Birding & Wildlife, Mystical Borneo
Kinabalu Park, Sandakan, Sepilok Nature Reserve, Gomantong Caves, Mystical Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley, Kinabatangan River
From $3,200 AUD pp (2 pax)
Tour Highlights
- Spot the endemic birds of mystical Borneo
- Sightings of primates, reptiles & amphibians
- Visit to UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinabalu Park
- Orangutan encounters in Sepilok Nature Reserve
- Gomantong Caves
- Kinabatangan River Cruise
- Staying in Bilit Rainforest Lodge
- Wildlife cruise in Bilit Rainforest Lodge
- Jungle Trekking in Bilit Rainforest Lodge
- Visit Danum Valley Borneo Rainforest Lodge
- Danum Valley’s World famous canopy walkway
After a couple of pitstops for handmade folk souvenirs and a perhaps a taste of some exotic fruits, you will arrive at Malaysia’s first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kinabalu National Park. Set at 1,500m above sea level, this 754sq kilometer park features one the Tallest Mountains in all of South East Asia as its center piece, Mount Kinabalu– rising at 4.095.2m with cloud-hugging peaks that catches breaths, enchants eyes and shades valleys below…. Certainly a sight to behold from Kinabalu National Park.
Day two, rise and Shine, an exciting Bird-watching session awaits at the crack of dawn! Keep an eye out for an array of montane endemics, such as the Bornean Green Magpie, Bornean Treepie, Black-sided Flowerpecker, Pale-faced Bulbul, the Orang Backed Woodpecker.
On day three, after breakfast, hit the road heading to Sandakan – the second largest town in Sabah with the greatest concentration of wildlife in all of Southeast Asia.
Day four is an early breakfast at 06:00hrs and then we proceed to Rainforest Discovery Centre for birdwatching. Experience the canopy walk while looking for more birds, and explore some of the trails before lunch.
Day five brings you to Sabah’s most extensive cave systems, The Gomantong Caves. Upon arrival, Gear up! A guided tour along the plank walk will unveil the intricate chamber system of Gomantong Cave, the largest bird’s nest cave in Sabah and home to millions of bats and swiflets.
Continue on an approximately 30 minute drive to one of the world’s richest ecosystems on the Lower Kinabatangan River. Arrive at Kampung Bilit, hop on a boat and cruise down the river heading to Bilit Rainforest Lodge where lunch will be served. After settling in, the adventure continues. A wildlife river cruise awaits you for more birding action. Besides the feathered beauties, you may also be able to spot endemic Proboscis Monkeys, wild Orang Utans, leaf monkeys, gibbons and macaque, and sometimes if you are lucky, even the rare Borneo Pygmy Elephant. After dinner a night cruise to spot the night creatures.
After an early breakfast on day six, depart on an overland drive to the district of Lahad Datu, home to the World renowned Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley. You are taken straight into the wilds of Borneo where you bask in luxurious comfort with an undisturbed primary rainforest literally at your doorstep – a habitat to more than 340 species of birds, 124 species of mammals and an astonishing 200 species of plants per hectare.
Today, day seven, you will be visiting one of the highlights of mystical Borneo Rainforest Lodge, the Treetop Canopy Walkway, where a true sense of the expanse and beauty of the rainforest really unveils itself bare before your eyes. The Tree Top Canopy Walkway made it to World Geography’s list of World’s Most Amazing Treetop Walkways, complete with multiple viewing platforms that spans 300m in length and stands at 26m at the highest point, tall enough for an unobstructed up-close view of the 130 million year old virgin jungle’s canopy that will leave you spellbound.
On your last day, day eight, As the sun announces itself over the rainforest of Danum Valley, you’ll be on the trails for a morning walk to check out more wildlife of mystical borneo that roam the jungle.
