Jungle
of Borneo
12
days 11 nights
Third largest island in the world, Borneo is located in the South China Sea, east of the Malaysian peninsula. Comprising three countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, Borneo is home to one of the highest biodiversity on Earth, whether on land or in its coastal waters. This trip will offer participants the opportunity to discover the still preserved tropical forests of Sabah (Malaysia), in the northeast of the island. We will visit several types of tropical forests: the jungle bordering the Kinabatangan River, kingdom of pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys and kingfishers, the Tabin sanctuary which is home to 220 species of birds and many mammals including 7 species of primates, Danum one of the most famous lowland rainforest sites for birdwatching in the world. Finally, the Sepilok region, home to orangutans and hornbills. And if you want to prolong the pleasure, complete your trip on the island of Lankayan, a paradise for sea turtles and tropical fish.
Day 0 - Kuala Lumpur
You arrive in Kuala Lumpur no later than the day before departure and spend the night in the Malaysian capital.
Day 1 - Kuala Lumpur - Kinabatangan river
(Lunch, dinner)
Very early departure for Kuala Lumpur airport, to take our flight to Sandakan, in the province of Sabah, in the Malaysian part of Borneo. We will arrive in the early afternoon in Sandakan. From there, a short mini-bus ride will take us to the marina. Transfer to a boat that will first cross the gulf before reaching the Kinabatangan River estuary, which we will ascend for more than two hours. We will be immersed in another universe: first of all the mangrove, kingdom of the saltwater crocodile, proboscis monkeys and nursery of millions of fish. Then, the gallery forest that borders the banks of the river. In this habitat we will see our first kingfishers, egrets, hornbills and many other birds. About fifty kilometers, and here is our lodge which appears, at the bend of a meander in the river. Installation in this exceptional place. Evening meal at the lodge. Night excursion by boat to search for nocturnal creatures: civets, bats, Buffy Fish-Owl...
Day 2 - Kinabatangan river
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
After breakfast, we will take our boat to survey the river and its tributaries in search of fishing birds: the rare Storm stork, the discreet Yellow bittern, the splendid Blue-eared kingfisher or the imposing Gray-Headed Fish-Eagle. On the banks, the Malayan monitor lizard can be observed, as well as the suspicious and feared saltwater crocodile. We will scan the foliage to look for several species of monkeys: the emblematic orangutans and proboscis monkeys, but also long-tailed macaques and gray langurs. Return to the lodge for lunch. After a break in the early afternoon, another boat trip in the afternoon to visit a different sector of the river to see, with great luck, the Borneo pygmy elephant. Evening meal at the lodge
Day 3 - Kinabatangan river
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
A final morning boat trip is planned. Lunch at the lodge. Around 3 p.m., we will leave by vehicle for Gomantong cave, located 25 km from Sukau. After easy access on foot, we will have the opportunity to discover this incredible ecosystem, between recycling cockroaches, swiftlets, a kind of swift, and bats. Before dark, we will take advantage of discovering the exteriors of the cave, a lush jungle where the chances of observing orangutans or langur monkeys are rather high. We will have the opportunity to discover thousands of swiftlets, which are exploited here for their nests: the famous bird nest, a delicacy loved by Chinese. Here, the activity is controlled to preserve the population of this species. At nightfall, we hope to witness the release of two million bats from the cave. These animals consume nearly ten billion insects every night! Night return to the lodge and evening meal.
Day 4 - Tabin wildlife reserve
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
After breakfast, we leave Sukau, first by boat and then by van to travel to Lahad Datu and then to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in eastern Sabah. Arrival at the lodge in the early afternoon. Lunch at the lodge. The Tabin Wildlife Reserve is a well-preserved sanctuary that we will have the privilege of discovering for two days. Installation at the lodge in the early afternoon. Free afternoon. Evening meal at the lodge. Night excursion around the lodge to spot nocturnal animals. The rainforest is home to a large number of creatures that only come into activity after dark. Batrachians, insects, spiders are among the most active. An immersion in the incredible biodiversity of the Malaysian forest!
Day 5 and 6 - Tabin wildlife reserve
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
During the next two days, accompanied by a local guide, we will walk the paths and tracks of Tabin in search of the very diversified fauna. We will alternate excursions on foot and in an all-terrain vehicle. At least one end of the day will be spent visiting a particular clearing, where the muddy ground attracts many animals that come to look for mineral salts. A raised platform will facilitate observation on the lookout for animals. Meals will be taken at the lodge and a free moment is planned in the first half of the afternoon, during the hottest hours of the day. In the evening, night walks are planned to increase the chances of observing a crowd of animals.
