Borneo, Wildlife Tours

The Best of Borneo’s Wonderful Wildlife

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Tailor-Made Tour
11 Days
From 3890
Birding
Photographic
Primate Watching
Rainforest

Tour Introduction

11 Days from  3890 per adult. All trip details below can be tailored just for you

We carefully designed this comprehensive Borneo wildlife holiday to maximise the variety of habitats and number of headline species whilst using accommodation of a very high standard throughout. Begin with an exploration of the high altitude forests of Mt Kinabalu and Poring before travelling overland to the orang-utan rehabilitation centre at Sepilok to see some of the rehabilitated animals and visit the nearby Sun Bear Centre and Rainforest Discovery Centre. Then embark on a river journey up the Kinabatangan River, spotting plenty of wild proboscis monkeys and possibly wild orang-utans and Borneo pygmy elephants en route to the small river village of Sukau. Finally comes three nights in the stunning Danum Valley, one of the world’s last great expanses of rainforest, to spot a dazzling array of rainforest wildlife on foot, night drive and a series of high walkways through the forest canopy. This is South East Asian wildlife viewing at its very best.

Full Itinerary

Price from  3890 per adult. Based on sharing double / twin rooms
Day 1
Arrive in Borneo

Arrive in Kota Kinabalu. Met on arrival and transfer via paddy fields and Dunsun villages through the Crocker Mountain Range to Kinabalu National Park.

Staying at Kinabalu Park Cabin. Includes Dinner.

Day 2
Kinabalu National Park

Enjoy a guided wildlife tour along rainforest trails, visit the education centre and the botanical gardens with its superb collection of pitcher plants, rare orchids and other flora. Kinabalu National Park has an extremely high biodiversity, including a large number of endemic species, and vegetation types ranging from humid lowland rainforest through to tropical oak and chestnut forests and sub-alpine mountain habitat.

Staying at Kinabalu Park Cabin. Includes All Meals.

Day 3
Poring Hot springs

Drive to the Poring Hot Springs. Explore the rainforest trails, canopy walk, visit Kipungit Waterfall and soak in the hot sulphur water pools. This is also one of the best places in the world to spot Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower.

Staying at Poring Park Cabin. Includes All Meals.

Day 4
Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre

Pick-up from cabin and transfer by road to the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre in time to witness feeding of the orang-utans. The centre works to rehabilitate orphaned or injured orang-utans back into the wild, and many of the semi-wild apes return to the centre to feed on fruit left for them by the staff. Visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre to walk the canopy walkway and explore the botanical garden. Activity is usually greatest in the late afternoon with great birdlife and occasionally orang-utans moving through the forest. Return to the centre for a night walk when flying squirrels, tarsiers and slow loris are sometimes seen.

Staying at Sepilok Nature Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 5
Kinabatangan River

Return to the Orang-Utan Centre to watch morning feeding then visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to see rescued bears in their forest habitat. After lunch at a local restaurant, board a boat for a fabulous wildlife cruise along the coast and up the Kinabatangan River, the largest in Sabah, with its banks of mangrove, wetland and rainforest offering exceptional wildlife viewing. Following a brief welcome and orientation there will be a late afternoon river cruise to spot species such as proboscis monkey, wild orang-utan and various hornbills. If weather permits, stay out until nightfall to see nocturnal animals and a stunning firefly display.

Staying at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort. Includes All Meals.

Day 6
Kinabatangan River

Early morning river cruise to spot wildlife then continue cruising up the Kinabatangan River to your next lodge, all the while on the lookout for Borneo pygmy elephants, often seen on this stretch of the river.

Staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 7
Kinabatangan River

Early morning river excursion to Kelenanap ox-bow lake for excellent birding and other wildlife. Afternoon river excursion for another chance to see proboscis monkeys and various species. Optional night cruise to spot nocturnal fauna, with possible sightings of marbled and flat-headed cats.

Staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 8
Danum Valley

Transfer overland to Gomantong Caves, home to thousands of bats and cave swiftlets, whose nests are selectively harvested for use in the famous bird’s nest soup. Continue by road to Lahad Datu and on to the Danum Valley Conservation Area. Covering 438 square kilometres of pristine dipterocarp rainforest, the Danum Valley Conservation Area is one of the prime wilderness regions in the whole of South East Asia, with its towering trees and stunning landscapes. There will be an evening introduction and slide show followed by a night walk to spot nocturnal animals.

