Tropical forests are the ‘lungs of the world’ and a tourist’s paradise
CENTRAL KALIMANTAN IS HOME TO THE DAYAK PEOPLE AND THE ORANGUTAN, AND RAPIDLY BECOMING A TOP DESTINATION FOR THE MORE ENTERPRISING VISITOR TO INDONESIAN BORNEO

Central Kalimantan is one of Indonesia’s largest provinces and since most of it is covered with dense jungle, it is regarded as one of the ‘lungs of the world’, almost on a par with the Amazon basin.
With more than 55,000 sq. miles of tropical rainforest, sustainable cropping supports a trade in timber products that is an important element in the economy. Mining (for gold and other precious minerals) is the second most important economic activity, followed by palm oil production – there are almost 900,000 acres of oil palms under cultivation.

ASMAWI AGANI Governor of Central Kalimantan Province

Although the Governor, Asmawi Agani, acknowledges Central Kalimantan is one of Indonesia’s least-developed provinces, he believes there are substantial resources awaiting discovery. “There are vast unexplored mineral deposits hidden here which in time will attract large investment to the benefit of our people,” Mr. Agani says.
Most of the population of nearly two million are engaged in agriculture, although an increasing number now work in the tourism industry. Mr. Agani says the key priorities this year are to upgrade roads in order to improve the transport of agricultural produce and timber, and to open up the country to adventure tourists.
“The second priority is the upgrading of the harbor and the third is to improve facilities at the airport,” he says.

MOST OF the population of Central Kalimantan is engaged in plantation agriculture.

Apart from the sheer scale of the rainforest, much of which has yet to be fully explored, Central Kalimantan is a fascinating destination for more than just backpackers. Wildlife watchers can opt for a variety of habitats, from thousands of square miles of swamps, hundreds of square miles of lakes, the coast and, of course, the jungle.
The orangutan is probably the best-known Kalimantan primate and its conservation is being carefully monitored. Wildlife preservation camps are popular with tourists who can observe orangutans in their natural habitat there.

Central Kalimantan is criss-crossed by ten fairly large rivers which all disgorge into the Java Sea. They are the transport arteries for a wide variety of goods from the interior, and serve as the main link for many of the inhabitants.
The original inhabitants of Central Kalimantan are the Dayaks, who are believed to have migrated from Yunan in South China during the last Ice Age. The traditional Dayak home is a ‘long house’, sometimes up to 150 feet in length and raised on stilts 20 feet off the ground.

LARGELY COVERED by dense jungle, much of which has yet to be fully explored, Central Kalimantan is a fascinating destination for open-air and wildlife enthusiasts.

The houses, called betangs, are still in use today. Made of tropical hardwoods, they are raised off the ground so that they can withstand flooding and are less vulnerable to attacks by wild animals. As many as 200 people might live in one house, with each family having a room to themselves and another for receiving guests or for meetings.
Tourists to the province can visit these wooden houses, some of which are more than a century old, richly carved, and beautifully preserved. It is also possible to be a guest in a betang and learn something of the Dayak culture.

The Dayaks are great dancers, with a number of ritualized performances, each for a specific occasion. Some are ceremonial, for weddings, for example, some are for the welcoming home of heroes such as successful hunters or warriors, others tell the story of mythical characters.
A rarely-performed dance takes place at the sacred Tiwah ceremony, which accompanies the spirit of the dead to its eternal resting place. The ceremony can last up to a month, at the end of which a beast such as a buffalo is sacrificed. The cost of provisions and the expense of materials for new costumes for such a ceremony are the main reasons why it is rarely held; usually a few families will join together for a Tiwah.

For tourists who still feel they must stay beside the sea, there are plenty of beautiful beaches. Among them is Tanjung Keluang, popular with visitors to the Tanjung Putting National Park and also home to orangutans.
Mr. Asmawi aims to boost tourism and his two-year action plan is focused on improving facilities. “I hope within that time you will be able to stay in a hotel on top of a mountain and have a back-to-nature experience,” he says. “Central Kalimantan is part of paradise on earth.”