Day 7 - Danum valley
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
After breakfast, we leave Tabin to drive to Lahad Datu and then to Danum Valley. Arrival at the lodge in the early afternoon. Lunch at the lodge. Danum Valley Conservation Area is a 438 square kilometer area of relatively undisturbed lowland dipterocarp forest. It has a vast diversity of tropical flora and fauna, including species such as the rare Bornean rhinoceros, Bornean orangutans, gibbons, chevrotains, leopards and over 270 species of birds. Free afternoon. Evening meal at the lodge. Night excursion around the lodge to spot nocturnal animals.
Day 8 and 9 - Danum valley
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
During the next two days, accompanied by a local guide, we will walk the paths and tracks of Danum in search of the very diversified fauna. One of the mornings we will do the course in the canopy which offers breathtaking views of the jungle. Night excursions around the lodge to spot nocturnal animals.
Day 10 - Sepilok
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
After breakfast, last observations in the morning in the forests of Danum, on one of the trails and around the lodge. After lunch, departure by van towards Lahad Datu. Change of vehicle for the trip to Sandakan. Arrival at our lodge in Sepilok at the end of the afternoon. Located in pretty tropical gardens and around a pond, the bungalows welcome you. First observations in the gardens and on the edge of the forest just before nightfall. Evening meal at the lodge.
Day 11 - Sepilok
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Depart after breakfast to be at the entrance of the Rainforest Discovery Center when it opens. Morning devoted mainly to the search for birds along the trails. The Wallace's Hawk-Eagle and the Crested Serpent-Eagle perch on the tall trees. In the undergrowth, we will try to spot the trogons and the Pittas, which are often very discreet. The Boadbills and the hornbills evolve higher in the trees. Return around noon to the lodge for lunch. In the middle of the afternoon, return to the center to try to spot the flying squirrels and other crepuscular mammals at the end of the day. Evening meal at the lodge.
Day 12 - Sandakan - Kuala Lumpur
(Breakfast, lunch)
After breakfast, last observations in the morning in the gardens and on the edge of the forest. Lunch at the lodge then transfer to Sandakan airport to take our flight to Kuala Lumpur. You can also extend the pleasure with an extension on the Island of Lankayan or in the urban jungle of Singapore.
Kinabatangan river :
The second longest river in Malaysia, the Kinabatangan River is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, especially around its lower basin. Renowned as a wildlife sanctuary where exotic species such as Proboscis Monkeys, Orangutans and Asian Elephants can be seen. A river safari is the best way to experience the rich ecosystem and abundant wildlife of the Kinabatangan.
Tabin wildlife reserve :
Tabin Wildlife is a nature reserve in Sabah, eastern Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. Tabin is a rectangular area of approximately 122,539 hectares created in 1984, declared a wildlife sanctuary mainly due to the large number of animals that inhabit its forests, some of which are highly endangered. Sabah's three largest mammals, namely the Borneo pygmy elephant, Borneo rhino and Tembadau are found in the reserve; nine species of primates are present, as well as three species of felines which are all on the list of protected wildlife species; 42 families representing 220 species of birds have been recorded here. Tabin is one of the best places in Sabah to observe the rich biodiversity of nature and to take part in nature-based activities. One of the highlights of Tabin being the active and mineral-rich mud volcanoes, attracting frequent visits from wildlife for their mineral intake and providing an ideal platform for wildlife viewing and birding.
Danum Valley :
One of the most famous lowland rainforest sites for birdwatching in the world. Almost every forest species on the foothills and plains of Borneo has been recorded here. Danum Valley Conservation Area is a 438 square kilometer area of relatively undisturbed lowland dipterocarp forest. It has a vast diversity of tropical flora and fauna, including species such as the orangutans, gibbons, mouse-deer, leopards and over 270 species of birds. The activities offered are jungle treks, river swimming, bird watching, jungle night tours. The area has a unique status in that before becoming a conservation area there were no human settlements in the area, which meant that hunting, logging and other human intervention was non-existent. Danum Valley Conservation Area is managed by Yayasan Sabah for conservation, research, education, training and habitat restoration purposes.
Sepilok :
An excellent birding site with lowland dipterocarp forests and mangrove forest. Famous for its Orangutan Rehabilitation Center (Ourc) and the Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC). Although the birding list overlaps significantly with that of Kinabatangan and Danum Valley, birding for a day here is still highly recommended.
