Getting in Touch with Nature: Semenggoh Wildlife Centre & Semadang Kayaking

If Day 1 in Kuching, Sarawak was some sort of a walk down the memory lane, Day 2 presented totally a new experience to me. We went to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, about 40 minutes’ drive out of Kuching, to see some orang-utans. This Wildlife Centre is one of the top things to do if you’re in Kuching. It's something I didn’t manage to do the last time I was in town, so I was really looking forward to it.

The second activity for the day was to go kayaking somewhere. Incidentally the last time I went kayaking it was during another #TSDayOut Special Edition with Tourism Selangor, although at the time, it was in Krabi, Thailand. There wasn’t much information shared initially about the kayaking activity - not that I needed to know anything, but I guess I was just happy going with the flow, heh!

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

We arrived at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre at around 8.45 a.m., just in time for the breakfast feeding time of the orang-utans. Orang-utans at the Wildlife Centre are semi-wild. They live and roam freely in the compound of the centre and would only come over at feeding times (twice daily at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., each lasts for about an hour) if they are hungry and haven’t managed to find food on their own. That’s why despite the centre having a few orang-utans in their compound, they do not guarantee that visitors would be able to see any of these orang-utans, because on some days, they are pretty much self-sufficient.

After a brief introduction by a guide, on what to do and what not to do, we did a short trekking into the jungle to the feeding area.

Hello! Is it me you're looking for? Err... no, sorry. Oh well, okay, I'll take a photo!

There’s a viewing platform for visitors, overlooking another platform across the jungle which is used by the orang-utans as their eating area. When we arrived, there was already a guide on that feeding platform who was calling out to orang-utans to come over for their breakfast.

Despite the number of visitors on the viewing platform and the excitement to see orang-utans probably for the first time ever, there wasn’t much of a noise as everyone was anxiously hoping that they haven’t found their breakfast yet for the day.

The waiting game. Can you see the orang-utan?

After probably more than 10 minutes, some of us started to point their fingers to an area on top of a tree. I couldn’t see it at first despite Khai (of BudakPacak.com) saying, “There, there!” There were some cracking of tree branches when I actually noticed it, one giant orang-utan hanging from one branch to another before continuing on a rope down to the platform.

That was Richie, the dominant male of the lot, who weighs about 120 kg. He was followed by a mother and a baby although the latter two moved away to another tree soon after. A forth orang-utan moved from one tree to another until it reached our viewing platform where it came down for food and getting it from one of the guides. 

That was as close as we got to with an orang-utan. The star attraction however was definitely Richie, who remained on the feeding platform. He didn’t move much, and several times, he just ate his breakfast lying down, just like a boss! One guide said that Richie wasn’t much in the mood as he had just got into a fight or something with another orang-utan. 

Looking at the size of Richie, I certainly don’t envy the other orang-utan.

We moved out of the jungle to give a second group their chance to watch the feeding too. Apparently however, there're a few more orang-utans enjoying their breakfast in the area where we first came in. In total, I saw 8 orang-utans there that morning.

Luck was on our side, I guess.

There’s a small wooden house in the compound that serves as an information centre, highlighting the work of the Centre through displays and posters, and these include copies of birth and death certificates of all orang-utans that have passed through the Centre. Quite interesting stuff but the most interesting part of the centre obviously is outside of the house, with the orang-utans hanging from one tree to another. 

Everyone was just in awe, and so was I.

Semadang Kayaking

We soon had to leave for our kayak tour. After about half an hour ride on the bus from Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, we arrived at Bengoh Village to start our kayaking adventure. I found out that the kayak trip is going to cover about 4km, after which we would have lunch at Danu Village.

After getting prepped and briefed by the folks from Semadang Kayak, we started our kayaking journey with all smiles. My partner-in-crime on the kayak was PooBritney. Like most others, we started a bit slow whilst trying to get the hang of it but after a while, we felt like a semi-pro already.

Yeah, right! Ha ha!

Along the way, there're some amazing views to appreciate. Watching the river & its surrounding areas from the river itself gave a different perspective altogether. Feeling like kids, we splashed some water at others using our paddles from time to time, just for fun.

Needless to say, we got a thorough soaking too in return, ha ha! A (literally) refreshing experience on a hot afternoon, heh!

After some 2km, we stopped at a spot to have a break and a swim. It was quite refreshing and we were all raring to go again for the next 2km. The thought of lunch that's waiting for us at the end of the journey was enough of a motivation. Personally, it was more so for me, as I had missed breakfast in the morning at the hotel before leaving for Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, ha ha!

Having a splashing time!

Lunch was something unique. We were treated to a Bidayuh’s (a local tribe of Sarawak) specialty meal. Of note is the tasty Manok Pansuh (chicken cooked in bamboo), I just had to have a seconds. Wanted to have a third round but it's all gone by then.

Everyone else was hungry too, I guess, ha ha!

Manok Pansuh

The bus was there at Danu Village (I think!) but I still asked one of Semadang Kayak staff how we’re getting back from there. And he answered, “We’re continuing with the kayaking”. I asked him how long more we have to go, to which he replied, “Around 7km”. 

And I went like, “Whaaaattttttt???” All the more reason for another round of manok pansuh!

Lunch break

We continued with our kayaking, still fooling around at one time or another, whilst enjoying the surrounding view. At one point, we stopped for a bit, for a third break. Again, we played in the water and then continued with our kayaking. It wasn’t long before it started drizzling but we carried on nevertheless. There was another quick stop for fish feeding but it was quite hard to enjoy that when it was raining. 

Kayaking in the rain however was quite fun. Almost everyone in the group was saying how they haven’t done anything or played in the rain for a long, long time, and the experience brought out their inner child, me included.

In the end, the additional 7km didn’t feel like a torture. I think everyone enjoyed the whole experience of kayaking from Bengoh Village to Semadang Village. I certainly did. The whole of 11km. More so in hindsight, of course! :)

And lunch was just a marvelous bonus! I still couldn't get over manok pansuh, ha ha!

On a more serious note though, the day couldn’t have been spent better getting in touch back with nature.

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Further Information:

How to get to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

There’s a public bus service from Kuching to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. It stops at the main gate; and from the gate, it’s a walk of about 15-20 minutes to the Centre. For more information, check their website.

Semadang Kayak offers various Kayaking trip options (with pick up & drop off in Kuching) and they can be combined with a trip to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre as well. For more information, check their website.

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A Thank You and Disclosure Note

I would like to thank the organiser of #TSDayOut Special Edition Selangor Meets Sarawak, Tourism Selangor, for the opportunity to be part of the programme. A big thank you also goes to other official sponsors, which include Sarawak Tourism Board, AirAsia and Empire Hotel Subang.

#TSDayOut is a Tourism Selangor programme that introduces and promotes interesting places as a day out/day trip destinations in the state of Selangor in Malaysia. The programme is opened to bloggers, media practitioners, and social media influencers. #TSDayOut Special Edition programme combines a trip in Selangor and a visit to another destination outside of the state. For this second #TSDayOut Special Edition, the destination is Kuching, Sarawak. For more information about #TSDayOut, check their website here.

For other blog entries on #TSDayOut Special Edition, click here. Going to Kuching, Sarawak? Do check out these hotels for your accommodation requirements there. For other blog entries on Malaysia, click here.