Borneo’s Forest Wildlife on a Budget
Tour Introduction
A wildlife tour which takes in a great variety of settings, from Mount Kinabalu and its dipterocarp forest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), carnivorous plants, rainforest birds and parasitic Rafflesias to the world-renowned Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre and jungle-lined Kinabatangan River with primates aplenty – wild orang-utans and pink-faced proboscis monkeys as well as hornbills, Borneo pygmy elephants and much more. Visit Gomantong Caves for cave swiftlets and millions of bats emerging at sunset, and spend a couple of days exploring the city of Kota Kinabalu and its offshore islands. A great deal of variety for so reasonable a price.
Full Itinerary
Arrive into Kota Kinabalu. Met on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Staying at Hotel Shangri-La. Includes No Meals.
Pickup from hotel and transfer to the Kinabalu National Park. Enjoy a guided tour of the rainforest, visit the education centre and the botanical gardens with a superb collection of pitcher plants, rare orchids and other flora. The 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 up to sub-alpine mountain habitat.
Staying at Kinabalu Park Cabin. Includes All Meals.
Drive to Poring Hot Springs. Explore the rainforest trails and 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 species, the world’s largest flower. Return to Kota Kinabalu in the afternoon.
Staying at Hotel Shangri-La. Includes Breakfast and Lunch.
Morning flight to Sandakan and transfer to Sepilok. Visit the Rehabilitation Centre to see the feeding of the orang-utans, then the Rainforest Discovery Centre for a canopy walk and exploration of the forest. Perhaps take an optional night walk in the reserve to see flying squirrels and other nocturnal wildlife.
Staying at Sepilok Nature Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Return to Sandakan for lunch then travel by boat a short way along the coast and then inland via the Kinabatangan River, Sabah’s largest, with its wildlife-filled mangrove, wetlands and rainforest affording superb wildlife viewing. After a journey of approximately two hours accompanied by a naturalist guide, you arrive at the lodge. Following a brief welcome and orientation there will be a late afternoon river cruise to spot wildlife.
Staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Early morning river excursion to the Kelenanap ox-bow lake for excellent birding and general wildlife viewing. Afternoon river excursion for another chance to see proboscis monkeys and other wildlife. Optional night cruise to spot nocturnal species, possibly including marbled and flat-headed cats.
Staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Day of guided boat trips and rainforest walks.
Staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Explore the waterways of Sukau in the morning then head to Gomantong Caves to explore the forest trails and watch millions of bats emerge at sunset.
Staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Return by boat back to Sandakan and fly back to Kota Kinabalu in the afternoon.
Staying at Hotel Shangri-La. Includes Breakfast.
Free day to explore the markets and waterfront of Kota Kinabalu. Perhaps take a ferry to nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park for snorkelling and forest walks.
Staying at Hotel Shangri-La. Includes Breakfast.
Transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport and fly home.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
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
Air Conditioning
Rooms
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.
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
Air Conditioning
Rooms
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.
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
Air Conditioning
Rooms
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.
Shangri La Hotel
Overview
The Shangri La Hotel at Kota Kinabalu is a mere 10-minute drive from the international airport and has views towards the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Marine Park and Mount Kinabalu in the distance.
The hotel has 121 rooms; all are spacious with modern en suite bathrooms, LCD cable TV, mini-bar, complimentary water, tea and coffee facilities, air-conditioning and free high speed Wi-Fi. The Tivoli Bar and Café is open throughout the day featuring Malay, Chinese, Indian and western cuisine.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, free Wi-Fi, safety deposit box, concierge service, mini-bar, laundry service, 24-hour room service.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Domestic flights included within Borneo.
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
Switching to Royal Brunei Airlines can make this trip even cheaper, as long as you don’t mind a couple of stops en route.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Thoroughly enjoyable, the length of time spent at each destination was about right, so we didn’t feel too rushed whilst trying to squeeze in a number of destinations…. Very impressed with the service from yourselves in arranging this (& previous) holidays usually with little “notice” and limited budget. Thank you.