Staying at Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 9
Danum Valley

Early morning start for the Canopy Walk, a series of walkways reaching a height of around 90 feet and ending in a huge majau tree with viewing platform. Following breakfast at the lodge you will have a full day in the reserve with your guide. Perhaps climb the escarpment to see ancient tombs in the cliff face, follow the Segama River deep into the forest or visit the local swimming hole - a natural Jacuzzi. In the evening there will be a spotlight game drive (weather permitting) to pick out deer, flying squirrel, leopard cat and possibly elephant and clouded leopard.

Staying at Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 10
Danum Valley

Full day of guided excursions. The area is home to a vast array of wildlife including all ten of Sabah's primate species, wild elephant, the beautiful clouded leopard and 340 bird species.

Staying at Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 11
Depart Borneo

Transfer by road back to Lahad Datu and fly home.

Includes In-flight Meals.

Tour Accommodation

Borneo Sabah

Sutera Sanctuary Lodges at Kinabalu Park

Overview

Nestled in the wildlife-rich Kinabalu National Park, Sutera sanctuary lodges offer a variety of accommodation options in the midst of nature. The lodges sit at an altitude of 1, 585m above sea level with easy well-marked trails leading out from the lodge straight into the national park. Each cabin is within walking distance of the park headquarters and restaurant.

The restaurant at Kinabalu Hill Lodge serves excellent traditional Malay and international cuisine.

The cabins are quite basic but have comfortable beds and a spacious living area with a cable TV and attractive parquet flooring. They are located on the side of a hill with far-reaching views across to the rainforest: the summit of Mount Kinabalu can be seen on clear days.

Swimming Pool
No
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
10
Facilities

En suite rooms, restaurant, 24-hour electricity and cable TV.

Local Wildlife

The park has an extremely high biodiversity, including a large number of endemic species, and habitats ranging from humid lowland rainforest through to oak and chestnut forests and sub-alpine montane forest. There are over 700 orchid species, 600 species of fern (including many tree ferns), 600 species of butterfly and 326 species of bird including the mountain serpent-eagle and the wreathed hornbill.

Optional Activities

Guided walks in the Kinabalu National Park and Botanical Gardens. For the more adventurous, hikes to the summit of Mount Kinabalu can be arranged. The Poring Hot Springs are also nearby offering natural warm baths and a canopy walkway.

Borneo Sabah

Jungle Lodge at Poring Hot Springs

Overview

Close to the world famous Poring Hot Springs near Kinabalu National Park, the resort has simple yet pleasant accommodation, a good restaurant and is surrounded by well-preserved rainforest.

The Jungle Lodge units are simple one-bedroom cabins with private bathrooms. They have comfortable beds, a spacious living area with cable TV and attractive parquet flooring. The cabins are located amongst the forest foliage and there are easy trails to explore straight from the resort. There are multiple level pools for guests to bathe in the hot spring waters, as well as an outdoor swimming pool and slide pool. Explore the butterfly garden, gallery and canopy walkway.

The resort used to be administered by the National Park authorities but was taken over by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges who spruced up the buildings and added units. We normally book the Jungle Lodge units, but there are also the two-bedroom River Lodge units and the Palm Villa, a premier chalet with butler service and a special menu.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
10
Facilities

Restaurant, bar, outdoor swimming pool, air conditioned lounge, TV, en suite hot water showers, mosquito netted windows, outside seating area, room and laundry service.

Local Wildlife

Macaques and silvered langurs are frequently spotted and the area is good for sightings of flying lizards and the beautiful wagler’s pit viper. Poring is one of the world’s best places to see the Rafflesia - the world’s largest flower with brightly coloured red and yellow blooms measuring up to 1m in diameter. The blooming of the Rafflesia is very much a chance event, but if any are flowering at the time of your visit you will be given an opportunity to see this natural spectacle (please note that if this occurs outside the park boundary a small charge may be payable to local villagers).

Optional Activities

The main attraction is the hot springs and although these are the most popular to bathe in there is also a selection of cool water pools, slides to enjoy. Other attractions include 2 canopy walkways and a butterfly garden. Excursions to look for blooming Rafflesia - the world’s largest flower can be arranged.

