Birds and Wildlife of Borneo

Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Wildlife Lodge

Fly to Kuala Lumpur airport. Fly to Lahad Datu. From here you will travel 1.5 hours to Tabin Wildlife Reserve.

Tabin has different terrains including swamps and mountains, with Mount Hatton being the highest at 571m.

The reserve is mostly dominated by rugged mountain ranges, deep ravines, and steep-sided river valleys in its central, western, and southern regions.

In these parts of the reserve, there are over 15 peaks, 500 or more meters in height. In addition, there are at least 30 peaks between 300 and 500 meters high.

They serve you lunch upon arrival. The itinerary is very flexible here as you have your own guide with you. There are many trails, and roads to explore which are fantastic for bird watching.

This exceptional birding destination boasts an impressive list of over 250 species, and with a stroke of luck, you might observe 70 to 80 bird species in a single day, including several Borneo specialties.

The bird-watching highlights at Tabin are numerous and diverse. Keep an eye out for the striking Great Argus and Crested Fireback Pheasants, as well as the majestic Great-billed Heron, various pigeons such as Large Green, Thick-billed, and Little Green Pigeons, and captivating species like Blue-headed and Black-headed Pittas, Leafbirds, Hornbills, Malkohas, and Trogons. You'll also have the chance to spot Brown Wood Owl, Great Slaty, Crimson-winged, and Olive-backed Woodpeckers, Blue-banded Kingfisher, White-fronted Falconet, various spiderhunters, sunbirds, bulbuls, and babblers, among others.

The reserve's rich biodiversity extends to its mammalian inhabitants as well. With luck, you may encounter Bornean Gibbons, Orangutans, and Pygmy Elephants during your visit.
 

After dinner, enjoy a night safari to look out for nocturnal wildlife and birds.
Tabin's night drives can be exceptionally rewarding, offering the chance to spot a variety of nocturnal wildlife. During night excursions, you'll frequently see Leopard Cats and Civets, particularly the Malay, Island Palm, and Bornean-striped Civets.. Keep your eyes peeled for Black Giant Flying Squirrels and Slow Lorises. Though extremely rare, there have been sightings of the elusive Sunda Clouded Leopard in this area. You can expect to observe the common Buffy Fish Owl and hope for sightings of Barred Eagle Owl, Brown Wood Owl, and Sundan Frogmouth during the night's adventures. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Wildlife Lodge

As you embark on an early morning birding walk from the lodge, you may hear the captivating calls of the North Bornean Gibbons, a family that lives nearby. These extraordinary animals have close-knit families and produce impressive vocalizations in the early hours. Keep watch for the impressive Great Slaty Woodpecker and stunning Crimson-winged Woodpecker at Tabin, where 15 species of woodpeckers have been seen. You might spot the White-browed Shama and Dwarf Kingfisher around the lodge. The dirt road leading to the primary rainforest, which is around 10km long, is a haven for a wide range of remarkable birds waiting to be discovered.

Later in the day, venture towards the core area in a 4x4 vehicle for further birdwatching opportunities. While venturing towards the core area in a 4x4 vehicle, keep an ear out for the rare Helmeted Hornbill, as all eight of Borneo's hornbill species can be found in Tabin. Dusky Munias are often seen flitting among the grass, and the striking Black-crowned Pitta will be among the many targets. 

Check out Thick-billed, Long-billed, and Grey-breasted Spiderhunters, Plain and Purple-throated Sunbirds, and Red-naped and Scarlet-rumped Trogons. 

Raptors you might encounter include the Changeable Hawk-eagle, Crested Goshawk, and the White-fronted Falconet, the world's smallest raptor and an endemic species. The wildlife diversity in the area is abundant.

After lunch, you can choose between a trek to the mud volcano or an afternoon drive, tailoring your experience to your preferences. Both options promise exciting sightings of various species. After a delicious dinner back at the lodge, you will have another opportunity to embark on a night drive using spotlights to search for more fascinating mammals and birds.

Throughout your exploration of Tabin, you may come across the frequently sighted Pygmy Elephants as they roam the reserve. With such a wide range of bird species available, you'll be eager to discover and observe as many as possible during your time at this incredible destination.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Danum Valley Field Centre

After an early breakfast, you will depart for birding along the road leading to the core area. Stop over and climb up the bird-watching tower. The fully regenerated secondary forest with its relatively lower canopy and good natural light provides a delightful birding experience.

