Borneo Wildlife & Orangutan Tour 2020/21

Ten day tour Borneo wildlife holiday visiting Sepilok orangutan centre, Kinabatangan river safari, Deramokot Forest reserve, Lupa Masa Jungle Camp and Kinabalu Mountain Lodge.

This trip starts off with visiting Sandakan on the east side of Sabah where there is an airport with regular connections from Kota Kinabalu and Sarawak, and staying in the Paganakan Dii lodge. The trip kicks off with a Borneo orangutan tour. A visit to the Sepilok orangutan centre is a must, as is the sun bear conservation centre right next door. Both are world famous conservation centres for these two iconic species to the island. You'll be introduced to these incredible creatures and educated about sustainable rehabilitation for endangered species in Borneo.

From Sandakan the journey moves onto the Kinabatangan river starting with an overnight at the Moido Waloi homestay centre which is run by the Abai community and supports their local businesses and initiatives. There are various cultural activities which includes a boat ride on the Kinabatangan river during which you will see a wide range of birdlife and also likely wild orangutans in their nests.

From the Kinabatangan river we travel to Deramokot Forest Reserve which has been much talked about in the last year or so as the best wildlife destination in Sabah. The wildlife count for our clients has been remarkable, but without a doubt a sighting of the rare clouded leopard stands as one of the great highlights of the holiday. Some of our trip advisor feedback has been great!

There is a lodge to stay in and we have our cook to provide fresh meals, and we have our own 4x4 vehicle to take you into the heartland of the island and get close with the wildlife. The package includes dawn and evening safaris, each lasting about two hours, with an option to pay for more locally.

We head back towards the west side of Sabah to stay at the Lupa Masa Jungle camp, on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu. Lupa Masa means 'forgotten time' and here you can relax in the waterfalls and rivers or in the wooden pondoks and enjoy the peace of the jungle, and in the evening go on bug safaris. During the day we can also arrange other activities like hikes, tubing on the river and sometimes biking. Accommodation is in hammocks or in tents with mosquito nets, it is quite basic but it's also quite a unique experience and there is nowhere quite like it in Sabah.

From Lupa Masa we spend a night in a mountain lodge on the slopes of Mt Kinabalu and here you can indulge in some bird watching and also seeing the remarkable plant species that are quite unique to this elevation and location, including of course the pitcher plant which is able to trap small animals and insects for digestion.

The whole trip is led by a variety of in-house guides, and each of them works in their particular area and knows it well. We provide all the bookings for accommodation and meals and the internal transport, and the special wildlife guiding in Deramokot. A Borneo trip is inevitably a matter of organising logistics carefully, knowing how to get from one place to another, and fitting the whole package together seamlessly. We can include internal flights if you wish, but our price initially does not include those figures.

Additions - you can add on trip to the nearby Turtle Island Marine Park for a chance to see nesting turtles. While finishing in Kota Kinabalu, you can fly to Sarawak to continue your Borneo adventure visiting the World Heritage Mulu Caves or trek to the indigenous Penan communities. Options in Sabah include climbing Mount Kinabalu, or enjoying your final days on white sand tropical beaches or flying to the Kudat peninsula = the tip of Borneo - for some peace and solitude and beautiful ocean panoramas.

We have been running Borneo wildlife holidays for years and our trips are designed with unique adventure in mind. We have a local office so you will always be looked after on the ground by our office staff and local trip leader. This trip combines the highlights of Sabah to give you a taste of rainforest, wildlife and culture, whilst providing a personal, authentic and up-close experience of this extraordinary area. This trip is designed to cover a range of wildlife hotspots while allowing travellers to enjoy optional activities before or after the trip if they wish.

Borneo Wildlife Tour- fitness and terrain

This is not a particularly physically demanding trip in terms of the activities that you will undertake. The focus is on enjoying the environment and surroundings in an adventurous but comfortable way. As with all adventure travel, you do need to be of reasonable basic fitness and to be healthy and well. Do include details of any underlying health issues on the booking form and speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Borneo Wildlife Tour- Rainforest

The rainforest is a surprisingly clean and pure place to visit. The canopy offers excellent shade from the intense sun keeping temperatures cooler than in the cities. However, it can be very humid and you will need to continually drink water. We travel using trails which have been the jungle arteries for the local residents for thousands of years- it is unlikely that we will be off the beaten track with a machete on this trip. Sometimes the paths can be muddy and slippery and the terrain is up and down, but trekking pace is never fast. You will only carry day packs when jungle trekking and there will be lots of stops for drinking and cooling off in the streams and rivers.

