Safari Idea - The Island of Borneo with Doug Macdonald - April 2027

Day notes

Today we fly from Kuala Lumpur through to Sandakan on the Malaysian side of the Island of Borneo. We will be met at the airport and transferred to the lodge where we can relax and explore the local area.

Day notes

A big day - we start early from the hotel to explore the Sepilok-Kabili Forest Reserve. We begin at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre then onto to the Sun Bear center - we will then have lunch and then head over to the Rain Forest Discovery Center. From here we will be able to explore some of the hiking trails and visit the excellent canopy walkway great for birds and some of the smaller mammals.

We will also have time at the Plant Discovery Garden where a focus is on the Orchids - hosting about 250 different species in bloom - Dick we have limited time here so we will be managing you or taking your meal order!

We return to the lodge for rest and then back to the Discovery Center for a night walk in the forest so we can try and see some of the special nocturnal creatures like Mouse Deer, Tarsiers, Civets and lots of insects which all should fascinating.

Day notes

A morning to sleep in and relax before lunch. After lunch we  go by boat to the Kinabatangan River which will take about 2hours along the Kinabatangan River before reaching the lodge. We will still be taking in the wildlife along the way so keep your cameras and binos ready as we pass through Coastal Mangroves ,Nipa Palm lined river banks. We should arrive in time for lunch, so we can settle in and then get ready for an afternoon cruise on the river and we get serious about game viewing along the river - Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, and hopefully Pygmy Asian Elephants will be a key focus here.  

Day notes

Another day exploring this diverse river with a cruise to the Pitas Oxbow Lake which will be amazing as sunlight first hits this forest and it bursts into life with the dawn chorus.

We return to the lodge for a late breakfast and then a walk in the forest to see the forest from a different perspective. In the afternoon we shall explore the forest more along the Kinabatangan River in search of Orangutans and everything that lives here,  including another night cruise along the river.

Day notes

This morning we have a boat transfer followed by an overland transfer to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve. After checking in at the lodge we can then go for a walk to explore the Lipad River and its diversity of birds, insects and mammals. 

In the afternoon we will trek through the trails to the active Lipad Mud Volcano which is a very active mineral lick for the mammals and birds here.

Day notes

This morning we transfer by road to our new lodge in the Danum Valley. This is where we will move from regenrating forest into primary rainforests. After lunch we will meet our guide there and maybe have a short walk nearby before dinner. After dinner we go on a guided night safari in search of the various species here like marbled cat.

Day notes

Today we have a full day to enjoy this pristine rain forest home to all 10 of Borneo's primate species which includes Orangutan, Loris, and Borneo Gibbons plus rare animals like the Borean Pygmy Elephant, Sun Bear, the incredible flying Colugo and rare Sumatran Rhino. There is also a range of deer species like Muntjac and Sambar.

We start with a hike through the forest to Coffin Cliff which has a beautiful natural pool, which will be a welcome relief after the hiking to freshen up - dont forget your speedo's. If the weather allows we could also do a bit of water tubing down the Danum River. We will also be able to do a night trek to complete our nature filled day - it will be great to look for the tiny Boggle Eyed Tarsier.

Day notes

We have a last morning here to enjoy the forest before having lunch and then we have a transfer through to Lahad Datu town in readiness for the start of the flights home.