Sabah, Borneo

June, 2023

Borneo, the world’s third largest island, is politically divided among three countries, Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Brunei and Indonesia (Kalimantan). We will visit Sabah, stunningly beautiful and hugely biodiverse. We will concentrate our efforts within the ‘Heart of Borneo’ a conservation area, home to 10 endemic primate species, more than 350 bird species, 150 reptiles and amphibians and more than 10,000 plant species. Target species include orang-utans, Bornean pygmy elephants, proboscis and leaf monkeys, gibbons, tarsiers, bearded pigs, rhinoceros hornbills, flying frogs, squirrels and pitcher plants. There is also the incredible opportunity to find a clouded leopard if luck is with us!

The map is a visual representation of the locations included in this trip. Click over the image to zoom into the map. For more information, please refer to the itinerary for this expedition.

Trip Details

General Information

USD $TBA Per person sharing

Arrival: Sandakan, Sabah Malaysia

Departure: Lahad Datu Airport

Arrival Time: June 2023

INCLUDED

Accommodations for 11 nights.
All meals.
National park fees.
Water, tea, coffee.
Local English-speaking driver/guide.
One Pete Oxford Expeditions trip leader.

NOT INCLUDED

International airfare to and from Sandakan International Airport.
Items of personal nature including laundry, bar, personal shopping and internet.
Travel/medical/evacuation insurance.
Visa fees.
Tips for local guides and lodge staff.

VIEW ITINERARY

ADay 1, June 17th: Arrival in Sandakan

Upon arrival at the airport we will be transferred to our hotel in Sepilok, famous for its orang-utan rehabilitation center. We stay at the Sepilok MY Resort.

BDay 2, June 18th: Sepilok

Although this is a heavily visited center it is well worth the time to watch the antics of the comical orang-utans. From the elevated board walk it is also possible sometimes to spot wild individuals in the forest. The lovely lodge set in the forest allows excellent opportunities to see more wildlife in the immediate surroundings as well as affording us the possibility to do night walks. We can also enjoy the different perspective from the lodge’s own elevated canopy walkway. O/N Sepilok MY Resort

CDays 3 – 6, June 19th – 22nd: Deramakot

We drive for several hours until the tarmac disappears and we change to 4×4 vehicles and continue on the dirt track until we reach the forest of Deramakot. Here we will stay in rustic, yet comfortable, air-conditioned chalets. Deramakot is one of the best places in Borneo for mammal spotting. Our focus here will be long night drives spotlighting as we go. While at Deramakot, on foot or driving, we hope to see marbled cats, bearded pigs, various civets, slow loris, tarsiers and the Holy Grail, the Sunda clouded leopard. Although by no means guaranteed this is the best chance anywhere of seeing this cat in the wild. There are of course also a host of birds including various pitta species, hornbills, leaf birds, trogons and the great argus pheasant. We spend four nights here.

DDays 7 – 8, June 23rd – 24th: Kinabatangan River

From Deramakot we drive for about 4 hours and then board our river boat for 45 minutes to the Kinabantangan Wetlands Resort for our three night stay. Here our emphasis will be on cruising the Kinabatangan River in search of the incredible wildlife to be found along its banks. Highlights will be proboscis monkeys, Bornean pygmy elephants, macaques, salt water crocodiles, wild orang-utans and a wealth of birds including hornbills and kingfishers. We will be able to do a night safari on the river in the hope of nocturnal species such as colugos and marbled cat.

EDays 9 – 11, June 25th – 27th: Danum Valley

Continuing upriver by speedboat, followed by a long drive, we arrive to our lodge. One of the highlights of Borneo, Danum Valley, is justifiably famous for it’s wildlife. On foot or in a vehicle, day or night, we will maximize our time to get the most out of our three-night stay. The Borneo Rainforest Lodge, a multi awarding-winning eco-lodge of the highest quality, will not disappoint. With our private lodge guide we hope to find such highlights as Borneo gibbons, orang-utans, rhinoceros hornbills, macaques, elephants, fantastic insects, amphibians and reptiles as well as enjoying stunning views from the canopy.

GDay 12, June 28th: Lahad Datu

The trip ends this morning at the Lahad Datu airport. The drive from Danum Valley to the airport is approximately three hours.

Expedition Leader

Discover the world with experienced travelers

Pete Oxford

Photographer | Owner | Trip Leader

Pete Oxford is a naturalist and conservation photographer. He has been leading trips, repeatedly, to every continent since 1987. He is very familiar with tropical rainforests having lived and worked in the Ecuadorian Amazon as a naturalist guide for three years. He has even published four books on the Amazon. Pete has visited the region, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Borneo, repeatedly over the years venturing widely throughout the area. Of all the destinations to which Pete leads trips Borneo is one of his favourites as the wildlife is simply so much more visible (and larger) than many other rainforests. He continues to lead trips to some of the world’s most pristine wildlife and cultural destinations as a full time, professional conservation photographer/tour leader. He is the winner of several prestigious awards and his images have appeared in major magazines including National Geographic, Time, Outdoor Photography and Smithsonian.