Exploring the oldest lowland rainforest of Malaysian Borneo and visiting four very different reserves, by day and night, this tour offers an outstanding range of the island's rare and endemic wildlife.
We begin our guided tour with the famous Sepilok forest reserve and orangutan sanctuary, the perfect introduction to the region. From here we travel further into the Malaysian state of Sabah, in north-east Borneo, where many of the island's most unspoiled rainforest reserves can be found. We explore Deramakot Forest Reserve, a wonderful reserve that has recently shot to fame as the best site in the world for trying to see the exquisite Sunda clouded leopard, in addition to other charismatic nocturnal mammals such as marbled cat, sun bear, otter civet, binturong and moonrat. Moving on we visit Sabah’s largest cave system, the dramatic Gomantong Caves, and journey up the Kinabatangan River, where we take boat safaris to observe families of proboscis monkeys and hopefully Bornean orangutans and pygmy elephants, in addition to all eight species of Bornean hornbills, and much more.
We then head back inland to the most legendary Bornean rainforest, of all, the Danum Valley, Conservation area where we stay at a new, simple yet comfortable lodge close to the Danum Valley Field Centre. This provides us with the opportunity to immerse ourselves in one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests on Earth, and we again have the possibility of some thrilling rare mammal species and bird life. Our final location is the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, home to mud volcanoes, peaceful rivers and a hotspot for many sought after rainforest birds, gibbons, bearded pigs, civets and the beautiful Sunda leopard cat.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart UK
Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur.
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Day 2:
Arrive Sandakan & transfer
On arrival in Sandakan, we meet our local leader at the airport, who accompanies us throughout the itinerary. We then transfer by road to our accommodation close to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, and the rest of the afternoon is free to relax around the lodge. This evening there's the option of a night walk in search of slow loris and our first flying squirrels.
Accommodation: Sepilok Nature Resort, 1-night
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Day 3:
Visit Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary & transfer to Deramakot
After breakfast, we visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to see these iconic primates and learn more about the rehabilitation and conservation work that happens here. We also visit the sun bear conservation centre and rainforest discovery centre. From here, we proceed to the Deramakot Forest Reserve by road, taking around four hours. The reserve has recently shot to fame as the best place in Southeast Asia for nocturnal wildlife safaris. Encompassing 55,000 hectares, and with well-maintained roads thanks to certified sustainable forestry, Deramakot is home to countless desirable mammals. It's especially well known for its Sunda clouded leopards.
Arriving at our lodge in the late afternoon, spotting wildlife as we go, we are then free until after dinner, as we prepare to explore this reserve. We take our first extended night safari tonight in search of a wide range of fascinating nocturnal mammals.
Accommodation: Deramakot Lodge, 4-nights
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Days 4-6
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Nocturnal safaris in Nocturnal safaris in Deramakot Forest Reserve
We spend our nights exploring Deramakot in search of its abundant nocturnal wildlife, heading into the forest before or at dusk each day and spending around nine hours spotlighting, generally in three shifts. While Deramakot is best known for its Sunda clouded leopards, which still require significant luck to observe, it is also a superb site for sambar, bearded pig, Bornean striped palm civet, Malay civet, Philippine slow loris, Sunda colugo and Thomas’s flying squirrel. Rarer mammals frequently seen include sun bear, marbled cat, western tarsier and otter civet. Downtime during the day can also be productive. Bornean orangutan and birds including red-bearded bee-eater, Bornean falconet and great argus are commonly seen close to our accommodation.
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Day 7:
Transfer to the Kinabatangan River via Gomantong Caves
We leave Deramakot this morning, travelling to Gomantong Caves. This vast limestone cave system is home to millions of bats and echolocating swiftlets. In the surrounding forest, Bornean orangutans and maroon langurs are often seen. From here we make the short journey to the village of Sukau on the Kinabatangan River, where we begin the journey by boat downriver to our lodge. Even on this transfer we may see Bornean pygmy elephant, Bornean orangutan, silvered langur, proboscis monkey and any of Borneo’s eight species of hornbill. In the evening we take our first night cruise on the river from our lodge.
Accommodation: Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort, 2-nights
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Day 8:
Kinabatangan River Cruise
We spend a full day exploring the wonderful backwaters of the Kinabatangan. We hope to see families of long-tailed macaques and proboscis monkeys, Bornean pygmy elephants and a host of birds including great slaty woodpecker, Storm’s stork, lesser adjutant stork and long-tailed parakeet. In addition to species we have seen by night already in Deramakot, the river is a fine site for saltwater crocodile, reticulated python and the very rare flat-headed cat.
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Day 9:
Transfer to the Danum Valley
After breakfast, we leave our Kinabatangan Lodge and transfer by road to the Danum Valley, stopping for lunch in Lahad Datu. We arrive at our lodge on the edge of the Danum Valley in the afternoon. Our base is the former research centre, Inafpro Lodge, located on the edge of a selectively logged but reforested area, just outside the core Danum Valley Conservation zone. It is a very simple property, but with a relaxed setting that provides an ideal location to stay to explore the region, particularly after dark. This evening, we have our first outing into this incredible rainforest in search of nocturnal wildlife.
Accommodation: Infapro, 4 nights
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Days 10-12
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Exploring from the Danum Valley Field Centre
Over the next three days, we can fully immerse ourselves in this biodiverse area. Most days we will visit the Danum Valley Field Centre, where there is a good network of trails which allows us access to the forest’s remarkable flora and fauna.
During the day we may discover orangutans, pig-tailed macaques, yellow muntjac and bearded pigs and a fascinating diversity of insects, plants, trees, and fungi. The birdlife here is also exceptional with species such as Diard's trogon, crested fireback, great argus, red-bearded bee-eater, blue-headed, and crimson pittas, green, banded, and black-and-yellow broadbills, and black capped babbler.
After dinner, we again have the option of extended night drives in the forest near our lodge where clouded leopard, marbled cat, binturong, western tarsier, long-tailed and Bornean porcupines, Sunda skunk and seven species of flying squirrel are all possibilities.
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Day 13:
Transfer to Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Today we travel to Tabin, our final reserve on our exploration of Sabah, first retracing our route to the town of Lahad Datu. From here we take unmade roads through oil palm plantations to reach Tabin Wildlife Reserve. In the evening, we begin our nocturnal forays into this magnificent forest, following much the same pattern as in Infapro and Deramakot.
Accommodation: Tabin Wildlife Resort, 3-nights
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Days 14-15
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Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Returning to a pattern of very long night drives, some daytime forest walks and drives and time to rest, we explore Tabin Wildlife Reserve on foot and by vehicle. A particularly productive area is the entrance road to the reserve, as many animals are drawn from the forest to the surrounding palm plantations to feed on fallen fruits and on rats.
Here there are excellent possibilities to see Sunda leopard cat, island palm civet, bearded pig, buffy fish owl and both red giant and black flying squirrels. Deeper inside the forest we will look for Bornean gibbons, pale giant squirrels, otters, and at night greater and lesser mouse deer, yellow muntjac and much more. Tabin’s birdlife is also a highlight with dollarbirds, red-naped trogons, blue-crowned hanging parrot, and even the elusive black-and-crimson and blue-headed pittas.
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Day 16:
Transfer to Lahad Datu & depart
Having delighted in Sabah’s wonderful wildlife, today we begin our journey back to the UK, travelling first by road to Lahad Datu. From here we take a flight to Kota Kinabalu, to catch a connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur and onward overnight connection to the UK.
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Day 17:
Arrive UK
