Simply Sabah

From watching dedicated conservation in Sepilok, drift down the Kinabatangan River in a longboat, keeping your eyes on the banks for glimpses of pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys. Observe diverse and colourful birds and other animals getting their mineral fix at the small mud volcanoes. Complete your wildlife spotting extravaganza with a few days at a select spot on the coast, where you can rest and reset on the beach, and snorkelers and divers can explore coral reefs teeming with an array of graceful marine life.

Old Man of the Forest….

As a starting point, it’s difficult to beat a night or two close to the world-renowned Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. Set in 19 square miles of dense rainforest, with (almost!) guaranteed sightings of Borneo’s most famous residents, this is a great introduction to the country’s diverse habitats and fascinating creatures. The Sanctuary is rightly famous for its work with very young orphaned and injured orangutans, some of whom you can observe from behind one way glass at the outdoor nursery. 

Head out to the special feeding platforms, where rangers spread food for the area’s older wild residents twice a day, and scan the forest for those tell-tale splashes of orange fur. Sepilok’s reputation inevitably draws a large number of visitors, which can occasionally make it feel a little crowded, but keep in mind that every visitor provides added exposure and funding for the sanctuary’s vital work. Having filled your head with everything orangutan, you can shift your wildlife focus with a visit to the nearby Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which is devoted to raising awareness of the plight of the endangered Malayan Sun Bear, before making a stop at the informative Rainforest Discovery Centre.

Waterside Wildlife

Even in bountiful Borneo, there are few better places than the Kinabatangan - Malaysia’s second-longest river - to get a deeper look at the island’s natural wonders. No two safaris on the Kinabatangan River are ever the same, and each brings its own spellbinding moments. Start early each morning and zip along aboard a small boat, still rubbing the sleep from your eyes! Veer off to explore the waterway’s intriguing tributaries as the mist lifts over one of the world’s oldest rainforests. With a little patience, luck, and your knowledgeable wildlife guide on hand, you might spot Borneo's own ‘Big 5’: the iconic orangutans, distinctively nosed proboscis monkeys, surprisingly large pygmy elephants, lurking crocodiles and colourful hornbills.

Relax at riverside lodges and enjoy humid, languid afternoons out on the river until the setting sun sets casts hints of gold and orange on the rippling water. Silhouettes of trees stand striking against the darkening sky, and you may catch glimpses of bright eyes amid the foliage… After nightfall, continue your exploration on foot as you accompany your guide quietly through the jungle in search of birds, bats, insects and other nocturnal wanderers.

Choose your path

When it comes to heading deeper into Borneo’s rainforest, you can pick the spot that appeals to you most. Danum Valley, Tabin Wildlife Reserve and the Sungai Kapur Jungle Reserve all have their own distinctive character, accommodation and feel, and each offers an equally rare glimpse into Borneo’s unique ecosystem.

Danum Valley

A visit to the Danum Valley is both a phenomenal experience and a humbling privilege, and we would encourage you to visit if you can. This extraordinary ancient forest is home to a staggering 8.8 million plant species, and rare creatures such as the orangutan, Bornean pygmy elephant, Spectacled Flowerpecker and sun bear.

Accommodation-wise, there’s really only one focus: the supremely isolated, but surprisingly luxurious, Borneo Rainforest Lodge. With the rainforest and its wildlife right on your doorstep, it’s the perfect place to rest your head between safaris. The lodge works tirelessly alongside partner organisations to preserve and protect the rainforest, and is committed to educating visitors and involving the wider community. 

Tabin Wildlife Reserve

The Tabin Wildlife Reserve is largely made up of secondary rainforest, as much of it was felled in the 1970s and has since grown back, but that certainly doesn’t make it second best. Its landscape is characterised by small, mineral-rich volcanoes, which bubble with hot mud instead of lava. With many birds and animals dependent on these for their mineral content, they make excellent spots for sightings.

Although the trees aren't quite as towering, Tabin’s lowland rainforests really do offer some of the best wildlife watching in the country. Among the reserve’s larger inhabitants are the Bornean pygmy elephant, Sunda clouded leopard, around nine species of primate, and a huge range of birdlife. Stay at the fairly simple Tabin Wildlife Resort, where knowledgeable guides will accompany you on treks through the forest.

Sungai Kapur Jungle Reserve

The Sungai Kapur Jungle Reserve is a remote and protected nerve-centre of Bornean biodiversity - an ideal place to get a taste of Sabah's wilderness. 

The accommodation at the Utan Rainforest Lodge is relatively simple, but its excellent location means that, unlike neighbouring reserves, Sungai Kapur can be explored both on foot and by river. Follow an expert-led walk with a morning cruise along the mangrove-lined Segama River, searching for diverse bird species, flying foxes, glimpses of orangutans and, on rare occasions, the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. As the sun goes down, head back out onto the water, keeping a look out for nocturnal animals (such as civet cats, flying squirrels, moon rats and mouse deer), or alternatively join a night walk or drive.

Beaches & the deep blue…

Borneo’s diverse coastlines provide the perfect balance to its dense, lush jungle. Choose a mainland beach for long, sweeping stretches of sand, or opt for the small but perfectly formed beaches of Gaya Island, just fifteen minutes by boat from Kota Kinabalu and within easy reach of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Marine Park. If you don’t mind a longer transfer, there are excellent secluded options a little further afield in the form of simple but comfortable private villas, perfect for relaxing in peace and solitude beside Sabah's slightly wilder coastline. 

Sit back and relax, drink in hand, to take in the coastal views, or don a snorkel and fins and cast your eyes downwards into the deep ocean looking out for turtles, giant groupers and trigger fish, among many others. With coral reefs providing a home to a colourful array of marine life, the underwater world is another enchanting string to Borneo’s bow.

Follow one of our favourite Selective secrets by starting your trip on one kind of beach, either island or mainland, and ending it on another: the best of both. They’re all very accessible, meaning that (if the timings are right) you can go from a busy airport to a beautiful beach in no time.

A last note…

Every lodge in Borneo is different, with a distinct combination of characteristics and benefits to offer, from the well-established, high-end properties to the newer kids on the block, and it can be hard to sort one from the other from afar. Fear not! Our specialists have plenty of first-hand experience and on-the-ground knowledge to match you to the lodge and journey that’ll suit you best (and take on all the fiddly logistics too!) If you’re craving a bit of city life and streetfood, there’s always the option of pausing in Kuala Lumpur before or after your Sabah journey, or combining Sabah with some of Sarawak’s busier highlights in Kuching.