Want to go see orangutans in the wild? You won't have to sail around the world to do it (although you will have to travel halfway around the world). We've met many tourists from all over that have taken a grand trek to interact with the great apes of Southeast Asia. Here's how:
1) Get Here. Get to Kumai, Borneo. We sailed here, but there is an airport in a nearby town with regular flights to Jakarta (which has regular flights to anywhere else in the world).
2) Hire a Guide. Once in Kumai, arrange a boat tour with one of many operators. We've heard that some contract with travel agents abroad, so that it's possible to pre-book, but certainly not necessary (we booked a whole day speedboat trip at 4:00 PM the prior day). The guides are important. Aside from introducing you to the wild orangutans, they also have a much more important job: orangutan wrestler. Sometimes orangutans get aggressive, and without cages or barriers, there's little stopping one from attacking you. We witnessed several guides get physically involved when orangutans got grabby. Thankfully our guide explained how to prevent an orangutan from having interest in you (don't carry any food, bags, or have anything in your pockets). If an orangutan did grab you, submit (just as we did with Siswi as she reached out to hold our hands).
3) Decide What to See. There are many options for visiting the Tanjung Puting Reserve. We took a one day speed boat trip which included 1.5 hour trip to one camp to see a 9:00 AM feeding, then another 20 minute ride up to Camp Leakey. We were provided lunch and snacks, two boats and drivers, and an English speaking Guide. Another option is to take a slow river boat and spend from 2-6 days in the jungle. Each day you would visit camps, hike, and interact with orangutans. Each night you sleep onboard the houseboat, as a full crew cooks you meals and takes care of you.
4) Hang Out! It was wild (literally) to be within swinging distance of an orangutan. Each has a distinctly unique character, and watching them interact with humans and each other is something you can never get in a zoo.
If you're young and are more than just passively interested in orangutans, think about studying them professionally as a scientist. With hard work and good grades, there are ways to get your schooling and research paid for!