Breakfast with Orangutans: A Bali Zoo Review

Have you ever wanted to have breakfast with a real orangutan? If you’re planning a trip to Bali, there’s this thing, an experience you might just want to put on your to-do list: having breakfast with orangutans at the Bali Zoo. It sounds like some kind of wonderfully crazy dream, yet, it’s actually a real opportunity that combines pretty great food with the chance to get close to some truly awesome animals. Here’s a more in-depth look at what you can expect.

What is Breakfast with Orangutans All About?

Okay, so what’s the basic premise? This experience that they offer at the Bali Zoo actually allows you to eat your breakfast right next to a group of orangutans. Like, actual orangutans. You get to sit at a table at their Gayo Restaurant, which looks out over a specially designed enclosure where these animals get to hang out and play. As you’re enjoying your buffet breakfast, you can also watch the orangutans as they go about their morning routine. Plus, you get the chance to interact with them up close and snap some really cool photos. That, too, is pretty neat!

Why would the Bali Zoo think of this in the first place, you ask? It seems like their goal is to give visitors a new appreciation for these animals, and to actually teach them about the importance of conservation. Seeing orangutans up close, and in such a relaxed setting, just may really help to connect people with them in a different way. And, perhaps more importantly, to inspire care for these creatures. So, really, it’s entertaining and also somewhat educational. All before you’ve finished that first cup of coffee!

Booking Your Breakfast Adventure

How exactly does one sign up for all this orangutan-related fun? Usually, you can book your spot either online through the Bali Zoo’s official website or even through different travel agencies around Bali. So you know, spots do fill up quickly, particularly during the peak tourist seasons, it’s usually recommended that you book well in advance.

What kind of things will you need to decide before you hit that confirm button? Most packages also normally include admission to the rest of the zoo. So that is useful to know. It might be something you might want to take advantage of following your breakfast. Just be sure you check the details of whatever package you select to be sure that it covers everything that you expect. In fact, knowing this for sure is super useful to know. Also, is that hotel transfer is offered? It just may make your morning just that little bit easier. After all, who wants extra travel hassle?

What to Expect on the Day

When the day that you meet those new, hairy breakfast companions comes? Usually, breakfast kicks off fairly early, around 8 AM. This basically means you get a somewhat earlier start than maybe you would like, yet it also means that you can enjoy the cooler morning temperatures in Bali before the heat really ramps up later on in the day. Is that all? When you arrive, you’ll be directed to the Gayo Restaurant, that looks directly out onto the orangutan enclosure.

Just what sort of things will fill your belly at this breakfast? There’s normally a pretty extensive buffet of foods that usually include both Indonesian and international breakfast favorites. This, though, is where it actually gets cool. A family of orangutans, usually led by the zoo’s handlers, will come out to their specially designed enclosure. As you eat, the handlers will introduce you to each orangutan. Explaining also is a bit about their personalities and what the zoo does to care for them. You get the chance to ask any questions you may have.

After a short introduction? So, this where you have that very amazing opportunity to get up close for photographs with the orangutans. That, naturally, is carefully supervised by the handlers. They’re good about making sure everyone is safe, both humans and animals, during this encounter. And for safety too, that is also why visitors usually are not allowed to feed the orangutans. And, truthfully, I imagine they probably already get enough food anyway!

The Food and the Setting

Does it have good food? Beyond the experience of hanging out with orangutans, let’s also look into what you can actually eat at this breakfast! Gayo Restaurant, is where the breakfast actually takes place, offers you up a pretty solid selection of breakfast foods.

What sort of things can you find in their food selection? Usually, you can expect an extensive buffet, featuring both Western breakfast staples as well as a variety of local Indonesian dishes. Think eggs made to order, pastries, fresh fruit, cereal, plus Indonesian classics such as nasi goreng (fried rice) or mie goreng (fried noodles). The setting is nice. The open-air restaurant has views overlooking the orangutan enclosure, really adding that extra sense of “wow” to your meal.

Photo Opportunities and Interactions

Alright, so what about some great photo ops? Snapping some photos with the orangutans happens to be one of the biggest highlights of the experience. The zoo’s staff actually are very experienced with animal handling. With that in mind, they’re great at positioning you to get some nice, memorable shots.

And just how might these moments transpire? Be ready to have your camera out. The orangutans might get pretty close! As I was saying, these animals, while they are used to human interaction, should be treated with respect and care. Just be sure that you listen to all instructions that are given by the handlers so everyone stays very safe.

Other Animals at the Bali Zoo

Now, beyond breakfast, you ask? A really, really cool benefit of having the breakfast is that generally the package does include full access to the rest of the zoo.

And what sort of creatures roam around in there? The Bali Zoo has a pretty impressive collection of animals from all around the globe. Just think, from lions, tigers and bears, too! (Oh my!). So you might consider walking around a bit to explore all kinds of different animal habitats. Is that something you might do? Check out also the bird park to see a diverse display of different colorful avian species. They seem fun too!

Is Breakfast with Orangutans Worth It?

Worth the investment? It depends a bit, actually, on what you like to do. For animal lovers and people in search of unique, kind of “once-in-a-lifetime” travel experiences, it most definitely could be! The breakfast isn’t just eating; you also get this very special interaction with animals and it gives you a chance to support a zoo’s conservation efforts. It does that too!

But let’s say that you really just aren’t that interested in animals? In fact, if that is so, and if you find yourself on a super tight budget, there actually may be other things to do that are just better. Bali actually does have a load of really cool stuff to do! Weigh all the options for the budget too, especially when compared to some other excursions and adventures you can take on the island.

Tips for an Amazing Experience

Want that experience to be as awesome as it possibly can? Make sure you know a couple of quick tips before you even arrive at the zoo’s doorstep.

How would you prepare? Book ahead! Spots do tend to fill very quickly. Especially during the busier tourist seasons, if you reserve your place as early as possible, it’s almost sure to save you some disappointment later on. Check, too, the weather forecast! Bali is typically pretty sunny. Having said that, morning rain happens, so packing something, in case, may just be smart. Of course, just dress comfortably! You can also see the rest of the zoo, too. So do remember comfortable shoes.

Ethical Considerations

Animal tourism is something to think about, right? Before taking part in animal experiences such as Breakfast with Orangutans, it can pay off to think about the zoo’s practices when it comes to animal welfare.

And what do you want to look into? Be sure that the Bali Zoo is, in fact, an accredited zoo that does adhere to strict ethical standards when it comes to animal care. Do they really play an active part in any conservation programs? Making more ethical decisions does give that visit to the zoo extra value by supporting facilities committed to protecting these incredible creatures.