Borneo: Weather & when to go
Weather Summary
Borneo benefits benefits from year-round temperatures averaging between 27 °– 32°C, with a relative humidity of around 80% for much of the year. Rainfall can exceed 4,000mm per annum in pockets of Borneo although in most destinations an average of about 220mm per month is the norm. The weather on land is affected by the weather patterns of the South China, Sulu and Sulawesi Seas and the seasonal winds or “monsoons” which can bring either warm dry weather or heavy rains depending on their nature and origin.
Weather conditions are localised and complicated throughout Borneo, with one region receiving its highest rainfall of the year whilst another is dry as a bone. Furthermore all tropical island climates are unpredictable, and rainfall can occur at any time of year, with weather conditions often changing very quickly with showers turning to sunshine or vice versa in a matter of minutes.
Whilst there are peak months in terms of tourism (May – Sept), it is advisable not to put too much emphasis on weather prospects when planning a trip to Borneo. Generally speaking a peak in rainfall occurs between November and March, although even in these months rainfall can be sporadic, and it is difficult (in fact impossible) to pre-determine which will be the wet weeks and which will be the dry.
Furthermore there are many benefits of lower visitor-numbers to be enjoyed in the traditionally wetter months, and the National Parks, wildlife sanctuaries, jungle lodges, caves and dive sites may be far more appealing with fewer fellow visitors to share your experiences with.
Below you'll find a list of the festivals that the culturally diverse country of Malaysia celebrates each years. In reality barely a week goes by without a festival or bank holiday of some sort!
Sabah
Kota Kinabalu, Kinabalu NP, Sepilok, Lankayan & Selingan Islands Danum Valley, Mabul & Sipadan Islands
Broadly speaking Sabah has two seasons: the wetter season runs from September to January the drier season from February to August. However it cannot be stressed enough that the distinction between seasons is not very marked, and the weather patterns and rainfall levels are unpredictable. Sabah generally receives less rainfall than Sarawak and has uniform temperatures throughout the year with an annual variation of less than 2°C.
(- continued:) Sabah
- Rainfall in southern Sabah is lower than in the north, and falls quite evenly throughout the year, with just a slight dip in millimetres between February and April.
Due to it’s altitude Kinabalu National Park is always much cooler than the surrounding lowland regions.
Sarawak
Kuching, Damai Beach, Mulu National Park, Batang Ai
The distinction between the wet and dry seasons is more marked in Sarawak than in Sabah with the highest rainfall in January and the lowest in June and July. Temperatures remain fairly constant throughout the year and average between 23°C and 32°C depending on both location and time of year.
The beaches near Kuching on the coast of Sarawak have a distinct drier season between April – September, and are virtually guaranteed rain during December and January.
(- continued:) Sarawak
- Inland areas of Sarawak generally experience quite high levels of rain throughout the year, with a slight dip between June and August. It should be noted that the both Kuching and inland areas of Sarawak receive the highest levels of rainfall in Malaysia, and any visitors to the Iban people and Batang Ai are likely to see some rain. To keep rainfall in perspective, Sarawak experiences roughly 250 rainy days every year and it is therefore better to be prepared for rain than try and avoid it.
Malay Borneo : Key Festivals & Religious Ceremonies
With such a rich mix of cultures and religions it’s no surprise that Malaysia is also known as ‘The land of the festivals’. The following are just a few of the key festivals to be enjoyed across the year. Muslim and Buddhist festivals are timed according the various phases of the moon and some of the dates given below are approximations:
- 3rd February: Chinese New Year.
20th January: Thaipusam