Tailormade Holidays in Borneo

The Danum Valley Conservation Area covers 438 square kilometres of predominantly lowland dipterocarp rainforest and is one of only two substantial areas of protected primary rainforest remaining in Sabah. The forest can be explored via a good network of trails, an incredible 300-metre long canopy walkway and, after dark, through spotlighting safaris in search of such nocturnal mammals as Red Giant Flying Squirrel, Sunda Colugo, Temminck’s Flying Squirrel and occasionally Bornean Slow Loris and Western Tarsier. Sunda Clouded Leopards are also occasionally seen on night-drives, although Leopard Cats are much more common. During the day there’s always a good chance of encountering a Bornean Orangutan or Northern Grey Gibbon, but the more elusive denizens of the forest such as Malayan Sun Bear are rarely seen. The Danum Valley is also outstanding for birds, being home to eight species of hornbill, of which the huge Rhinoceros Hornbill can be seen almost daily. Other specialities include the Great Argus and Crested Fireback Pheasants, Black-headed and Blue-headed Pittas, Bornean Bristlehead, Bornean and Black-throated Wren-babblers, Great-billed Heron, Wallace’s and Blyth’s Hawk-eagles, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Great Slaty and Olive-backed Woodpeckers, Whiskered Treeswift and Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher.

Accommodation in Danum Valley Conservation Area

Tabin Wildlife Reserve consists of mature secondary and primary lowland rainforest and is first and foremost a wonderful birding location. Forays into the forest are made on foot and it’s possible to see 70 or 80 species in a day, among them Brown Wood Owl, White-fronted Falconet, Blue-banded Kingfisher, Large Green, Thick-billed and Little Green Pigeons, Great Slaty, Crimson-winged and Olive-backed Woodpeckers, plus a range of leafbirds, hornbills, malkohas and trogons. Time spent at the local ‘mud volcano’ can reveal some of the forest’s larger inhabitants such as Pygmy (Asian) Elephant, Bornean Orangutan and Northern Grey Gibbon. Spotlighting at Tabin can also be very productive with Malay, Philippine Palm and Bornean Small-toothed Palm Civets frequently seen, along with Sunda Leopard Cat and Bornean Slow Loris.

The floodplain of the Kinabatangan River is a low-lying wilderness of muddy rivers, dense rainforest, serene ox-bow lakes and towering limestone outcrops. Wild Bornean Orangutans are often encountered during boat safaris as are Pygmy (Asian) Elephants and the bizarre Proboscis Monkey for which the area is renowned. The birdlife is outstanding and the river’s meandering course allows clean lines of sight with highlights including Storm’s Stork (this is one of the most reliable sites for this endangered species anywhere), Chestnut-necklaced Partridge, Bornean Ground Cuckoo, Hooded, Black-headed and Giant Pittas, Diard’s Trogon, Moustached Hawk-cuckoo, Wallace’s Hawk-eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Lesser Fish Eagle, Bat Hawk, Buffy Fish Owl, Whiskered Treeswift, up to four species of malkoha, and eight species of hornbill. The nearby Gomantong Caves penetrate deep inside two huge limestone outcrops and an excursion here to search for the wildlife of the surrounding forest and then watch the exodus of millions of bats as they try to evade the waiting Bat Hawks and Peregrines is most certainly recommended. If your visit is so timed, there is also the chance to observe the remarkable sight of the local people ascending to the roofs of the caves on their precarious rope and bamboo ladders to collect swiftlet nests (sustainably) for ‘bird’s-nest soup’!

Accommodation in The Kinabatangan River

The Deramakot Forest Reserve is fast becoming one of the most exciting destinations in which to see south-east Asia’s most sought-after mammals, including the Sunda Clouded Leopard. Until very recently, accommodation in the Deramakot Reserve has been extremely limited and so the area has remained well off the tourist trail. The fact that visitors are free to roam unrestricted (as there are so few of them!) is perhaps why the reserve offers such wonderful rare mammal sightings. Other exciting mammals to be found at Deramakot include Sun Bear, Binturong, Pygmy (Asian) Elephant, Marbled Cat, Otter Civet, Banteng and Sunda Skunk. Spotlighting and nocturnal drives offer the best chances for mammals at Deramakot, and visitors prepared to be out around the clock are likely to be rewarded the most highly.

At 4,101 metres (13,455 feet) Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain between the eastern Himalaya and New Guinea and its forested slopes hold a rich diversity of montane and submontane fauna and flora. It also attracts many visitors wishing to trek to the summit to witness the spectacular sunrise over the surrounding lush Bornean hills. Accommodation is available near the park’s headquarters from where an excellent network of trails radiates out into the cool and refreshing montane evergreen forest. The scenery is spectacular and you are sure to see a wealth of species amongst mixed feeding flocks that work the forests, and perhaps some of the specialities which include Crimson-headed Partridge, Temminck’s Babbler, Black-breasted Fruit-hunter, Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, Bornean Stubtail and, of course, the legendary trio: Whitehead’s Trogon, Whitehead’s Broadbill and Whitehead’s Spiderhunter. Also found in the area is the Rafflesia plant, which boasts the largest flower in the world. After a long day on the trails, a stop at the nearby Poring Hot Springs is a great way to relax.