Home Again: Reflections from Borneo

I’m back home after an incredible journey to Borneo, truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The trip was everything I’d hoped for and more: wild, humbling, and full of moments that will stay with me forever.

Our last day was pure magic, though not without its challenges. We traveled to Lamandau, where the Orangutan Foundation operates four camps dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orangutans. There, we had the privilege of meeting two rescued babies — Ronny and Gunawan , both just a year old. They instantly stole our hearts.

Each had been taken from their mothers and kept as pets, a heartbreaking reminder of the cost of the illegal wildlife trade. Their mothers were almost certainly killed so the infants could be sold. Seeing them cared for with such love and dedication was both moving and inspiring.

After a delicious lunch organized by the foundation, we set out on an unforgettable walk — wading through thigh-deep water for nearly a kilometer,  to witness the release of another rescued orangutan back into the wild. Standing there, watching freedom return to a creature who had once lost it, felt like witnessing hope itself.

Below are links to two videos taken by our guide, Ian Wood, who has been involved with the Orangutan Foundationfor over 20 years. Lamandau is a place few people get to visit, but thanks to Ian, we were able to end our trip on an incredible high, a rare and unforgettable experience.

Rescued orangutan being released into the wild 

Two rescued baby orangutans and a baby borneo gibbon

Borneo left me awed — by its beauty, its people, and the tireless work of those protecting its forests and wildlife. Please check out my album for photos from the trip 

What a day! We witnessed something rarely seen,  a wild 19-year-old male orangutan named Claudio showing unusually aggressive behavior. He dominated the feeding area, refusing to let anyone else near the food. Even a mother and her tiny baby weren’t spared. Watching him pull the baby’s hair was unsettling, a reminder that wild instincts don’t always follow our sense of fairness.

Later in the afternoon, we visited FNPF, an amazing organization replanting Borneo’s lost forests. We each planted a sapling — a hopeful act of giving back to the land that gives so much.

And just as the day began with tension, it ended in peace,  our first sunset painting the sky in orange and pink hues over the river.

Check out my album for photos of Claudio, our tree planting, and that perfect sunset. Photos also contributed by my son Vinay. 

Reflections, Babies, and a Washout

We started the day bright and early, greeted by the calm of the river and the promise of adventure ahead. Our first sighting was a proboscis monkey baby,  wide-eyed, clinging tightly to its mother. Soon after, a young three-year-old orangutan appeared, happily munching on rasau fruit, completely at ease in his treetop perch.

As we cruised toward Camp Leakey, the river shifted color,  from sandy beige to deep black,  a change caused by the absence of sediment from gold mines. Along the way, we spotted a rare turtle perfectly balanced on a log, motionless but watchful.

By the time we reached Camp Leakey, the skies opened up. Heavy rain poured for hours, washing out the afternoon feeding and silencing the forest. No orangutans ventured out, but even a rain-soaked day here feels magical, full of quiet reflection and the rhythm of life in the wild.

Check out my mobile album for photos and short clips from the day! (Photos also contributed by my son Vinay) 

Our day began before sunrise with a peaceful boat ride through the misty forest. We spotted a few beautiful birds as the forest slowly woke up. Stork-billed kingfisher, a black-and-red broadbill, a storm stork, and a soaring crested serpent eagle to name a few.  

Later, we observed the feeding of the wild orangutans. With much of their forest gone, these supplemental feedings help sustain the dense population within the park. We were thrilled to see the area’s alpha male and several tender mother-baby pairs.

By afternoon, rain blanketed the forest, dimming the sightings but not the magic. As dusk fell, fireflies flickered along the water’s edge—tiny beacons closing out another memorable day in Borneo.

Check out my mobile album for today’s photos and short video clips( will be updated tmrw) 

Big and Small Beauties in Nature — Day 2

A morning forest walk brought tiny wonders — dazzling insects and, at the end, Sandra, a semi-wild orangutan who loved the camera.

Soon after, a troupe of proboscis monkeys leapt through the trees, pure jungle joy!

Later, at the feeding platform, we watched wild orangutan moms with their babies — gentle, unforgettable moments.

Even the rain couldn’t dampen the magic.

 Check out my mobile album for photos and short video clips.( some photos taken by my son Vinay) 

After a couple of days in Jakarta, we finally made our way to Borneo today. The journey into the national park began on a small boat gliding through quiet  waters lined with dense rainforest. Our lodge sits right inside the park,  remote, peaceful, and surrounded by wildlife.

Most of our days here will be spent on the river, watching for orangutans, proboscis monkeys, macaques, langurs, and the incredible variety of birds that call this place home and taking walks in the jungle. On our very first afternoon, we were greeted by a few orangutans and a troupe of proboscis monkeys who seemed determined to steal the show.

Please check out the photos in my mobile album for a glimpse of our lodge and our boat ride

Tomorrow, I’m setting off on a long-awaited journey to the rainforests of Borneo with my younger son, Vinay and Ian Wood, an  award-winning photographer and conservationist to photograph orangutans in their wild home. These “people of the forest” have always drawn me in — their gentle eyes, quiet strength, and the way they seem to reflect something deeply familiar. This trip isn’t just about photography; it’s about witnessing a species struggling to survive as their world disappears. My hope is that these images will help others see what’s at stake and why protecting what remains matters so much. I’ll share stories and photos from the field soon — and I can’t wait to take you along for the adventure.

You can explore more images from my journey through the mobile album linked below

https://chandgidwani.slickpic.com/?webapp=eyJtb2QiOiJwdWJsaWMiLCJjdHJsIjoiaW5kZXgiLCJhY3QiOiJpbmRleCIsInBhcmFtcyI6eyJhbGJ1bSI6IkJvcm5lbyIsInZpZXdlciI6MSwic2hhcmVfa2V5IjoiMjJNMjQ0NFU0bVRrRFQiLCJmbG93IjoxfSwiYWxidW0iOnsidXNlcl9pZCI6NDA1OTYwLCJpZCI6MTA0MzczMiwicGFyZW50X2lkIjowfX0=