Borneo Sabah

Sepilok Nature Lodge

Overview

Beautifully set in lush grounds within walking distance of the lowland rainforests of Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve with it’s renowned orang-utan centre, sun bear centre and rainforest discovery centre.

The spacious chalets at Sepilok Nature Lodge have private facilities and are tastefully decorated with local wood and handmade textiles. The restaurant serves a good selection of local and more international food and there is free Wi-Fi available here.

The chalets are surrounded by wildlife-filled gardens which would take half a day to appreciate fully and include a natural lake, and orang-utans can sometimes be seen in the adjacent forest. The lodge offers guided walks through the reserve in the early morning and at night when orang-utans, flying squirrels and slow loris are often spotted.

Each of the 60 chalets has twin or double beds, air-conditioning, private bathrooms with hot water, TV and mini bar. Most chalets also have a private veranda that overlooks the lush gardens or the peaceful lake.

The famous Sepilok Organ-Utan Rehabilitation Centre and the new Sun Bear Centre are only a 5-minute walk from the resort. It is approximately 20 minutes to the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

Swimming Pool
No
Air Conditioning
Yes
Rooms
60
Facilities

Rooms with private hot water bathrooms, verandas, free Wi-Fi, ceiling fans, satellite TV, laundry service and private veranda.

Local Wildlife

Orang-utans, long-tailed macaques, slow loris, red giant flying squirrels, mouse deer, hornbills, flying lizards and water monitor lizards.

Optional Activities

The Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre is only a 5-minute walk from the resort, and it is approximately 20 minutes to both the Rainforest Discovery Centre and Proboscis Monkey Rescue Centre.

Borneo Sabah

Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort

Overview

Set in a remote forest reserve near an internationally-important wetland, the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort offers access to an unspoilt region populated by local tribespeople and a wide array of wildlife. A raised walkway leads between the buildings at the resort where ten tastefully designed twin cabins provide luxurious air/conditioned accommodation.

Spacious and bright, they have dark, wooden floors, white linens and bright bed throws and cushions in locally-made fabrics.  Each has an outdoor seating area where many of the animals of the wetlands (deer, wild pigs etc) can be seen.  Other facilities include an open dining area, a library and a lounge with cane and bamboo sofas. The food is good and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the area. The local freshwater swamps and mangrove forest are home to orangutan, langurs and rhinoceros hornbill along with a diverse mix of tropical plant life.  Activities include day and night river safaris, jungle walks and visits to the local Orang Sungai people.

Swimming Pool
No
Air Conditioning
Yes
Rooms
10
Facilities

All rooms are equipped with fan, private bathroom with hot & cold shower, shampoo, soap and toilet papers. Free Wifi internet access within restaurant area, Laundry service is available at a fee. The resort has its’ own 24 hours security personnel. 24 hours electricity is supplied by solar panels and a generator.

Local Wildlife

The local freshwater swamps and mangrove forest are home to orangutan, langurs and rhinoceros hornbill along with a diverse mix of tropical plant life. Deer and wild pigs can be seen around the boardwalks by day. At night your can see nocturnal wildlife like the diminutive mouse deer, roosting birds and the extraordinary-looking colugo

Optional Activities

Boat excursions, village visits and night walks are all included in the price here.

Borneo Sabah

Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Overview

Built on the banks of the mighty Kinabatangan River using strict sustainable development principles, the lodge provides an ideal base from which to explore the wildlife of the surrounding forest, often in electrically powered boats to limit disturbance and maximise sightings. The accommodation here underwent a complete refurbishment and the rooms are now more spacious with modern facilities and stylish décor.

The Kinabatangan area is particularly renowned for proboscis monkeys that arrive in large groups at the trees of the riverbanks during late afternoon. There is also a very good chance of seeing wild orang-utan, macaque, gibbon and silvered and maroon langur monkeys. Bird species include all eight hornbills, oriental darter and the spectacular buffy fish-owl.

Borneo pygmy elephants are found here in large herds and can occasionally be observed walking through the lodge. There is a pleasant jetty overlooking the river where meals are sometimes taken and wildlife such as kingfishers and the rare storms stork can be observed.

