Spend two weeks in Borneo as you explore montane, riverine and rainforest landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystems featuring iconic native species and incredibly varied wildlife. This is a Borneo wildlife holiday brimming with biodiversity, visiting some of the best places to see wild orangutans.
Journey into the mystical rainforests of Malaysian Borneo in search of numerous endemic species on our ‘Sabah Wildlife Special’ tour. The island of Borneo is one of the most biodiverse destinations on planet Earth and the northernmost state of Sabah features some of the island's most prolific areas for wildlife viewing. This is a perfect itinerary for lovers of orangutans and to discover Sabah's diverse habitats and wildlife. From the varied montane habitats of Kinabalu National Park to the endearing orangutans at Sepilok Sanctuary, proboscis monkeys swinging through the trees on the Kinabatangan River, and the wonderful Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley (one of our favourites), Sabah offers a first-class wildlife experience, with the added benefits of good infrastructure, ease of access and top quality accommodation. With a host of varied activities including boat, walking and night safaris you have an incredible opportunity to see a magnificent collection of the best wildlife, flora and fauna that this hotspot has to offer.
The Kinabalu National Park is not just home to Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Borneo, but also to a plethora of birds, reptiles and invertebrates many of which are endemic not just to Borneo but to the mountain itself. This includes the famous ‘Whitehead’s trio’, named after British explorer John Whitehead, who was one of the first to document many of Borneo’s native species. This vibrant trio consists of Whitehead’s trogon, Whitehead’s broadbill and Whitehead’s spiderhunter and feature on many birdwatcher’s bucket lists. A stop at the natural Poring Hot Springs awaits between wildlife destinations to bathe in the restorative waters and prepare yourself for a further foray into the wild. Visit one of the region's best orangutan sanctuaries before a meander along the tranquil Kinabatangan River in search of charismatic Bornean orangutans, leaping proboscis monkeys and secretive Bornean pygmy elephants amongst a myriad of spectacular bird species such as the majestic rhinoceros hornbill and dazzling black-and-red broadbills nesting above the water in their suspended clusters of moss, stalks and roots.
Travel across land into the magical Danum Valley’s ancient rainforest where you can explore the canopy on a series of walkways, spotting orangutans and other primates, birds and reptiles. As the night rolls around, although it will require some luck, there's the opportunity to seek some of the most seldom seen species of feline in the world including the spectacular Sunda clouded leopard and marvellous marbled cat amongst a host of other wildlife and nocturnal species.
Suggested Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
Fly from London via Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu.
Day2: Arrive Kota Kinabalu
Once you've collected your bags and cleared immigration, there'll be a driver expecting you at arrivals, ready to transport you to your hotel. The evening is spent at leisure as you prepare for your first adventure into the wilds of Borneo.
This morning you're transferred to Mount Kinabalu National Park, a drive of around 90 kilometres, taking roughly two hours. You arrive in time for lunch. Once you've checked into your accommodation, you can choose from various activities and walks in the park to admire the tremendous flora and fauna.
Accommodation: Hill Lodge, 1-night
Day4: Relax at Poring Hot Spring
Today you have a further opportunity to explore the vicinity of the national park headquarters before travelling 40 kilometres to Poring Hot Spring. Here you can bathe in the restorative waters of the springs and enjoy the numerous trails and walkways searching for the abundant wildlife and enormous dipterocarp trees amongst many other species of flora. The Rafflesia, the world’s largest flowering plant, is one of the main attractions in Poring - unfortunately there's no specific time when the flowers come into bloom, however with a number of gardens here, lucky guests are able to observe this spectacle fairly regularly.
Accommodation: Kelicap Lodge, 1-night
Day5: Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
This morning, you awake for a four and a half hour transfer (with rest stop) to the town of Sepilok in north-east Sabah.
In the afternoon, you have the opportunity to visit Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary to learn about these endearing creatures and hear about the remarkable rehabilitation work that they carry out in supporting orphaned Bornean orangutans. Sepilok is one of the largest and most well-known orangutan sanctuaries in Malaysia and helps to reintroduce the orphaned orangutans back into the wild. The best chance of seeing the orangutans are around the platform feeding times at 10am and 3pm. Alternatively, there's the option to visit the sun bears at the Sun Bear Conservation Centre or the Rainforest Discovery Centre with its canopy walkways and rainforest trails where many species of birds and mammals can be spotted.
The evening is spent on said trails as you embark on a fascinating night walk to discover some of Borneo's incredible nocturnal species such as western tarsier, slow loris, common palm civet, Malay civet, buffy fish owl, oriental bay owl and a plethora of frog, toad and invertebrate species.
This morning, for the early riser, there's time to again visit your choice of Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Sun Bear Conservation Centre or the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Shortly before midday, you transfer to the jetty for a boat trip along the Kinabatangan River to your next accommodation. Keep your eyes peeled along this journey, as wildlife is easily spotted in the trees found on the banks of the river. You should reach your destination after around one and a half hours on the river, and lunch is served on arrival. Once you have settled in, it's time to board a smaller boat and head back out onto the water for an afternoon boat safari.
After dinner, your guide will take you to explore the rainforest with a spotlight along the lodge's boardwalks as you seek to find nocturnal species.