Kota Kinabalu

You stay in a comfortable western-style city hotel in air conditioned twin or double rooms and there is the choice of numerous city restaurants to eat in. We recommend Hotel 63.

Lupa Masa Jungle Camp

Accommodation at Lupa Masa is basic but comfortable; you will sleep on slim mattresses on raised bamboo platforms. In the bathrooms there are bucket showers, or an option which many guests prefer is to shower in one of the beautiful waterfalls or streams surrounding the lodge (eco-soap only).There are western-style toilets, which you pour water into to flush.

Food is freshly prepared at the camp and is healthy, wholesome and vegetarian. It will be a mixture of local and western-style dishes, some of which you can even eat off a giant banana leaf if you so choose!

Homestays

These are normally wooden houses built on stilts in a village area, with a large open space inside for laying out our mattresses and suspending our mosquito nets. They are comfortable yet simple with a communal family feel to them. There will be a squat toilet by the house and fresh water to wash with. The food will be fresh and traditional local meals.

Deramakot Forest Reserve

You will sleep in twin en-suite rooms, which have a ceiling fan and hot and cold water. Electricity runs until midnight so you can charge cameras and food is served in a traditional hall.

Borneo Wildlife Tour Kit List

Duffle bag for your main gear
Daybag of about 15-25 litres for carrying your daily needs
Sleeping liner (silk/cotton) or lightweight sleeping bag for Lupa Masa.
Lightweight trekking or walking boots
Lightweight clothes, synthetic-material trousers and shorts, shirts and T-shirts, jumper or mid layer fleece, socks, trainers or sandals. Take a selection but do remember the sun is hot so best to cover up, and especially in the evenings. A sarong is useful too. Swimming costume/shorts and trek towel too.
Sun hat, sun lotion, SPF lip screen and sunglasses
Reusable water bottles
Head torch
Camera with spare batteries or charger
Personal wash kit - eco-soap recommended
Personal first aid
Passport, insurance papers, spending money, air tickets, reading books, diary.

Travel very light and compact in the jungle. In addition to the information below, check out extra kit tips and survival tips for trekking in the jungle.

Note that anything delicate, absorbent or electronic is likely to suffer from the humid atmosphere, all such items should be housed in a good quality waterproof stuff sack or pouch.

Why Choose Adventure Alternative for Your Borneo Wildlife Tour?

We have our own company, offices and very experienced western and local staff based in Borneo so we never outsource to other companies. They have years of experience living, working and travelling in Borneo, exploring its attractions, managing logistics in-country and looking after visitors.
Often we are the only company visiting some of our more remote wildlife and trekking areas. We are the concessionaire for Deramokot Forest Reserve where the clouded leopard has been seen. We also put together bespoke packages for visits to places like Imbak Canyon, Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, Tabin Reserve and the Kudat peninsula.

Adventure Alternative have responsible and fair methods of working and employment embedded within the company ethos. This extends throughout all aspects of the operation and is not a gimmicky add-on marketing tool. We are also fully bonded through ABTOT so that your trip fees are protected.

Bespoke Dates

Day

Month

Year

Trip

Borneo Wildlife Tour Itinerary

Day	Info
1	Arrival will be into Sandakan Airport, probably via Kuala Lumpur. Here you will be met by our driver for a transfer to the Paganakan Dii Lodge near Sepilok Orang Utan Centre for your first evening on the trip.
2	After breakfast and the chance to recover from any jetlag, you’ll spend the day visiting Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. This is self guided. Founded in 1964, the centre houses confiscated and orphaned Orang Utans until they are old enough to be released into the wild. From here, you can visit the Sun Bear Conservation centre for a chance to see these incredible bears up close. After lunch, head to the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre where there is time to traverse the impressive canopy walkways and look for the giant flying squirrels and hornbills as the day cools down. (B)
3	From Sandakan, we provide a local leader to take you to the river and a journey on the Kinabatangan River for some wildlife watching. The Kinabatangan River is famous for its rich ecosystem. Common sightings include the Proboscis Monkey, Long and Short Tail Macaques, Crocodiles, Horbills, as well as the more elusive Orang Utan and Bornean Pigmy Elephant. Abai is a small homestay centre at the bottom of the river and is quite isolated with only one lodge nearby. Upon arrival you meet your host family and the simple sleeping arrangements consist of mattress and mosquito net. After light lunch there is another river safari to look for the many wild animals that live in the floodplain. Expect to be back by sunset and then dinner with your host family. (B,L,D)
4	After breakfast, you’ll sail further down river to the a small lodge on the bank of the river. The day is spent on more river wildlife safaris and relaxing in the lodge. After dinner, you can explore the surrounding rainforest on foot with the guided night walk for a chance to see some of the nocturnal wildlife. (B,L,D)
5	Don’t be surprised to be woken by the sound of gibbons or hornbills this morning! There is an early morning wildlife safari and you can watch the mist rise from the river while the monkeys begin to stir in the trees. Returning to the lodge, we travel overland to the famous Deramakot Forest Reserve. At 55,000 hectares, Deramakot is the Sabah Forestry Department’s flagship project. It is South East Asia’s only SFC certified logging concession and the presence of very high numbers of mammal species is testament to the success of reduced logging techniques practiced here. This evening you’ll have a chance to see much of the wildlife on a 4x4 night safari. (B,L,D)
6	You will have all day to explore Deramakot Forest Reserve with your wildlife guide on 4X4 wildlife safaris and jungle trekking. (B,L,D)
7	After breakfast, you’ll leave Deramakot behind and begin the journey to Lupa Masa Jungle Camp. Lupa Masa is a simple jungle camp with rustic facilities and is set in a truly wonderful location next to the boundary of World Heritage site, Kinabalu National Park. Surrounded by crystal clear rivers and waterfalls, it has proven to be packed full of smaller wildlife, birds and rare species such as the Tarsier. Sleeping open air on covered bamboo lodgings, you’ll be immersed in the sounds and sights of the rainforest. Lupa Masa translates into 'forgotten time'. There is an evening night walk to discover some of the intriguing nocturnal wildlife, including the luminous frog & fungi! (B,L,D)
8	A full day to explore and relax in the natural ‘jacuzzi pools’ of the rivers and waterfalls and to relax - bring a book, nap in a hammock, or enjoy birdwatching on the deck. After lunch, trek out from camp to Poring village and drive a short journey to the base of Mount Kinabalu where we check into a lodge. Our location here attracts a huge amount of Borneo's varied moths and fireflies at dusk, so you can relax and enjoy these nightly shows of phosphoresence. (B,L,D)
9	After breakfast, we travel to the state capital, Kota Kinabalu. After a group lunch at a local street market or Kedai Kopi, you will have a free afternoon to explore the cities waterfront, shop for souvenirs and watch a stunning sunset over the South China Sea. (B)
10	Checking out of your hotel, you have the option to head straight to the airport for your flight home or we can help you to arrange a climb of the spectacular Mount Kinabalu, a range of day trip activities near Kota Kinabalu or join onward travel to further adventures in Sarawak. (B)

Borneo Wildlife Tour cost £1895.00

The advertised price is based on a minimum of 2 people travelling and using a shared guide at Deramokot. We can easily adapt the programme and provide quotes for your preferences.

INCLUDES

Accommodation throughout the trip
All meals listed in detailed itinerary (B,L,D)
4x4 or minibus/car transport throughout the trip
Park fees, permits & camping fees
Trip leader for each section of the trip (note the leader will be different for each section of the trip, if you would like a single trip leader throughout then this will be an additional cost)
Wildlife guide for visiting Deramokot Reserve on the basis of sharing a guide with other people. If you would like a private guide then please contact us for a quote and information on availability.

EXCLUDES

Internal flights to Sandakan, and from Kota Kinabalu (we can buy these for you if you wish under our ATOL license)
Lunches and dinners not listed in the detailed itinerary
Personal Travel Insurance
Visa - please check regulations here.

A minimum deposit of £100 is required on booking to secure your place and we ask that the remaining balance is paid in full six weeks prior to your departure. When you book with us you're given your own secure online account to edit your booking, add flight details and personal information and also make interim payments.

Upgrades and supplements are available, and we can also adjust the itinerary. Please contact us with your preferences so we can discuss options.

Our local provider is Adventure Alternative Borneo which has its office in Kota Kinabalu and a full complement of staff to manage all our Borneo holidays. Where we do use providers such as hostel and guesthouse owners and homestays these are people our Adventure Alternative Borneo staff have known for years, and spent time with to build up the trust between both parties.