Description
A truly special and thrilling experience: a visit to the Orang-utan “sanctuary” on Bukit Merah island, where these primates roam freely and are cared for and protected in a special recovery and research centre. A unique occasion to see these friendly primates up close and interact with them.
What we will see
- Penang Bridge connecting Penang island to the mainland
- Malaysian countryside: oil palm plantation
- Orang-utan sanctuary on Bukit Merah lake
- Direct observation of orang utans in their natural environment
What we will do
- We set off from the port of Georgetown on a comfortable air-conditioned coach headed to the mainland across Penang Bridge,the fifth longest bridge in south-eastern Asia that connects the island to Malaysia. Officially opened to traffic in 1985, it is 13.5 km long featuring 6 lanes. We stop briefly to take some photos to capture the views of Georgetown behind us.
- Once on the mainland, we admire the Malaysian countryside characterised by oil palm plantations.
- After around one hour and 30 minutes, we reach our destination: Bukit Merah lake and the island of the same name where the Orang-utan sanctuary is located. It is a research, rehabilitation and recovery facility covering 2 hectares where Orang-utans roam freely, a true “sanctuary” for this endangered species.
- On Bukit Merah island, we have the opportunity of seeing these primates up close (whose DNA matches 98% of human DNA) walking along a corridor that is a true protective cage from where we can observe the Orang-utans roam freely in their natural environment.
- After the visit, we return by boat to the Bukit Merah lake jetty where we take the coach back to Georgetown.
What you need to know
- This excursion is conducted in English.
- This excursion mostly covers flat land with some steps to board the boat.
- This excursion is not recommended for guests with
mobility problems.