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Wildlife & Marine Life of Borneo
     


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Borneo has some of the richest and most biologically-diverse forest and wetland ecosystems anywhere on Earth; where carnivorous plants are large enough to consume lizards and birds; you can wake to the beautiful morning song of the gibbon; and where you can search for brilliantly-coloured birds, playful monkeys and endangered mammals. But only half the natural beauty of Borneo is above the water. Our Wildlife & Marine Life of Borneo trip also allows you to explore colourful reefs teaming with life around Borneo's coast, visiting some of the most diverse reefs in the world. Here you get the chance to spy on sharks, watch graceful eagle rays glide above vibrant corals and spot flamboyant nudibranchs, edging across the reef.

In northern Borneo, we take you into the forest home of the Bornean orangutan for close encounters with this endangered and enigmatic great ape.  Here you can witness one of the world's most famous wildlife rehabilitation and conservation programmes at the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.  Young captive or abandoned orangutans, orphans of deforestation, are being helped by highly-trained and motivated staff to readjust to a life back in the wild.

 

After seeing the orangutans and the success at Sepilok, we take you to the Turtle Islands National Park. This conservation programme is run by the Sabah Parks authorities, where a team of conservationists works to protect green and hawksbill turtles - both of which are categorised as endangered species on the IUCN Red List. Whilst here, you may be able to witness green and hawksbill turtles leaving their watery world to nest on the beaches on this tiny island. You may also be able to see eggs being transferred to the safety of turtle hatcheries, or witness young turtles making their very first splash into the sea after hatching.

We take a boat from Sepilok south east along the coast to the mouth of Malaysia's largest river: the Kinabatangan. Here you will experience some of the greatest the intensity and diversity of the wildlife in Borneo, exploring the forest-covered floodplains and river delta of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.  This area forms an ecosystem of almost unparalleled richness, with forests featuring massive dipterocarp trees and mangrove habitats stretching far inland. These wetlands are perhaps the best place in Borneo to see both wild orangutans moving through the forest canopy and troops of proboscis monkeys leaping through the trees into the river itself. Quietly travelling through the wetlands by electric boats, there are great opportunities to see countless bird species, wild Asian elephants and up to ten species of monkeys and apes.

From lowland forests we move south to the scenically dramatic Gomantong Caves. These are home to an estimated two million short-nosed fruit bats; emerging each evening in their search for food.

Our visit takes you either to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve or to the Danum Valley Conservation Area - the choice is yours.  Declared a wildlife reserve on account of the large number of animals present in its forests, Tabin is home to nine species of primate, the Sumatran Rhinoceros and the Tembadau - a native species of buffalo; in addition to several hundred species of birds. Tabin is the largest protected lowland forest area in Sabah encompassing more than 120,000 hectares of dipterocarp forests, swamp ecosystems and 'mud volcanoes'.  It is often a good place to see the Bornean Pygmy Elephants and is the area where orangutans from the rehabilitation sanctuary are eventually reintroduced to into their natural habitat.

The Danum Valley Conservation Area lies deeper to the west and comprises over 400 square kilometres of undisturbed lowland forest.  It is one of the most important conservation areas in South East Asia and is rich in Borneo's bird and mammal species, including the elusive Bornean clouded leopard.  Some 275 species of bird exist here and other fauna includes the Bornean white bearded gibbon, leopard cats, palm civets, mouse-deer and the Bornean orangutans.  A unique perspective is gained as you explore the rainforest from a canopy walkway high in the treetops amidst the chattering calls of hornbills and the haunting songs of gibbons.  The undisturbed nature of Danum's forests means that there are some enormous trees to be found here measuring more than 70 metres (230 ft) in height.

Beneath the waves, whether by scuba or by snorkelling, there is a tremendous range of marine life in northern Borneo, including vibrant and prolific coral reefs and a rich array of pelagic life at locations such as Pulau Sipadan. This is probably the best place in the world for swimming and diving with turtles. The neighbouring islands of Mabul and Kapalai are havens for their diversity of tiny (or macro) marine life such as tiny nudibranchs, the amazing orangutan crab, colourful mantis shrimps and fascinating frogfish which literally walk along the sea bed, using their own built-in 'fishing rod' to catch a meal.

Pulau Lankayan is located close to Turtle Island within 47,000 hectares of a Marine Conservation Area encompassing pristine coral reefs, old wooden wrecks and superb 'muck-diving' in sandy coastal environments. Diving and snorkelling here offers encounters with larger pelagic species such as barracuda and jacks, and between March - May offers the occasional encounter with the colossal whale shark. Staying in one of our specially-selected waterside lodges, perfectly located for diving and snorkelling, these islands are perfect for relaxing after returning from your marine explorations.

Your Borneo safari culminates in the national park surrounding Mount Kinabalu: the highest peak in South East Asia, where you can explore the outstanding array of flora and fauna in the mountain garden of Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.  For those whose focus is natural history, the forests of this park provide your final destination, rich in orchids, bromeliads, pitcher plants and for those in luck, the rare flowering of a Rafflesia plant.

The more intrepid can attempt the 4,000 m climb to the summit and take in the magnificent views of Borneo stretching out far below as the sun rises. We follow the Via Ferrata Trail or the Mesilau Trail - an alternative route to the summit, where beautiful orchids, pungent corpse flowers and monstrous pitcher plants grow. Located at an altitude of 2,000 metres on the eastern side of Kinabalu National Park, the trail is both wilder and more beautiful than the route most-commonly taken. The trail is excellent for those who are as enthusiastic about plants and wildlife as they are about the actual climb.

A fundamental part of your experience of Borneo's wildlife and marine life is the enthusiasm, knowledge and dedication to conservation of your expert local guides.

Malaysian Borneo's islands are jewels in South-East Asia's rich tapestry of marine habitat - and long may they remain that way.  The diversity of life within them is of global importance, but like many reefs around the world, they are beautiful but fragile environments that are under pressure.  We therefore urge all divers to dive responsibly and safely, avoiding any contact with the reef.

Photographs kindly provided by David Slater, Ralph Pannell, Charlotte Caffrey, Alan Oh, Nick Bramley, SMART, Albert Teo, Lawrence Lee, Martin Bobrow, Paul Lammiman & PSR