For inland tourism, Samarinda is the starting point for exciting adventures down the Mahakam River! The lower half of The Mahakam River is populated by Malay and Kutai tribes, the upper half by the native Dayak tribes. Your journey will take you through impenetrable tropical forest and dense undergrowth draped in For inland tourism, Samarinda is the starting point for exciting adventures down the Mahakam River!
The lower half of The Mahakam River is populated by Malay and Kutai tribes, the upper half by the native Dayak tribes. Your journey will take you through impenetrable tropical forest and dense undergrowth draped in giantorchids, mangrove flowers and lianes. You’ll notice that much of the jungle is secondairy growth or has been clearcut. The wildlife is unusually diverse, monkeys, gibbons, wild ox, wild cats, flying lemur, martins, weasels, fresh water dolphins, orang utans, sun bears, leopards, snakes, hornbill birds, parrots, parakeets, and crested fireback pheasants.
You may also spy many kinds of beautiful butterflies and metallic beetles, poisonous polypods, brightly colored millipedes & giant walking sticks. To get an impression of the different Dayak cultures & lifestyles, head up the river’s tributaries.