Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation — Attraction in Perak

Please note that since I posted this review I’ve seen scathing reviews on Trip advisor from people who actually volunteered here!! I suggest you check them out and make up your own mind before you visit!!

My original review: I really don’t know why more people don’t know about this experience. It’s not Borneo but....we had an awesome experience on the Island. Really informative and gave us insight into these beautiful creatures. We understand that seeing them in captivity ( even if they are very large free range areas) is not ideal,but the conservation message that the foundation teaches visitors is an important one- and a necessary one if these beautiful animals are to remain a species.

Understand also that visitors are only exposed to a small number of the animals and that the real conservation efforts happen behind the scenes- where human contact is limited and these magnificent creatures are rehabilitated back into the wild where possible. Having said that we met “Baboon” and her two babies, Adam the large male and 3 smaller males. We also saw Kate and her friend in action on the ropes at the departure jetty. If you take the time to ask the guides they will explain why some of the animals are separated from other groups of animals.

Practicalities- the island is accessed via a resort called the Bukit Merah Laketown resort. It’s about 1 hour drive from Penang. Ample and free parking. Walk all the way through to the dock and purchase your tickets - 36MR for foreign adults. The ferry departs every 45 min starting from 9 am.

The tour is about 45 min long to coincide with the next group arriving. But you can also skip the ferry back and go back on the next one - and thereby...

Amazing place. In the last month they've just renovated after an electrical fire. The staff love their work, love the orangutan! They have so much intimate knowledge of each orangutan, they know then so well it really shows. As you arrive off the ferry, there's a member of staff waving and welcoming you. Us humans are in a cage, the orangutans are free. Its best to get the first ferry at 9am then all the orangutans are down, later when its warmer they take shelter. Don't go when its raining. As you walk along the walkway there's a variety of local plants wit notices informing you of their Latin names, uses, benefits and preparation. A friend I was with got a mosquito bite. The guide plucked a leaf from a nearby plant, rubbed it on, instant relief. To see the orangutans so close is amazing! Yes, they are trained to come and feed, this also helps to give them dental and medical checks. Each orangutan has an individual personality which the guides gladly explain. We stayed on the island as long as we wanted. There is no pressure to leave after a certain time. In fact we were encouraged to stay longer. There's a cool media room, cool as in it's got air conditioning! There's a small shop, but this doesn't have much and there's no pressure to buy. While there I've seen an eagle, numerous butterflies, squirrels, abundant insects, lizards, monitor lizards, muskat monkeys... I would say its a 'must' visit! Vanee and Lena are particular passionate to be there, they talk of the orangutans as their...

Drove there today. It was easy to drive there from Penang. From Batu Ferringhi we left at 8am and got there at 9:40 just in time for the first ferry. First ferry is at 9:45. You drive into the resort and walk through the resort to the ferry dock. At the ferry dock you buy tickets for the Orang Utan island. Ticket includes ferry there and back and the island ticket. There's a small shop on the island selling tshirts that my kids liked. And some snacks. As we pulled up to dock at the island we could see small orangutans and a couple larger ones playing in the trees. As soon as we got off we could see some large orangutans playing and eating at a platform in the water near the boat dock. The guide quickly started us on our walk along the path into the habitat. She was wonderful and very knowledgeable and answered lots of questions for us. We saw 10 of the 17 orang utans living there. Several close up. We dropped apples down a tube into their cage and they were excited to grab them and have some fruit. We watched one guy drink milk poured into his mouth from a worker and we watched the alpha male tear open a coconut and eat it and slurp the coconut water. The little ones were really cute. We LOVED this place and my 3 teenagers said it was totally worth waking up "early" and driving 1.5 hours to see the orang utans. It is an awesome place....