Maroon Langur of Deramakot: Tracking Borneo’s Hidden Primate Gem
Below are the best places to see wild orangutan in Sabah, Malaysia
Deep within the rainforests of Sabah lies one of Borneo’s most captivating primates — the maroon langur, a shy canopy-dweller whose rich auburn coat glows in the filtered sunlight of the rainforest.
For wildlife enthusiasts visiting Deramakot Forest Reserve, encountering this elegant monkey becomes a memorable highlight of the journey. Quiet, elusive, and rarely seen in crowded wildlife parks, the maroon langur represents the true magic of Borneo’s forests.
The Secretive Beauty of the Bornean Rainforest
The maroon langur (Presbytis rubicunda), also known as the red leaf monkey, is endemic to Borneo and spends most of its life high in the forest canopy. Its shaggy reddish-brown fur and bluish face make it one of the most distinctive primates in Southeast Asia.
Unlike macaques, which are noisy and often found near people, maroon langurs are quiet, cautious and almost entirely arboreal, rarely descending from the treetops. They live in small family groups, typically led by a single dominant male, moving gracefully through the mid-to-upper canopy in search of food.
Their diet consists largely of young leaves, seeds, flowers, and unripe fruits, which they digest with the help of a specialized stomach adapted for breaking down plant toxins.
For primate watchers, observing them requires patience, sharp eyes, and a bit of luck — but the reward is unforgettable.
Why Deramakot Is One of the Best Places to See Them
Spanning more than 55,000 hectares of mixed dipterocarp rainforest, Deramakot is one of the richest wildlife areas in Sabah. Remarkably, around 75% of the mammal species found in Sabah occur here, making it an extraordinary destination for wildlife exploration.
The reserve’s quiet forest roads and vast tracts of intact habitat allow visitors to explore deep into the rainforest. During early morning drives or forest walks, the forest canopy often reveals movement – branches shaking gently as langurs leap between trees.
Maroon langurs are among the most frequently encountered leaf monkeys in Deramakot, sometimes seen alongside silvery langurs, macaques, and gibbons.
For photographers and primate enthusiasts, these encounters offer rare opportunities to witness natural behaviors such as:
Mothers carrying infants
Young langurs playfully chasing each other through the canopy
Groups grooming and resting on large branches
Long graceful leaps across gaps in the forest
Moments like these are reminders that Deramakot remains a truly wild rainforest ecosystem.
Plan your Dream Safari Travel
Get in touch today and receive a complimentary consultation.
Encountering Wild Orangutans in Deramakot
While tracking langurs, visitors may also encounter one of Borneo’s most iconic primates – the Bornean orangutan. Deramakot supports a healthy wild population, and sightings during morning drives are not uncommon.
Unlike the semi-habituated orangutans seen in rehabilitation centers, the individuals here are completely wild. Watching them move through the forest canopy reveals fascinating natural behavior: building leafy nests for rest, carefully selecting fruiting trees, or swinging slowly through towering dipterocarp trees.
Witnessing a wild orangutan feeding quietly above the forest road is a powerful reminder of how special Deramakot’s rainforest truly is.
Deramakot: A Paradise for Primate Lovers
Deramakot offers primate enthusiasts an extraordinary diversity of species in a single landscape. Along with maroon langurs and orangutans, visitors may also encounter:
Bornean gibbons, whose haunting calls echo across the forest at dawn
Silvery langurs moving through riverine forest
Pig-tailed and long-tailed macaques foraging along forest roads
Rare species such as the Sabah grizzled langur
Few places in Southeast Asia offer such rich primate diversity within a single reserve.
For wildlife travelers seeking something beyond the ordinary, Deramakot delivers a rare and authentic rainforest safari.
Tracking maroon langurs through the canopy, spotting orangutans in the wild, and exploring quiet forest roads far from tourist crowds creates an experience that feels both intimate and exhilarating.
For primate lovers, photographers, and naturalists, Deramakot is not just a destination – it is a journey into the living heart of Borneo’s rainforest.
