Borneo Culture & Wildlife 12D11N

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival Kuching

Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

Day 2 Bako National Park  (B/L)

0800 hrs – Pickup from hotel and drive about 35 minutes to Bako Village. From the village, take about a 25-minute boat ride (depending on the tide) to the park situated on a peninsula. Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in a natural setting. The various types of animals that are commonly spotted at Bako include the proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, wild boars, monitor lizards and numerous species of birds. Forest types range from mangrove to kerangas (heath forest), tropical swamp vegetation, cliff vegetation and beach vegetation. There are several trails to follow inside the park depending on level of fitness and interest. The park’s coastline is dotted with small bays, coves and beaches. Return to Kuching mid-afternoon. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

Please note schedule may depend on tide.

Day 3 Kuching – Nanga Sumpa (B/L/D)

0800 hours pick up from hotel in Kuching and drive to Batang Ai reservoir. Along the way stop at Lachau Bazaar. Stroll around the shops and the small native market and have an early lunch in a local coffee shop. Then continue your journey, arriving at Batang Ai Lake around 1330-1400 hours.  Board a longboat and travel upriver to Nanga Sumpa, arriving at approx. 1530 hours, although the exact time will depend on river conditions. Settle in at Borneo Adventure’s lodge and have dinner. After dinner visit Nanga Sumpa longhouse. Relax on the ruai (common verandah) and spend time with the Iban people. Interact with the community; learn about their culture and enjoy some local rice wine. Overnight at Nanga Sumpa lodge.

Day 4  Enseluai Waterfall – Nanga Sumpa  (B/L/D)

Following breakfast hike the jungle trails along the river. Then continue upriver by longboat. Our destination is the scenic Enseluai waterfall. Arrive at the waterfall and have time to relax, swim and enjoy the rainforest surroundings. Enjoy a riverside BBQ lunch prepared by your Iban hosts. Return to the lodge. After dinner visit Nanga Sumpa longhouse. Overnight at Nanga Sumpa lodge.

Day 5 Nanga Sumpa – Kuching (B/L)

Breakfast in the lodge. 0900 hours travel downriver to the Batang Ai Lake jetty, arriving around 1030-1100 hours. Then travel overland back to Kuching with lunch enroute. Arrive in Kuching approx. 1630 hours and be dropped off at your hotel. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

Day 6 Semenggoh Orangutan – Kota Kinabalu (B)

0800 hrs – Depart for Semenggoh Wildlife Centre located 24 kilometres from the centre of Kuching. This orangutan rehabilitation centre trains orphaned or rescued orangutans how to survive in the wild. Over 20 orangutans live in the forest within the nature reserve and often return to the centre at feeding times. Upon arrival, head to the briefing area. After a brief talk from the rangers, take a short walk along a trail to the feeding area to watch the orangutans come down from the trees for a free meal. Observe the feeding of Orangutans requiring rehabilitation. Return to your hotel by 1100 hrs. Check out and transfer to the airport for departure to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu Airport, meet and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at 3* Hotel.

Day 7 Kinabalu Park Botanical (B/L)

Pickup from hotel in city and depart in the early morning for a 2-hour (88 km) journey through breath-taking scenery to Kinabalu Park. Take a guided nature walk with a park naturalist and then explore the park’s botanical garden, which showcases some of the many species of plants that can be found within the park. Have lunch at a local restaurant and in the afternoon visit the gallery on the park’s botanic diversity before returning to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight at 3* Hotel.

Day 8 Kota Kinabalu – Sandakan – Sepilok – Kinabatangan River – Sukau (B/L/D)

Pick up from hotel and transfer to airport for early morning flight to Sandakan. Pick up from Sandakan airport / hotel and visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary where captive orangutans are reintroduced into the wild. You will be able to observe them at their feeding stations in the rainforest and at the nursery (if open). Watch the feeding session at 1000 hours. Then proceed to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). This centre rescues captured sun bears and is involved in sun bear conservation, welfare rehabilitation and education. Over 30 sun bears live at the centre in the bear house and outdoor enclosures. 1130 hours travel by road to Sukau. Arrive at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge around 1330 and have lunch. 1630 hours go on a river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to the Menanggul River in search proboscis monkeys, birds, reptiles and other wildlife. Overnight stay at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge (non-air conditioned).

Note: The nursery at Sepilok is sometimes closed to visitors. This occurs if any of the young orangutan are sick. As such there is no guarantee that the nursery will be open.

Day 9 Oxbow Lake – Kinabatangan River – Sukau (B/L/D)

Early morning, take a boat trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Ox Bow Lake. Trek the lush riverine forest along the lake and then return to the lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon, venture on another river cruise down the Menanggul River and along the Kinabatangan River. Return to the lodge at dusk. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the Kinabatangan Riverside lodge.

Day 10 Sukau – Tabin Wildlife Reserve  (B/L/D)

After early breakfast, leave the lodge and drive two hours overland to Lahad Datu. Upon arrival, continue at 0930 hours for the scheduled transfer to Tabin Wildlife Reserve on a gravel road for about an hour and a half.  Check into the charming timber bungalow of Tabin Wildlife Resort which comes complete with private balcony and hot water shower, a real luxury in the forest.  A variety of birds, insects and even small mammals can be sighted quite easily within the resort which is set amongst the rainforest alongside the Lipad River. Discover the rich variety of jungle herbs, some endemic, used for generations by local folks for the treatment of various ailments. In the afternoon, visit the Lipad mud volcano which serves as a mineral salt lick for wildlife.  After trekking through the jungle for twenty minutes, arrive at the elevated bare area of the mud volcano. Try to identify the multitude of animal footprints here. Walk up the observation tower and admire the contrasting landscape of the bare area and its surrounding thick forest where birds are commonly sighted. After dinner, enjoy a slide presentation on Tabin’s uniqueness, followed by a Night Safari to look out for nocturnal wildlife and birds.

Day 11 Lipad Waterfalls (B/L/D)

You may opt to join the early morning bird walk to discover some of Tabin’s rich collection of almost 300 bird species. After breakfast, trek through the lush green rainforest known for its rich diversity of plants and animal species to visit Lipad Waterfall.  Take a dip in the natural pool and enjoy a natural and refreshing shower under the waterfall. Alternatively explore the surrounding vegetation or simply relax. In the afternoon you may wish to try out the Tabin Rainforest Foot Soak made with a natural blend of herbs, to relax tired muscles after long jungle treks.

Day 12 Tabin Wildlife Reserve – Lahad Datu (B/L)

After breakfast, stroll to the nearby rock pool or river side where groups of macaques and other small mammals can sometimes be seen.  Choose to take a dip in the river or simply listen to the sound of nature before saying goodbye to Tabin. Depart on the scheduled transfer at 1330 hours to Lahad Datu airport.