Journey to Malaysian Borneo on this specially designed small group tour where we visit the best locations to encounter the magnificent orangutan in its natural habitat.
Closely related to humans, the remarkable Bornean orangutan is among the world’s most endearing animals. They are highly endangered animals, but there are still locations where they can be sighted regularly in the wild and we visit the finest of these on this itinerary.
Among the best sites for tracking, watching and photographing wild Bornean orangutans, are Danum Valley and the Kinabatangan River. We spend plenty of time at both of these locations to observe wild individuals as well as an incredible array of other wildlife, much of it found nowhere else.
As an introduction to the remarkable Bornean orangutan, we begin our tour at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where hundreds of rescued apes have been helped return to life in the forest.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
Today, we depart the UK on overnight flights to Sandakan in Malaysian Borneo (via Kuala Lumpur).
Day2: Arrive Sandakan
On arrival in Sandakan, we are met and transferred half an hour or so to Sepilok and our accommodation where we spend the next two nights.
Accommodation: MY Nature Resort, 2-nights
Day3: Visit Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
After breakfast, we visit Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary where captive and semi-wild orangutans are rehabilitated and reintroduced back to the wild. We will schedule our visit to coincide with the feedings of the orangutans and this is our first opportunity to observe these magnificent primates.
The sanctuary's excellent network of boardwalks and trails should provide us with some memorable sightings of the orangutans, as well as other species including pig-tailed macaque, Bornean pygmy squirrel, Prevost's and ear-spot squirrels, oriental pied and rhinoceros hornbills and the gorgeous black-and-red broadbill.
Day4: Transfer to Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary
This morning we are driven back to Sandakan and head to the town's jetty where we board a boat to take us to the Lower Kinabatangan River. Out on the water we pass by pristine mangrove forests and search for wildlife along the way.
Afterwards we continue further up the Kinabatangan and scan both banks for wildlife which could include proboscis monkey, Bornean pygmy elephant, rhinoceros and bushy-crested hornbills, and even wild orangutans. We arrive at our riverside accommodation during the afternoon and we check-in for a two night stay.
Once we've had some time to settle into our new accommodation, we head out on a boat cruise to the Menanggul River in hope of encountering wild orangutan, proboscis monkey, Bornean pygmy elephant and a variety of birds which could include buffy fish owl, Sunda frogmouth and a number of beautiful kingfishers and elegant hornbills.
It will be an early start to the day as we enjoy a morning boat trip along the Kinabatangan River and on to a nearby oxbow lake. We hope to observe the range of intriguing species that the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary has to offer. Our focus will be on encountering orangutans, but we may also find proboscis monkey, silvered langur, long-tailed macaque, small-clawed otter, grey-headed fish eagle, oriental darter and Brahminy kite.
This afternoon we visit Gomantong Caves which is the largest cave system in Sabah and home to 27 species of bat and four species of swiftlet. It is also well worth exploring the surrounding forest for pig-tailed macaques, red langurs and orangutans which are frequently seen here.
Day6: Transfer to Lahad Datu & continue to Danum Valley
Following breakfast, we depart the Kinabatangan and transfer to the town of Lahad Datu in southern Sabah. It will take around two hours to reach Lahad Datu and from here we continue on to Danum Valley. We reach our lodge, where we stay for the next four nights, by the early afternoon.
Later in the day, we follow one of the nature trails and canopy walkways to experience the diversity and life of this verdant habitat. Along with orangutans, we could also view pig-tailed macaque, red langur, Bornean gibbon and a plethora of birdlife ranging from rhinoceros hornbill to the lustrous red-bearded bee-eater.
Accommodation: Borneo Rainforest Lodge, 4-nights
Days7-9: Explore Danum Valley
We have three days to fully explore this wonderful area. Close to our lodge there is a network of accessible and well maintained trails that follow the course of the river and venture deep into the forest interior. This network provides ample opportunity for observing and photographing some of the forest’s amazing flora and fauna, especially orangutans which are our particular target on this itinerary.
During the mornings various hornbills, barbets and broadbills can be seen as well as the endemic Bornean bristlehead. We could also encounter a number of primate species including long-tailed macaque and red leaf monkey.
After dark, night walks and vehicle rides offer a window into the secretive world of the forest’s nocturnal creatures – greater mouse deer, red giant flying squirrel, Thomas's flying squirrel and colugo may be seen. There is also a reasonable chance of seeing both Philippine slow loris, western tarsier, Wallace’s flying frog and a number of other amphibians and reptiles.
Day10: Return to Lahad Datu & departure
We enjoy a leisurely morning in Danum Valley before transferring back to Lahad Datu and its airport to catch our onward flights.
Day11: Arrive UK
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 11 daysfrom £5,170 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 9 daysfrom £4,470 pp
Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is renowned for its work in rehabilitating orphaned orangutans, However, set in primary lowland rainforest, the reserve has much more to offer. The forest boardwalks make exploring easy, the birdwatching is superb and there is a tremendous variety of snakes and frogs to see.
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Where: Sabah State
Ideal for viewing: Bornean pygmy elephant, mouse deer, orangutan, slow loris, western tarsier
The Kinabatangan River snakes through Sabah’s lowlands for 560kms to reach the Sulu Sea. Along its length, a river safari will reveal a mosaic of riparian forest, oxbow lakes, nipah swamp and mangroves which supports a wide variety of mammal and birdlife who have grown surprisingly tolerant of human presence.
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Danum Valley is arguably Borneo’s premier wildlife location and boasts all ten of Sabah’s primate species. Early morning is the best time to enjoy the canopy walkway through the surrounding lowland rainforest and view the stunning birdlife. It also offers maybe the best chance to see orangutan in the wild.
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Where: Sabah State
Ideal for viewing: Asian elephant, Malayan sun bear, banteng, orangutan, Bornean gibbon
Excellent for: Photography tours With Nick Garbutt, Orangutan watching, Birdwatching
The remarkable Borneo Rainforest Lodge lies in pristine jungle in the heart of Sabah’s Danum Valley. Considering the remoteness of its location, this unique, award-winning property offers an extremely high standard of accommodation in a wonderful setting, blending in with the surrounding rainforest.
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Accessible by boat or road transport, this lodge consists of timber-built chalets connected by walkways. There are various spots around the lodge for viewing the surrounding nature and wildlife, including a bird observation tower and a jungle trail where red leaf monkey and wild orangutan are often seen.
Find Out More about Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge
