Family Borneo Wildlife Adventure

Over View

An action packed adventure ideal for wildlife enthusiasts. The state of Sabah in Borneo boasts over 200 species of mammal, 450 species of bird and 8,000 plant species. Visit the world's largest Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, a Sun Bear sanctuary and cruise jungle waterways in search of proboscis monkey with time to relax on the coast at the end of the trip.

Pulau Tiga Island – Boat trip to this protected tropical island with excellent snorkelling opportunities

Kinabatangan – Stay in a jungle lodge and cruise the river to see proboscis monkeys

Longhouse – Experience rural Borneo. Sleep in a traditional style longhouse with local families

For active families we offer the trek to summit Mt Kinabalu, planned on 18th July 2021 and 1st August 2021. Due to the demanding nature of this trek these dates are open to children aged 11 and over.

Itinerary

Day 1 Join trip in Kota Kinabalu

Arrive in Kota Kinabalu. Known locally as KK, Kota Kinabalu is a burgeoning city with a blend of Malays, Chinese and native Kadazan Dusun. The result is a unique mixture of architecture, culture, high technology and ancient traditions.

For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Kota Kinabalu at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive into Kota Kinabalu International airport (airport code BKI) which is 12km around twenty minutes from the airport. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to head out to sample Kota Kinabalu’s fine food scene with fusion restaurants popping up all over town and street-food stalls serving up classics like Nasi Goreng (fried rice with spices) and satay alongside curries and kimchi.

Day 2 Boat trip and snorkelling to Manukan Island; optional thrilling zipline between two tropical islands

Off the coast from Kota Kinabalu is the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Sabah’s first national park, made up of 5 islands. Teeming with a magnificent range of marine life, the islands are fringed with coral reefs and have some of the best beaches in Borneo. Our day starts with a boat trip to Manukan Island, famed for its snorkelling.

For those that wish to take part in the optional zip wire activity, we take a short boat trip to neighbouring Sapi Island where we take a thrilling 250 meter zip line between two tropical islands, Sapi and Gaya Islands. This exhilarating ride provides fantastic views of the marine park as you glide over the crystal clear waters below you, a great adventure for all the family. Leaving Gaya Island behind we take the return boat trip to Manukan island.

The rest of the day to relax and enjoy the islands fine beaches. An idyllic way to spend our first day in Borneo. We return by boat to Kota Kinabulu late afternoon.

Day 3 Fly to Sandakan; drive to Sepilok and visit orang-utan rehabilitation centre

After a leisurely morning we drive to the airport, taking an afternoon domestic flight to Sandakan on Sabah’s east coast from where we make the short drive to Sepilok.

Sepilok is home to the largest of the three orang-utan rehabilitation centres in the world. Covering over 4,000 hectares of forest, the centre was established in 1964 to rehabilitate captured, injured or abandoned apes with the animals being taught how to make nests and survive in their natural habitat. We plan to visit the centre in time for feeding when, along with the permanent members, pregnant mothers who otherwise live in the jungle often come to supplement their diet and return after the birth of their young. There is a small charge to bring your camera into the sanctuary area.

Day 4 Rainforest Discovery Centre and Sun Bear Sanctuary; drive to Sukau on the Kinabatangan River

This morning we visit the Sun Bear Sanctuary which looks after these threatened species with the aim of rehabilitating and releasing these creatures into their natural habitat. We then move on to the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre. The centre gives the opportunity to learn about the conservation of the rainforest and the myriad of animals and plants that rely on this incredible habitat. From the canopy walkway you will see the beautiful rain forest of Sepilok from up to 28 m above the forest floor! You might even catch a glimpse of the Bornean bristlehead bird, one of the rarest birds in Sabah as well as the other 250 species of birds including hornbills, woodpeckers, pittas, kingfishers and broadbills.

Later we continue our journey to Bilit, on the Kinabatangan River and our jungle base in Sukau. Home to a rich network of hidden oxbow lakes and river tributaries the area has escaped much of the deforestation that has blighted other parts of Borneo, allowing us to see a diverse selection of reptiles, birds and mammals in their natural forest habitat.

Day 5 In Sukau; wildlife cruise viewing, jungle walks, boat cruise

Unlike other areas in Sabah, the Kinabatangan River has remained relatively unaffected by logging, mainly because the land is permanently waterlogged and there are few commercially valuable trees there. The river meanders through a flood plain and creates many ox-bow lakes making an ideal environment for wildlife viewing. On our early morning cruise we may see crocodile warming themselves in the morning sun and some of the other birdlife such as egret, storm’s stork, oriental darter and oriole. This afternoon, optional jungle walks are available for those wishing to explore further. Later in the afternoon as the sun starts to go down, we take another boat cruise along the Kinabatangan River and Menungal tributary, hopefully to spot some more wildlife, including the long nosed proboscis monkeys which converge on tree tops by the river banks to settle for the night.

Day 6 Drive to tea plantation and stay in a traditional longhouse

Today we depart Sukau by bus and travel to a tea plantation where we will spend the next two nights staying in a traditional style longhouse as used by the tribal people of Borneo (shared facilities). This plantation is the only organic tea farm in Borneo, surrounded by rainforest and with magnificent views of Mount Kinabalu, it is a great place to explore.

Day 7 Tour of tea plantation; batik painting experience

After rising early this morning, we walk out into the tea plantation for a fine view of Mount Kinabalu. We will also have the opportunity to try our hand at tea plucking and learn all about the tea grown in this area, then walk out to the Sapoan River and enjoy a picnic lunch. After returning on foot to the Longhouse this evening, there is the opportunity to participate in some batik painting and learn how to cook a traditional meal. There is also the opportunity to see a blow pipe demonstration.

Day 8 Drive to Poring Hot Springs; drive to Kiau Village

We start our day with a visit to the Poring Hot Springs, a popular spot with locals who enjoy springs found here. At 450m we are in tropical lowland forest, dense with vegetation and thick bamboo, with a humid misty atmosphere. You can cross a tree top walkway 60m above the forest floor or perhaps you prefer to take a relaxing soak in a hot spring bath, looking out for hornbills, mynah birds and monkeys. From here we move on to our abode for the night in Kiau village where we stay with local families, a great opportunity to learn about life in rural Borneo. Many of the families here are pineapple farmers and we hope to visit the farms and learn all about the cultivation and how to cook this tasty fruit. The stay allows the opportunity for all the kids to play local games and mix naturally with their counterparts.

Day 9 Bus to Kuala Penyu; boat to Pulau Tiga

This morning we make an early start, driving to Kuala Penyu from where we travel by boat to the small island of Pulau Tiga. Formed after a volcanic eruption just over one hundred years ago, the island, which has magnificent coral reefs and a wide variety of terrestrial flora and fauna, is now part of a state marine park.

We should arrive on the island by 1100, the rest of the day is free to relax on the beach, go snorkelling or take a walk to explore the one of the marked trails.

Day 10 Morning on Pulau Tiga and return to Kota Kinabalu in the afternoon

Morning to enjoy this paradise island with time to relax at the end of your tour although there is also plenty on offer for the more active traveller. The snorkelling opportunities are excellent and other activities such as sea kayaking and fishing are also on offer. A network of marked trails provide the chance to discover the island’s wildlife from macaques and monitor lizards to rare birds such as the curious megapodes, hornbills and sea eagles. One trekking trail leads to the mud volcanoes on the island which are famed for their mineral enriched mud, said to have healing properties.

This afternoon we return to Kota Kinabalu with time for some last minute shopping or further personal exploration. You may wish to visit the Masjid Sabah, one of the biggest mosques in Malaysia, or the Sabah Museum, shaped to resemble a Rungut Longhouse and containing a magnificent collection of ethnographic and historical artifacts.

Day 11 Trip ends in Kota Kinabalu

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Kota Kinabalu.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Kota Kinabalu at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Kota Kinabalu International airport (airport code BKI), which is which is 12km around twenty minutes from the airport.