During the two full days you spend here, you have a full programme of wildlife activities to enable you to understand the complex ecosystem. The most popular of which are boat safaris along the Kinabatangan River and its narrow tributaries, these smaller waterways enable you close proximity to the banks on both sides and makes wildlife viewing much more efficient. Primates often use these tighter channels to cross to the next island and therefore these are the best places to spot the proboscis monkeys as they sometimes leap from one side to the other. They have to time these jumps to perfection as despite being competent swimmers, one false move could see them plummet towards the saltwater crocodile-infested river. Orangutans can also be found in the trees surrounding the water’s edge, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled in the hope of spotting an individual feeding or building a nest for the night late in the afternoon. Other activities on offer may also include an early morning bird walk, jungle walks or a night excursion - all accompanied by the lodge’s local naturalist guides.
Day9: Transfer to Danum Valley Conservation Area
Early in the morning, depart overland for Lahad Datu (approximately two hours drive). You'll then join a scheduled transfer (another two and a half hours) to Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the delightful Danum Valley, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, depart for a guided walk on a nature trail (400 metre boardwalk circuit) and the canopy walkway. Weather permitting, you may be able to go for a night drive/walk to spot some of the wild animals here.
The next three days begin by listening to the calls of gibbons with the morning mist rising through the canopy, lit up in spectacular fashion by the emerging sun, before heading to breakfast. Activities include morning and afternoon forest treks along different trails and night drives, there's an option to do some tubing along the Danum River as well. Downtime can be spent as you wish, either relaxing at the lodge or patrolling the canopy walkways in search of more wildlife, including orangutans who will occasionally swing by.
Day13: Return to Kota Kinabalu
Awake to the sounds of the rainforest for a final morning wildlife activity before transferring to Lahad Datu Airport to check in for your return flight home.
Day14: Arrive UK
Please note: Although this trip idea features three of Sabah’s most fruitful locations for wildlife, the state also possesses two more stunning reserves that provide a slightly different viewing experience and can easily be incorporated into your itinerary to discover the best of Borneo. Venture out by vehicle at all times of day and night depending on your interests at Deramakot Forest Reserve in search of more rare mammals, including all five species of cat found in Borneo; Sunda clouded leopard, marbled cat, leopard cat, flat headed cat and Bornean bay cat, along with many other reptiles, birds and insects. Tabin Wildlife Reserve is full of biodiversity and features a viewing tower by a mud volcano where much of the area’s wildlife congregates to take advantage of the rich minerals. The reserve also features walking excursions to search for wildlife and examine the interesting plants that this forest has to offer along with the opportunity to swim in the pool of a waterfall.
For a more relaxing climax to your trip, there are beautiful beaches, islands and snorkelling to be found close to Kota Kinabalu and depending on the time of year, the chance to see either green or hawksbill turtles nesting.
If you're chasing a cultural fix, the neighbouring state of Sarawak offers a fantastic mix as does neighbouring Brunei and there’s the opportunity for a stopover to enjoy the sights of Kuala Lumpur on the way home if you so wish.
Key info
Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 14 daysfrom £7,395 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 12 daysfrom £6,295 pp
Single supplement:
On request – please contact us.
Kinabalu Park is dominated by the peak of Mount Kinabalu, and is probably one of the most important biological sites in the world. It harbours a remarkable botanical diversity with as many as 6,000 species of flora and fauna, over 600 species of butterflies, 320 species of birds and 100 species of mammal.
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Where: Sabah State
Ideal for viewing: Bornean ferret badger, oriental small-clawed otter, rhinoceros hornbill, serpent eagle, sun bear
Danum Valley is arguably Borneo’s premier wildlife location and boasts all ten of Sabah’s primate species. Early morning is the best time to enjoy the canopy walkway through the surrounding lowland rainforest and view the stunning birdlife. It also offers maybe the best chance to see orangutan in the wild.
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Where: Sabah State
Ideal for viewing: Asian elephant, Malayan sun bear, banteng, orangutan, Bornean gibbon
Excellent for: Photography tours With Nick Garbutt, Orangutan watching, Birdwatching
Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is renowned for its work in rehabilitating orphaned orangutans, However, set in primary lowland rainforest, the reserve has much more to offer. The forest boardwalks make exploring easy, the birdwatching is superb and there is a tremendous variety of snakes and frogs to see.
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Where: Sabah State
Ideal for viewing: Bornean pygmy elephant, mouse deer, orangutan, slow loris, western tarsier
The Kinabatangan River snakes through Sabah’s lowlands for 560kms to reach the Sulu Sea. Along its length, a river safari will reveal a mosaic of riparian forest, oxbow lakes, nipah swamp and mangroves which supports a wide variety of mammal and birdlife who have grown surprisingly tolerant of human presence.
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The remarkable Borneo Rainforest Lodge lies in pristine jungle in the heart of Sabah’s Danum Valley. Considering the remoteness of its location, this unique, award-winning property offers an extremely high standard of accommodation in a wonderful setting, blending in with the surrounding rainforest.
Find Out More about Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Positioned on a remote stretch of the Kinabatangan River in an area teeming with life, Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort delivers an outstanding wildlife experience. The property provides spacious chalet accommodation on a series of raised walkways and various species pass through during the day and night.
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This simple lodge, situated close to the Sepilok Forest Reserve entrance, is extremely comfortable and convenient for visiting the nearby Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. It offers spacious accommodation in air-conditioned chalets, set in beautiful tropical gardens and connected by boardwalks to the main building.
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An award-winning beach resort, the luxury Tanjung Aru enjoys a magnificent setting in Kota Kinabalu, with splendid views of the neighbouring islands and mountains - the perfect place to relax at the start or end of your Borneo adventure. Facilities include two swimming pools, a spa and watersports.
Find Out More about Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa
