Exploring Kutai National Park: From Orangutans to the Depths of Goa Sapemarta

Exploring a conservation forest is akin to opening a space for contemplation on the greatness of creation, which provides sources of life for humanity, including the biodiversity that must be protected to maintain the earth’s balance. This is the essence of a journey into East Kutai, East Kalimantan, a region not solely defined by giant mining pits or the extractive industries that drive the national economy. This regency also presents a wild, pristine heartbeat within the dense confines of the Kutai National Park (TNK).

To truly explore the charm of this conservation forest, one cannot rely solely on literature or maps on a gadget screen. It must be felt firsthand, allowing the skin to be stung by the tropical sun, inhaling the scent of damp earth, and preparing to tread the lush natural routes. According to the Head of the Kutai National Park Office, Syaiful Bahri, foreign tourists from countries like France and Belgium often explore this forest to research the endemic orangutan.

This journey into the special interest tourism potential of Kutai National Park is not an ordinary recreation. It is an expedition to reconnect with the true terrestrial ecosystem of Kalimantan. The exploration route is divided into two main points that promise both visual and emotional experiences: the Prevab Mentoko forest, with its endemic wildlife dynamics, and the ancient darkness at the base of Goa Sapemarta.

The journey begins by cutting through the Sangatta River on a ketinting, a traditional wooden motorised canoe typical of Kalimantan’s waterways. As the ketinting slices through the brownish ripples, the landscape of urban civilisation slowly fades away. The 30-minute boat trip from Kabo Hamlet along the Sangatta River offers views of untouched nature, passing quiet riverside villages and rows of wooden fishing boats docked while awaiting their catch. The sound of the water and the boat’s engine serve as a soundtrack, escorting visitors away from the city’s noise. The further the boat pushes inward, the more silent the atmosphere becomes.

The first destination is Prevab Mentoko, an ecological research site and ecotourism destination located within the Kutai National Park area. Syaiful noted that for conservation researchers and ecotourism enthusiasts, Prevab is a delightful jungle charm. Here, Kalimantan’s endemic wildlife are the true hosts, and humans are merely guests who must maintain proper etiquette. Exploration in Prevab demands sharp eyes and sensitive ears. Among the towering meranti trees, the allure of the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) often becomes the main attraction for visitors.