A Family Wildlife Adventure In Beautiful Borneo

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.

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.

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.

Overview

The Bunga Raya Resort is a beautiful island retreat situated on Gaya Island not far off the coast from Kota Kinabalu. The private resort borders a stunning white sand beach and offers superb five-star facilities and service but benefits from a peaceful and personal ambience. The resort is ideal for couples and families looking for some relaxing downtime after exploring the rainforests or mountains of the mainland.

The name translates to hibiscus, representing the wide variety of hibiscus flowers found around the resort. Due to its wild situations, guests can see considerable wildlife within the resort, including monitor lizards; bearded pigs; snakes; civets and birdlife.

Accommodation is in elegant, spacious wooden villas fitted with smart furnishings and facilities such as LCD flat screen TV, DVD player, radio, complimentary (except wine) minibar, room safe, free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. Each villa has a living room, separate bedroom, en suite bathroom and a private balcony, some of which give sea views. Facilities and services at Bunga Raya Resort include 24-hour room service, a large infinity swimming pool, spa, and gym. Activities include kayaking, diving, snorkelling, ziplining and jet skiing.

There is a good choice of dining options available catering for all palates. The Pantai Grill is set right on the beach and specialises in grilled meat and fish for lunch and dinner, while the Koi Restaurant offers a wider range of cuisine and is open all day. The hotel’s underground wine cave contains an extensive selection of fine wines to accompany your meal.

There is a small coral reef nearby offering good snorkelling and island tours and hiking are also available.