Depart Tabin at 10 am and travel 3 hours to DVFC, stopping en route for lunch and change of vehicle.

Comprising 438,000 hectares of protected lowland forest, research has shown no evidence of permanent human settlement and, since becoming a research center, very low levels of hunting and poaching.

Danum is home to an astonishing variety of plants and wildlife; including over 340 species of bird, 124 species of mammals, 72 species of reptile, and 56 species of amphibians. The flora is as rich as the fauna, with over 200 species of plants found per hectare. In 2019, researchers discovered the tallest tropical tree in the world, a giant reaching 100 meters.

Your itinerary is very flexible. Danum offers a variety of trails, so your days will comprise a lot of exploring.
 

Danum Valley stands as Borneo's top wildlife destination, boasting all ten of Sabah's primate species. Apart from the diverse primate population, this river valley is a habitat for rare creatures such as the Bornean pygmy elephant, banteng, clouded leopard, marbled and flat-headed cats, and the elusive Malay sun bear.

You can also expect to come across common species like mouse deer, the endemic Bornean yellow and red muntjacs, and sambar deer. Walks may reward you with sightings of hornbills, barbets, and broadbills, including the endemic Bornean bristlehead. At night, embark on a thrilling safari to uncover the secretive world of Borneo's nocturnal creatures. Keep an eye out for the orangutans, whose chances of being spotted may increase when the durian trees bear fruit.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Danum Valley Field Centre 

Again, your guide will give you different options each day depending on your tiredness and the particular animals you’re searching for. Night drives are optional on a first-come, first-served basis. These are to be paid in cash on the day.

You can easily access most parts of the valley from the lodge thanks to the many well-maintained trails that go through the forest and along the river. You can take brilliant pictures of the plants and animals in the forest with this setup.

The early mornings present an ideal time to appreciate the unique perspective provided by the canopy walkway. If you look from the treetop, you can observe a beautiful forest panorama and different bird species, such as hornbills, barbets, broadbills, and the unique Bornean bristlehead. It's also common to come across primates during this time, such as orangutans and red-leaf monkeys.
 

We should be able to spot all eight species of hornbill found in Borneo crested fireback and much more. Besides the birds, other mammals expected are Bornean gibbons, western tarsier, and red giant flying squirrels.

At night, you can take walks or rides to see the forest's nocturnal animals. Keep an eye out for the elusive greater mouse deer, giant flying squirrels, and colugo. The nocturnal experience is exciting, and you may see slow lorises and western tarsiers. Frogs are abundant in the area, and if you're fortunate, you may spot a Wallace's flying frog. Listen for the resonant honk of the Bornean horned frog, although finding one might be a challenging endeavor.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Wildlife Lodge

In the morning, there will be an optional birdwatching session, where you can spot some more birds to fill your targets.

After breakfast, our journey will take us to the Kinabatangan River.

The mighty Lower-Kinabatangan River sustains one of the world’s richest ecosystems. It is also recognized as Sabah’s first and Malaysia’s largest RAMSAR site. Other than being home to Borneo’s indigenous orangutan and proboscis monkey, the surrounding forest is one of only two known places in the world where 10 species of primates can be found.

This is Malaysia’s second-longest river with a massive length of 560km from its source in Southwest Sabah to its outlet at the Sulu Sea.
 

In this lush habitat, we will have the chance to observe wild orangutans and target the elusive Pygmy Elephants. The area is also a prime location to encounter troops of Proboscis Monkeys, the endemic primates that feed along the riverside trees.

Kinabatangan birding will be on a boat, making it enjoyable to discover various bird species. Keep an eye out for kingfishers, raptors, and an abundance of hornbills.

Some special bird species to watch for are the Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Changeable Hawk Eagle, hornbill species like Wreathed, Wrinkled, Asian Black, and White-crowned, and the rare Storm's Stork. We will also aim to spot Stork-billed, Collared, and Blue-eared Kingfishers during our birding adventure.

