East Borneo Adventure Tours

East Kalimantan / East Borneo Island

A major producer of oil and timber, East Kalimantan is at present the most industrially advanced province of Kalimantan. Its population is less than two million, and the density figure of seven people per kilometre is among the lowest of Indonesia, although relatively high for Kalimantan. More than 80 percent of the area, or over 17 million hectares is covered by forest. This is where the "Black Orchid" and many other orchid varieties grow within the sheltered confines of nature reserves. 

The Banjarese and Kutainese are mostly the coastal population, living in towns and cities. The Dayak peoples form the overwhelming majority of the population of the hinterland, who live in longhouses called umaq daru. It is customary for one whole extended family or even one clan to occupy one long house. Each family is given a separate compartment with the chief of the clan occupying the central chamber. Guardian statues are normally placed in front of the long house to protect it against evil spirits who bring disease and bad fortune. Such longhouses, however, are gradually disappearing and many have been converted into meeting halls or stages for dance and music performances. The Dayaks are also known for their artistry, making beautiful cloths and ornaments for their traditional houses. The Tunjung Dayaks still make a kind of cloth called doyo, which is woven from certain plant fibres, used in the past in rituals. These are now offered for sale to visitors. Oil and natural gas are found along the entire east coast, with refineries centred at Balikpapan and Bontang.

info about east borneo | map | borneo index

Borneo Destination :
central borneo | east borneo | south borneo | west borneo

Borneo Adventure Tours :
orang utan | orang utan & dayak tribe | mahakam river safari | dayak hunting | borneo diving |
dayak punan | kayan mentarang park | bamboo rafting | south borneo trek | gunung palung park
cross borneo adventure | borneo discovery | borneo and beyond