Semenggoh Nature Reserve is a 653 ha area managed by Sarawak Forestry Corporation and reserved by Sarawak State Government for three main purposes. The first main purpose is to have a nature reserve to preserve the natural habitat for animals especially for orang utan. Orang Utan is a malay word for 'Forest People', orang means people and utan (short for hutan) means forest.

The species of orangutan in Sarawak is known as the Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and is endemic to the Borneo Island. Orangutan is said to be the most intelligent animal on earth after human and have about 94.5% of human genes. It is also the largest and heaviest tree dwelling animals on earth. The average weight is about 75kg, average height is about 1.3 m tall and arm span of about 1.5m for the male orangutan. Orangutan is in genus of ape, same genus as gorilla. Apes have no tails.

The second main purpose of Semenggoh Nature Reserve is having a wildlife centre to help orangutans that are injured or rescued those that are threatened. Orangutan is an endangered species. This centre will provide care, medication and to rehabilitate the orangutans before releasing them into the wild again. The researchers here also tagged the orangutans and have birth certificate for the new born baby orangutans. Sometimes it helps hornbills, sea eagles, porcupines, sun bears and gibbons.

There is one gallery near the entrance. The gallery gives some facts about orangutan. It showcase the steps when an orangutan is brought in. For example, upon admission, proper documentation is done. Then the animal will be quarantine for about 3 months. During this time, medication and food will be given. The orangutan will be monitors closely. After quarantine, the baby orangutan will go to nursery. When baby orangutan can climb, it will go to primary school where they will learn to build nest and eat jungle food.

After that, the orangutan will go to secondary stage where it will stay overnight in the jungle and learn survival skills. When it is big enough or healthy enough, the orangutan will be released into the jungle but they can still receive some food for the people. It will still be monitored to make sure that it can blend into the environment.

The third main purpose of Semenggoh Nature Reserve is to have a botanical research centre. Semenggoh Nature Reserve has a jungle track for tourists to walk into the jungle and look at part of the nature reserve. This reserve has a few track, some being the Feeding trail, Brooke trail, Masing trail, Southern trail and Northern trail.

Travel / Visiting Tips and How to get there?
1. Visiting hours : Daily, 08:00 hrs to 11:00 hrs and 14:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs
2. Orangutan feeding time : Daily, 09:00 hrs and 15:00 hrs
3. Travel by car from Kuching to Semenggoh for about 1.5 hrs.