In the evening, an optional night boat ride will be available for those interested. This nocturnal excursion offers the chance to see birds roosting on the river banks or spot a buffy owl in flight. At night, you can see nocturnal wildlife like Slow Lorises, Western Tarsiers, Civets, and Mouse Deer, which will make your experience unforgettable.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Wildlife Lodge

Experience the beauty of a sunrise on an early morning river cruise along the Kinabatangan.
During this serene journey, you'll have the chance to spot various bird species, including the endangered Storm's Stork, a reliable sight in this area. Other potential sightings include the White-fronted Falconet, Wallace's Hawk-eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, and Lesser Fish Eagle. 

The rich biodiversity also offers opportunities to observe Bornean Ground Cuckoo, Hooded and Black-headed Pittas (with a rare chance of spotting the Giant Pitta), Diard's Trogon, Stork-billed, Blue-eared, and Oriental Dwarf Kingfishers, Moustached Hawk-cuckoo, Bat Hawk, Buffy Fish Owl, Whiskered Treeswift, up to four species of Malkoha, and all eight Hornbill species.

The Kinabatangan River is also an excellent location to search for Pygmy Elephants, and our knowledgeable guides will inform you if there's a chance to spot a herd nearby. After this magical river experience, you can return to the lodge to relax or explore the surrounding grounds, where you'll find many bird species visible from the lodge itself.

One of the two days, you will take a short boat ride and overland transfer or around 15 minutes to the world-famous Gomantong Caves. You will spend the afternoon walking in the reserve and also explore inside the caves themselves if you wish. You will take your time to enjoy the spectacle provided by these outstanding caverns.

The caves tower to staggering heights of 100 meters or more and are home to literally millions of bats and, seasonally, swiftlets. It is here that every 3-4 months, local tribal people come for a week at a time to gather the nests that are used by the Chinese to make 'bird's nest soup.' How these people reach the heights of these caves on precarious, locally-made ropes and bamboo ladders is terrifying and incredible.

While at the main cave, search for wildlife in the rainforest along the entrance road, such as Blue-headed Pitta, Wreathed, or Bushy-crested Hornbill, or even an Orangutan. Towards dusk, you will wait outside the caves to observe the spectacular exodus of millions of bats (8 or more species roost in the caves) and to watch the Bat Hawks and Peregrines that exploit the abundant food supply. After a special afternoon, you will return the short distance to the lodge for dinner.

After dinner, you will set out for a night cruise on the river in search of nocturnal wildlife on the riverbanks and in the trees lining the river and smaller tributaries.

Note:
All-night boat rides are optional.
Gomantong Caves may close sometimes due to damage to the boardwalk there. If so, we can arrange an extension to Mulu. Mulu caves render an excellent experience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Wildlife Lodge

Travel 1.5 hours to Sepilok Nature Lodge and settle into your accommodation.

Sepilok is a primary rainforest reserve. Within the reserve are The Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and the Sun Bear Rescue Center. The rest of the reserve is the Rainforest Discovery Center. The forest boasts an array of birds and small mammals, including tarsier, stink badgers and, if you’re lucky, you can see orangutans.

Sabah Wildlife Department rehabilitated the Orangutans and then released them back into their natural habitat.
Please note that they are semi-wild and more unpredictable than wild orangutans, as they are not afraid of humans. This is not a zoo and they are free to wander where they want.

You’ll visit the Orangutan center in the afternoon.
 

Later, we will gather for dinner and receive a briefing about the exciting adventure ahead.

For those interested, after dinner, you can go for an optional night walk in the forest. This night walk offers an opportunity to encounter the thriving nocturnal wildlife of the area. With luck, you may see a roosting Hooded Pitta or a Collared Scops Owl. Keep an eye out for the Red Giant Flying Squirrel and various reptiles, amphibians, and other fascinating mammals that inhabit the forest during the night. It's an adventure not to be missed!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Wildlife Lodge

Early morning, we will visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre, which grants access to the lowland primary rainforest in Sepilok. This center features a remarkable canopy walkway and excellent forest trails. We will mainly look for birds such as Bornean Bristlehead, Blue-headed Pitta, Rufous-collared Kingfisher, different hornbill species, and other interesting birds..

