Northern Coast and Islands
Selingan Island Chalets
The accommodation here is very basic, being simple air-conditioned twin-bed chalets with electricity and shared bathrooms but is clean and functional. However it is the unforgettable turtle experience on Selingan Island that makes up for the lack of amenities.
Selingan Island is the largest of the turtle islands in the Selingan Marine National Park. The island has beautiful white-sand beaches, good snorkelling and is famed for its breeding population of green turtles.
Selingan Island is special because high numbers of green turtles come to the island throughout the year, making it one of the most reliable places in the world to observe their egg-laying.
Visit the park hatchery to see the transplantation of eggs and help return the young turtles to the sea. The most exciting event is at night when rangers call small groups of guests to witness the adult females laying. During the day it is possible to snorkel in the shallow waters around the island where a small coral reef is present, but the diversity of marine fauna is generally low.
Facilities
Shared bathrooms, air-conditioning, dining room and communal area with bar.
Local Wildlife
Green turtles nest year round on the island but are most abundant between May and September. Water monitor lizards are often found in the interior of the island and a reasonable diversity of birds is present too. There is a small community of corals and several species of colourful reef fish can be seen.
Optional Activities
Visit the park hatchery to see the transplantation of eggs and help return young turtles to the sea. Night excursion to witness egg- laying. Snorkelling is possible in the shallow sea but it is not a very rich area for snorkelling compared to other islands.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
Wake up early and make your own way down to the beach at sunrise. You may still find a turtle laying eggs or hatchings returning to the sea, and the first light of day makes for great photographs.
If you have any questions regarding our Borneo tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
This was our 11th consecutive wildlife trip with Reef and Rainforest, that in itself speaks volumes. As our interest in the natural world has steadily increased so have our demands, particularly with regard to itinerary planning. Reef and Rainforest have never let us down, delivering some truly magical experiences and wildlife sightings over the years. This trip was one of the best, we observed well 4 out of 5 cat species, 9 out of 10 primates and 6 out of 8 Hornbills. In all 44 species of mammals were recorded and numerous birds and reptiles. Be prepared to go nocturnal to get the best out of your visit, Borneo is a truly magical island to visit with some wonderful and rare wildlife. The accommodation throughout the trip was good, the guiding was exceptional and the food was of a very high standard. Thank you, Jonathan, and all at Reef and Rainforest, we look forward to hopefully travelling with you again in 2025.