Seeing Orang Utans In The Wild Then At The Zoo

I'm not sure what our kids loved more.  The boat ride, being able to run wild through a long cage tunnel or making out with baby orang utans.  I know for me it was the making out with baby orang utans.  Even Cam got in on the action.

Apparently there are only three places in the entire world where you can see orangutans in their natural habitat, one of which is on Orang Utan Island in Bukit Merah, Malaysia.  Since we rented a car for our last week in Penang, we decided to check out the orang utans then head to the zoo.

About an hour from Penang is a 5 acre island in the middle of a lake.  It's billed as the world's first and only rehabilitation and conservation facility where orang utans roam free.  The island serves as a breeding sanctuary as well as a conservation, research and education center to better understand this endangered species.



We took the 5 minute boat ride across and entered the long cage (think reverse zoo) where the kids proceeded to run wild while we searched for orang utans.  There were several hanging around.  Even some mommies with their cute babies.  The guide threw fruit out for them so they would come closer.  It felt wild but not so much.




As we headed back we passed the kindergarten area where the babies sometimes hang out. This seems more for show and not the wild experience at all but it was super fun to watch all the kids kissing the glass and trying to hug the Orang Utans.  Our kids did not want to leave but eventually we made it back to a boat after missing ours and away we went for the 5 minute ride back.  Very glad we were able to see the orang utans in the wild before we went to the zoo.

Seeing orang utans at the zoo was really depressing. They seemed so overweight and exposed. See if you can pick out which picture below is the orang utan from the zoo

Orang utans are amazing creatures.  Here's some fun facts about orang utans:

• The females have a period
• They are the largest tree dwelling animal in the world
• Orang utan comes from two Malay words that literally translated means “forest people”
• They are an endangered species, with only 20- 27,000 left in the wild
• They can live a long time, some even over 50 years
• Orang utans’ arms are stronger and longer than their legs (1½ times longer)
• They are the largest primates, and can be up to five feet tall with an arm span of 8 feet
• Females only give birth every 7 to 9 years, and their gestation period is about nine months 
• Orang utans eat primarily fruit and range over a large territory to find enough each day
• Adult males lead mostly solitary lives except when mating with females
• They rarely descend from treetops to ground, when they do, they usually walk on all fours
• They live only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra (in Malaysia and Indonesia)

The island is about an hour drive from Penang and getting there will cost you around 6.90RM in tolls.  Adult 35RM Kid 18RM (over 90cm)

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Seeing Orang Utans In The Wild Then At The Zoo

I'm not sure what our kids loved more.  The boat ride, being able to run wild through a long cage tunnel or making out with baby orang utans.  I know for me it was the making out with baby orang utans.  Even Cam got in on the action.

Apparently there are only three places in the entire world where you can see orangutans in their natural habitat, one of which is on Orang Utan Island in Bukit Merah, Malaysia.  Since we rented a car for our last week in Penang, we decided to check out the orang utans then head to the zoo.

About an hour from Penang is a 5 acre island in the middle of a lake.  It's billed as the world's first and only rehabilitation and conservation facility where orang utans roam free.  The island serves as a breeding sanctuary as well as a conservation, research and education center to better understand this endangered species.



We took the 5 minute boat ride across and entered the long cage (think reverse zoo) where the kids proceeded to run wild while we searched for orang utans.  There were several hanging around.  Even some mommies with their cute babies.  The guide threw fruit out for them so they would come closer.  It felt wild but not so much.




As we headed back we passed the kindergarten area where the babies sometimes hang out. This seems more for show and not the wild experience at all but it was super fun to watch all the kids kissing the glass and trying to hug the Orang Utans.  Our kids did not want to leave but eventually we made it back to a boat after missing ours and away we went for the 5 minute ride back.  Very glad we were able to see the orang utans in the wild before we went to the zoo.

Seeing orang utans at the zoo was really depressing. They seemed so overweight and exposed. See if you can pick out which picture below is the orang utan from the zoo

Orang utans are amazing creatures.  Here's some fun facts about orang utans:

• The females have a period
• They are the largest tree dwelling animal in the world
• Orang utan comes from two Malay words that literally translated means “forest people”
• They are an endangered species, with only 20- 27,000 left in the wild
• They can live a long time, some even over 50 years
• Orang utans’ arms are stronger and longer than their legs (1½ times longer)
• They are the largest primates, and can be up to five feet tall with an arm span of 8 feet
• Females only give birth every 7 to 9 years, and their gestation period is about nine months 
• Orang utans eat primarily fruit and range over a large territory to find enough each day
• Adult males lead mostly solitary lives except when mating with females
• They rarely descend from treetops to ground, when they do, they usually walk on all fours
• They live only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra (in Malaysia and Indonesia)

The island is about an hour drive from Penang and getting there will cost you around 6.90RM in tolls.  Adult 35RM Kid 18RM (over 90cm)

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6 Highlights Of Georgetown, Penang

"Georgetown is quite fun to explore on foot," said the New Yorker who used to walk everywhere.  Oh, my husband is so funny.  Although, it was hot so that made us a bit cranky at times, we had a blast exploring the city.  We should have buses or tuk tuk'd or cabbed it to more places.  We did a lot of walking in the heat around the city and thank goodness for a double stroller (and ice cream) that the kids could take a break in.  Just remember there is a free bus to take you around to the sights.  We never found it so maybe next time!  And if you jump in a cab to take you to the Fort, make sure he hears Fort and not PORT otherwise you will have a long walk.  

Clan Jetties - Are these fascinating houses built on stilts over the sea that are connected b wooden walkways.  The kids loved running down the long dock, touching the turtles in the fountain, seeing the temples and the boats and saying hi to everyone they could.  Watch out for the fun artwork on the houses.

Fort Cornwallis - What kid doesn't love to run around a fort with a bunker and cannons and walls you can jump off of?  There is also a huge playground at the entrance and a persistent man selling ice cream.  2RM Adult



Little India - With all the cool shops and yummy treats our kids loved wandering the streets (wait, is that a rhyme?)  Our kids also loved dancing to the blaring Bollywood music.  The Chia drink is a must!  I still never found a good eyebrow threading place.  Maybe next time.

Penang Ferry - What kid doesn't love a boat ride? A 15 minute ferry ride each way to the mainland and back. 1.20RM Adult

Campbell Street - An area lined with Chinese medicine shops, temples, mosques and hawkers of all types. Our kids loved exploring the streets and running through the covered walkways looking for cool artwork that is randomly painted on buildings throughout this area.

Food- What is a fun day in Georgetown without trying all the yummy hawker snacks. I think this was Nick's favorite part!


These are just a few of the things we explored that our kids said they loved. They had such a great time they keep asking to go back. They also liked the long bus ride to and from Batu Feringgi especially getting the very front seat so they could pretend they were driving.


What was your favorite things to do in Georgetown? Are you going soon? We'd love to hear in our comments below!

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