Behind the lodge is an impressive network of boardwalks providing covered, safe walking through the rainforest.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
20
Facilities

Private bathrooms with hot water, restaurant, air-conditioning, safety deposit box, small dipping pool, foot spa, pool table, mini library and sun deck.

Local Wildlife

Wild orang-utans, proboscis monkeys, long and pig-tailed macaques, silvered and maroon langurs, Bornean gibbons, Bornean pygmy elephants, civets, otters and bearded pigs are also occasionally seen. During the dry season when river levels are lower, the rare flat-headed cat can be seen more often on nocturnal boat trips and there is even a chance of spotting a clouded leopard. Reticulated python, mangrove snake and saltwater crocodiles can often be spotted. Eight species of hornbill, the rare storm’s stork, various kingfishers and Bornean ground cuckoos are some of the many avian highlights found there.

Optional Activities

Boat safaris along the Kinabatangan River and its tributaries. It is possible to arrange cultural excursions to the local village and visit the huge Gomantong caves where thousands of edible nest swiftlets and bats can be watched.

Borneo Sabah

Borneo Rainforest Lodge

Overview

Widely regarded as one of the best wildlife lodges in Asia, Borneo Rainforest Lodge is situated on the Danum River which flows through Sabah’s largest protected lowland rainforest in the 44,000-hectare Danum Valley Conservation Area.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge boasts an extensive network of trails and a fantastic 300m-long canopy walkway giving a bird’s-eye view of nesting orang-utans up to 26m high.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge has well-appointed rooms, serves excellent food and has highly knowledgeable naturalist guides. The service is of 5-star quality while still maintaining sustainable and environmentally sensitive practices. Each of the 31 chalet style rooms has comfortable twin or double beds, ceiling fans, smart furnishings and private bathrooms with hot water.

There is a communal room where evening slideshows and talks are given and there is a small bar and laundry service available. Night game drives and walks are provided for nocturnal wildlife viewing. The restaurant offers delicious Malaysian and international cuisine and there is a good selection of beverages available from the bar.

The area is home to a vast array of wildlife including all ten of Sabah’s primate species, Bornean pygmy elephants and remains one of the strongholds for the beautiful Sunda clouded leopard and extremely rare bay cat. 340 bird species and an innumerable number of reptiles, amphibians, insects and plants are also present in the surrounding forests.

Swimming Pool
No
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
31
Facilities

Private bathrooms, hot water bathtubs, restaurant, bar, 24-hour electricity, ceiling fans, Jacuzzis, lounge, laundry service and natural history library. Deluxe chalets and three newer luxury villas available. Long canopy walkway.

Local Wildlife

The rare primary rainforest surrounding Borneo Rainforest Lodge is home to a huge diversity of wildlife: 340 species of birds, 120 of mammals, 72 reptile species, 56 amphibians and an incredible 200 species of plants per hactare. Some of the wildlife highlights include a healthy population of wild orang-utan, Bornean agile gibbons, western tarsier, Sunda slow loris, maroon langur, Bornean pygmy elephant, bearded pig, two species of mouse deer, five species of civet, smooth-coated otter, flying squirrel, leopard, marbled and bay cats and the stunning Sunda clouded leopard: the area was also previously home to the Sumatran rhino. The area is regarded as one of the best birding spots in Sabah, with six species of pitta alone regularly seen (including the endemic black-crowned and vivid blue-headed) as well as Bornean bristlehead, ground babblers, hornbills, owls, broadbills and many more.

Optional Activities

There is an extensive trail network, a magnificent canopy walkway, river tubing trips, game drives and walks and nocturnal spotlighting.

Route Map

Departure Dates

This tour has no set departure date and can be tailored to suit your travel requirements. Contact us for more details.

Travel Information

Are International Flights Included?

No. Please contact us for a quote if required.

Flight Info:

No flights included.

Best Visited:

March to October

Are you ATOL Registered?

Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.

Jonathan Morris

Area Specialist

If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965

Best Holiday ever and we have travelled to many countries! Saw most of what we wanted to see: Orang utan, pygmy elephants, red leaf monkey, macaques, many birds, gibbons, hornbills etc etc. Overall it was the most fantastic holiday. Couldn’t have asked for anything more.

MR NK - ESSEX