Sandakan, Kinabatangan River, Gomantong Cave
Borneo Bird & Nature Photography Expedition
Overview
The Borneo Photography tour takes you on an immersive journey through the lush rainforest and riverine ecosystems of Borneo. The starting point of this wildlife photography-oriented trip is Sandakan, and your experience is amplified with special features such as guided canopy walks, consecutive visits to the orangutan feeding centres, and personalised night walks. These experiences create ideal opportunities to understand and freeze the behaviours and movements of exclusive species with your lenses.
Observe the evolving scenery as the light shifts and wildlife becomes more active in the forests with a zoom-in view as you sail down the rivers on a full-day boat access and extended time with our experts to guide you through. Add more to your pictorial dictionary by gaining hands-on experience in low-light photography in the breathtaking natural landscape with our customised night rides and guided cave visits.
Borneo is a wildlife photography heaven. All you need to experience is a planned photography itinerary coupled with experts aware of strategic wildlife locations. The Borneo Photography Tour offers it all. Capture the rich wildlife and dramatic landscapes of Borneo, the Asian Adventures way.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort
Upon arrival at Sandakan Airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your rainforest lodge. After check-in, enjoy a brief orientation and welcome session before heading out on a guided Rainforest Canopy Walk. This elevated walkway offers a unique perspective of the tropical rainforest’s upper canopy, where you may observe a variety of birds, butterflies, and lush forest vegetation. The walk also provides stunning panoramic views of the surrounding jungle, making it an excellent opportunity for landscape and nature photography.
As night falls, set out on a guided nocturnal walk along the forest trails. This experience offers the chance to encounter fascinating night-active wildlife, including slow lorises, civets, other small mammals, frogs, insects, and unusual night-blooming plants.
Return to the lodge for dinner and a restful overnight stay.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Borneo Nature Lodge (BNL-1)
After an early breakfast, visit the Orangutan Feeding Station, where you can observe orangutans arriving from the surrounding forest for their scheduled feeding. This is an excellent opportunity to photograph these remarkable primates in a natural setting as they climb, play, and interact with one another. Your guide will also share insights into ongoing conservation initiatives and the rehabilitation work carried out to protect the species.
Following lunch, proceed to Sandakan Jetty for a scenic boat transfer to Borneo Nature Lodge (BNL-1), journeying deeper into the rainforest along winding river channels. During the cruise, keep an eye out for wildlife such as kingfishers, hornbills, monitor lizards, and occasionally wild elephants along the riverbanks.
Arrive at the lodge in time to unwind and enjoy photographing the sunset over the river. The evening is at leisure, offering excellent opportunities for low-light photography from the lodge’s viewing deck.
Overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Borneo Nature Lodge (BNL-1)
The day is devoted entirely to guided wildlife photography, with a private boat at your disposal. Explore an intricate network of rivers and forest-lined creeks, scanning the riverbanks for monkeys, hornbills, and other wildlife. The soft morning light provides ideal conditions for capturing dynamic action shots of birds and mammals in their natural habitat.
After lunch, continue your exploration by boat or enjoy relaxed photography from the lodge deck, offering excellent vantage points over the river.
As evening sets in, embark on a guided night boat excursion, when nocturnal wildlife becomes active and the rainforest resonates with evening calls. Your guide will assist in spotting animals and advising on positioning and angles to maximize photographic opportunities.
Overnight Stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Borneo Nature Lodge (BNL-1)
Enjoy another full day of guided wildlife photography with a dedicated boat at your disposal, allowing you to explore the waterways at a relaxed pace. With expert support from your guide, focus on locating prime spots to photograph elusive species, capture behavioral moments, and make the most of the rainforest’s ever-changing light.
The day offers ample opportunities to work on river reflections, animal interactions, and close-up images of flora and insects.
The evening is at leisure at the lodge—an ideal time to review your photographs, exchange feedback, and experiment with night photography in the serene rainforest setting.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Tabin Wildlife Resort
After breakfast, drive to Gomantong Caves, a vast limestone cave complex that is home to millions of bats and swiftlets. The caves are renowned for the traditional harvesting of edible bird nests. Accompanied by your guide, explore the winding cave passages safely while enjoying unique photographic opportunities of swirling bird activity and the dramatic natural limestone formations.
After the visit, enjoy lunch before driving back to Sandakan from Borneo Nature Lodge (BNL-1). Along the way, remain alert for wildlife sightings and make photo stops whenever opportunities arise.
The evening is at leisure in Sandakan, giving you the option to explore the town or relax at your hotel.
Overnight stay in Sandakan.
Meals: Breakfast
On your final morning, you may choose to visit the Orangutan Feeding Station or enjoy a short canopy walk, offering one last opportunity to experience the rainforest. Capture the soft morning light filtering through the trees or photograph orangutans as they interact naturally in their forest habitat.
Thereafter, transfer to Sandakan Airport for your onward journey, concluding your Borneo wildlife photography adventure on a memorable note.
Tour Ends.
Highlights
- An immersive wildlife and photography journey through the rainforests of Sabah, Borneo
- Guided Rainforest Canopy Walks offering elevated perspectives over dense tropical forest
- Night walks and night boat safaris to observe nocturnal rainforest wildlife in action
- Visits to the Orangutan Feeding Station provide exceptional close-range photography opportunities
- Scenic river boat transfers and wildlife safaris, traveling deep into pristine rainforest habitats
- Private boat at disposal for multiple days, allowing photographers complete flexibility in timing and subject focus
- Support from expert local guides, assisting with wildlife identification, behavior interpretation, and optimal photographic positioning
- A unique excursion to Gomantong Caves, home to vast colonies of bats and swiftlets amid dramatic limestone formations
- Outstanding opportunities for low-light, action, and behavioral wildlife photography
- Comfortable lodge stays in remote rainforest settings, surrounded by jungle sounds and river views
- A well-paced itinerary thoughtfully designed for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers
Included
- 5 nights’ accommodation as per itinerary (based on twin-sharing) Meals as stated, Boat transfers (where applicable)
- All land transfers and transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle Licensed English-speaking guide / naturalist
- Excursions as per itinerary, jungle walks, and river cruise Entrance fees (where applicable)
- Flight by plane Flight and transfer to the hotel | Boat transfers (where applicable)
