I’ve been booking Louise and Mike’s holidays for many years and love that each one is unique. They love a wildlife adventure and their latest trip to add to their growing memory book of exceptional experiences was to Borneo...
Ruth totally understands our passion for seeing animals in the wild and this trip to Borneo was perfect in every aspect.
Our 9-night adventure began with a Malaysian Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur followed by a three-hour connecting flight to Sandakan, our base for visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
The anticipation lived up to any expectations we had; simply being able to watch the baby orangutans feeding and playing in the jungle was breathtakingly beautiful. We also managed to see some Bornean sun bears, the smallest of the eight bear species.
It was amazing to witness the work the sanctuary does to help ensure that the orphan orangutans are looked after and prepared for going back into the wild.
Our next stop was the Abai Jungle Lodge, accessible only by water via an hour’s boat cruise up the Lower Kinabatangan River, through the most pristine mangrove forests.
This was a true jungle experience, surrounded by the natural environment, whose soundtrack both day and night was incredible.
All tours were included. On boat rides, we saw macaques and proboscis monkeys along the river and crocodiles in it!
On the guided night walk, we were shown all sorts of creepy crawlies, including green vipers and huntsman spiders - it was an amazing experience. The fantastic guides knew the different species by noises and after some guidance and provided with sticks, we even ventured out trekking on our own. The macaques are not intimidated by humans and were all around us.
Our final stop was for a bit of indulgence at the Bungaraya Island Resort, a luxury getaway perched on the hillsides of Polish Bay on Gaya Island off the coast of Sabah.
Secluded and cocooned in the gorgeous rainforest, the resort features 48 timber villas in traditional Bornean architecture overlooking a beautiful, white-sand beach.
It was sensational. The accommodation was perfect, and the food was excellent and varied.
From our beachside lodge, we could observe the macaque’s daily routine seeking out food. A cheeky one actually came into our room, stole my pringles, ran off, and ate them before chucking the empty box out of the tree!
The beach was fabulous - we even managed to see a wild boar there one evening, whom the hotel manager later told us visits most nights.
There were guided wildlife walks available too which we took advantage of. The island was stunning and a perfect way to end the adventure.
A considerable amount of organisation had been needed to make this trip happen with a few planes, boats and cars involved. Thanks to Ruth’s excellent skills, everything went smoothly and everyone we met along the way was so helpful.
Thanks, Ruth, for another fantastic holiday. We are already looking forward to our next African experience.
