, we found it to be a very pleasant experience.

If you want to plan your route to Semenggoh, check here for an overview of the bus table.

Use a taxi service to travel to the Nature Reserve

We did not use a taxi service like Grab or Maxim. However, it is common to use such a service to travel from Kuching to Semenggoh. The trip is approximately 15 km and costs you around RM 20.00 – 25.00. However, make sure to book a return trip, for instance by asking the driver who takes you there, if he/she is willing to pick you up again afterwards. Another option is to book a return trip on the spot. We were also offered a ride back by other nice people who had visited the park.

Entrance fee and tickets to see the orangutans

Thankfully, a visit to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is not expensive. A ticket costs between 10.00 and 5.00 Malaysian Ringgit. Below is a summary of the entrance fees for the Semenggoh Nature Reserve.

*You can find an overview of the actual prices at the official website of the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

Before heading in, you also need to register your presence in the reserve so that the rangers know how many visitors are in the park. So, that they can check at the end of the day if nobody was left at his/her mercy to live with the orangutans.

Walking to the orangutans or going by shuttle bus?

Once the park opens, you have two options: either walk to the feeding platform or take the shuttle bus. The walk is roughly 2 km (a small 30 minutes) and offers you a chance to explore the surrounding nature. The shuttle bus might be a better option if, for example, the weather is exceptionally hot. Although it comes with an extra fee, the good news is that this money is used for the upkeep of the orangutans and their reserve.

Safety first when visiting the orangutans

Upon reaching the feeding station, we were first introduced to the park rules. The ranger communicated two golden rules to us. The first golden rule is to keep quiet. Too much noise can either frighten the orangutans or make them feel threatened. The second golden rule is to maintain a distance of at least 7 meters from the orangutans and 10 meters from the alpha male, Richie. This is essential for two reasons. Firstly, the orangutans can carry diseases that may spread to humans upon contact. Secondly, it is for your safety; we were told that it would take ten individuals to restrain an orangutan if necessary.

After reviewing the safety precautions, we received further information about the reserve’s purpose, its history and other interesting facts. We discovered that the Semenggoh Nature Reserve covers an impressive area of 653 hectares, where the orangutans are free to roam.

Our experience during feeding time: we were fortunate enough to encounter multiple semi-wild orangutans

Not long after explaining the safety rules, the first orangutan was sighted. High in the treetops, we saw none other than Ritchie, the undeniable king of Semenggoh. As he surveyed his domain, he slowly descended to enjoy his meal. We watched in excitement as he munched on his late-lunch. Regrettably, did not see more of these great orangutangs at other feeding areas we checked out. With not much more to see, we slowly walked back to the starting area. But our journey had a twist in store. Word reached us of an orangutan sighting near the shuttle bus parking area and we eagerly rerouted our path.

Despite the blistering heat, we were not the only brave souls who undertook this way back. As it turned out, this decision was beneficial. Within the lush foliage, we were blessed with the sight of not one, but two orangutans – a mother and her young one, high above in the trees, enjoying their fruity feast. As we were memorializing this scene through our cameras, shuttle buses drove by, their drivers unaware of the other orangutans they missed. Ultimately, Lady Luck was on our side, allowing us to see four orangutans, including an adorable baby, during our time in the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

The day spent at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre was very enjoyable

We had a very enjoyable experience at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. However, you may ask yourself is it worth the visit? Well, it all comes down to your love for nature and animals as previous mentioned. If you are a nature enthusiast like us, it is a no-brainer. However, if you believe wildlife should solely be living in the wild, it may not be the best daytrip for you. Nevertheless, if you find yourself in Kuching craving a break from the urban hustle, this place offers a serene escape into nature. So pack your curiosity and let Semenggoh Wildlife Centre weave its magic on you.