Our priority will be birdwatching and mammal watching. We will look out for orangutans, squirrels, and tree shrews, which are occasionally spotted in this area. We'll go to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary after an exciting morning of wildlife exploration and breakfast at the lodge.

At the sanctuary, we will look for other wildlife, and we may spot Copper-throated Sunbird, Blue-eared barbet, and Rhinoceros Hornbill.

In the afternoon, we will go for a walk in the Sepilok Forest Reserve to look for more bird species such as Bornean Bristlehead, Black-crowned Pitta, Trogon species, White-crowned Shama, and Broadbills.

We will return to the canopy walkway at dusk to watch the Red Giant Flying Squirrels emerge. They have installed special nest boxes to support these squirrels in their habitat.

Returning to the lodge for dinner, those interested can join a night walk to spot nocturnal wildlife. Keep an eye out for creatures like the Colugo or Slow Loris, which may reveal themselves in the spotlight during this enchanting experience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

Today, we will board a short flight to Kota Kinabalu from Sandakan. Upon our arrival, we'll embark on a 2-hour drive to the Kinabalu National Park HQ, where we will check in to a comfortable lodge before heading out for an afternoon of birdwatching.

The varying altitudes and climates on Kinabalu create diverse habitats, ranging from lowland forests to middle-altitude oak, rhododendron, and conifer forests, culminating in alpine meadows, stunted bushes, and bare rock at the summit. The plant species found here have origins in the Himalayas, Australasia, and the Indo-Malayan region.

Kinabalu Park, with four climatic zones, boasts one of the richest collections of biodiversity in the world, housing and protecting over 4,500 species of flora and fauna–including 326 bird species, an estimated of over 100 mammal species, over 110 land snail species, and its biggest attraction, Mount Kinabalu.  This includes the breathtaking rafflesia, one of the world's largest flowers, boasting giant red blossoms up to 170 centimeters in diameter. The park's flora includes over 800 orchid species, more than 500 fern species, and the world's richest collection of pitcher plants (nepenthes). The avian is rhinoceros hornbill, mountain serpent-eagle, Dulit frogmouth, eyebrowed jungle flycatcher, and pale-faced bulbul. Of the total bird species recorded, 24 are primarily found on the mountain, and the Bornean spiderhunter stands as a pure endemic species.

While numerous mammal species inhabit the mountain, most of them reside high in the trees, making sightings rare. Among these elusive creatures are orangutans, three types of deer, the Malayan weasel, Oriental small-clawed otter, and leopards. Kinabalu is also the home of several endemic species, including the black shrew, Bornean ferret-badger, and Whitehead's Pygmy Squirrel.

We will venture into the excellent network of trails that extend into the Montane evergreen mossy forest. Within the mixed feeding flocks that roam the woodlands, we'll encounter various common species such as Chestnut-hooded and Sunda Laughingthrushes, Chestnut-crested Yuhina, Mountain Leaf-warbler, and Yellow-breasted Warbler, as well as White-throated Fantail, Grey-throated Babbler, Black-capped White-eye, Temminck's Sunbird, Ashy and Spangled Drongos, Black and Crimson Orioles, Bornean Green Magpie, and Bornean Treepie. Among these, we'll also search for some of the more elusive species, including Crimson-headed Partridge, Temminck's Babbler, Black-breasted Fruithunter, Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, Bornean Stubtail, and, of course, Whitehead's Trogon, Spiderhunter, and Broadbill.
 

These 2 days will involve exploring the park. With a variety of trails to explore, the opportunities to encounter fascinating species are abundant. This habitat stands in stark contrast to the lowland rainforest we experienced earlier on the tour, as it consists of a high-altitude forest adorned with moss and lichen, creating a unique home for numerous special species. 

Here, you can find 18 Bornean endemics, including remarkable birds such as Mountain Black Eye, Mountain Blackbird, Bornean Treepie, Kinabalu Serpent Eagle, Red-breasted Wood Partridge, Bornean Mountain Whistler, Orange-headed Thrush, Everett's Thrush, and Eyebrowed Thrush, among others.

While some trails may involve varying elevations and narrow paths, most of our walks will be along the road, offering a pleasant and rewarding exploration of this unique and rich environment.

Our tour comes to an end. Take an afternoon flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

End of tour