Tour Borneo Photographic Tour – Photograph The Wildlife Of The Ju

Flights

You will have to get yourself to Kota Kinabulu in Malaysia but we include the internal flight between Kota Kinabulu and Lahad Datu. Please note: There is a weight restriction of 20Kgs for the internal flight. You are responsible for your own excess baggage charges if your bags are over 20kgs.

Guide

We will have expert guides with us for the whole trip once we get to Lahad Datu. In addition to our main guide we will have local guides in Tabin, Danum Valley and on the River. These are expert spotters of wildlife and are very knowledgable. Photographically, Anna-Mair Francis will be with the group at all set locations to instruct you on getting the best shot.

Meals

With the exception of March 30th, 3 meals on each full day of tour are included along with water, tea and coffee (juice is included at some venues). Any other snacks, soft drinks or alcohol are not included and therefore must be purchased if you want them.

Others

Professional photographer, Anna-Mair Francis will be there to instruct and guide you at all locations and included activities. Her aim is for you to be confident in how to use your camera to its full potential and get images that you are proud of.

Transport

All land travel is included. We will arrange airport pickup and drop off for the group from Kota Kinabalu International Airport. We will largely be using comfortable 12 seater mini buses. We also include the internal flight to Lahad Datu. We will be using boats on the River to view wildlife on the river banks.

Accommodation

Includes 13 nights accommodation (including the night of 30th March). This will be in hotels, cottages and lodges with in most cases ensuite rooms.

Not included:

Insurance

A comprehensive travel insurance is not included but you must have insurance to travel with us. We require a copy of your insurance before departure. We also recommend insuring your camera equipment.

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Day 1 Day 1: Kota Kinabalu - Markets, Tribesmen And Sunset
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Kota Kinabalu - Markets, Tribesmen And Sunset

After breakfast welcome and meet the group.

Head to Sunday markets in Gaya Street to photograph the stalls, local produce and people. Lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch arrive at Mari Mari cultural village at 2:30 PM, which provides an opportunity to learn about the people of Sabah and their food and photograph them in traditional costumes and houses.

Return to Kota Kinabalu to photograph the sunset from Tanjung Ara beach that is also a favourite haunt of the locals and a great place to photograph local food stalls and people.

Return into the city for Dinner.
Day 2 Day 2: Flight East And Enter The Jungle
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Flight East And Enter The Jungle

After an early breakfast depart to the airport for the 9:40 AM flight to Lahad Datu. (Please note that this is an internal flight with a luggage weight limit of 20kg so any excess weight will have to be paid by yourself. This was 5 Ringits a Kilo in 2019).

When we Land in Lahad Datu ay 10:35 we will meet out main tour guide and the guide for Tabin Wildlife Reserve. We will head into Lahad Datu, which will give you the opportunity to purchase any supplies you might need of snacks etc.

We will then drive to Tabin that takes approximately 1 hour. Tabin is the largest nature reserve in Malaysia. It is home to the three largest mammals of Sabah, namely Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros and Tembadau that are all found within the reserve. There are also nine species of primate are present, three species of cats all of which are on the protected wildlife list and more than 300 species of bird have been seen here.

Upon arrival we will check into our rooms and go for lunch after which there is the opportunity to unpack and have a short rest before going for an afternoon trek in to the Jungle. Tabin Wildlife Reserve is home to many species of flora and fascinating insects.

Whilst we can’t guarantee seeing any specific animal we are in the right place for the it to happen. There are places at Tabin where the volcanic mineral salts come to the surface that attracts the animals. We will head out to some of these sites in the hope of photographing some of the rarer animals.

After dinner evening walk or drive, the Jungle at night is a very different place with the chance of seeing some of the more elusive nocturnal animals and others that are asleep in the trees.
Day 3 Day 3: Explore Tabin Wildlife Reserve
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Explore Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Today we will venture into the rain forest jungle to experience all that it has to offer. There will be plenty of opportunities to photograph a huge variety of flora as well as insects, spiders, birds as well as the chance of the wild animals like orang-utan, gibbon, macaque, otter and pygmy elephant. We will have a morning walk and return to the resort for lunch and a rest during the hottest part of the day before heading out again later in the afternoon. The animals tend to rest in the heat of the day too so we won’t be missing much.
Day 4 Day 4: Transfer To Our Second Jungle Home
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Transfer To Our Second Jungle Home

For those that are keen we will have an early opportunity to photograph near the resort before breakfast. Otters have been seen in the river close to the resort. We check out and transfer to Danum Valley Jungle Conservation via Lahad Datu, where we will meet our Danum Valley specialist guide (and another chance to restock your snacks etc). The Danum Valley is 438 square kilometres of largely untouched lowland dipterocarp forest, which are home to many animals including the rare clouded leopards.

We will check in our home for the next couple of nights, Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge. The lodge was once the research station for the Danum Valley and nestles metres from the Jungle tree line. There are gibbons living in trees very close to the resort and will be our morning alarm! After we have settled in we will have an afternoon trek on a jungle path to the waterfall. We will see some incredible plant life along this trail, fungi and flowers, which in turn attract insects and birds.

Optional night walk
Day 5 Day 5: Jungle Exploration At The Forest Research Centre.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Jungle Exploration At The Forest Research Centre.

We leave the hotel very early so that we can be at the GAW tower (Global Atmosphere Watch Station) for sunrise. Hopefully we will have views of the mist in the valley below.

We will have breakfast at the new Forest Research Centre before exploring more of the Danum Rainforests. The Forest Research Centre does important work monitoring the health of the jungle and its inhabitants, many of which are on the endangered list. We will spend most of the day exploring the trails and looking for wildlife around the research centre before heading back to our Resort.
Day 6 Day 6: Jungles Life To River Life
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Jungles Life To River Life

Today we have a bit of a drive as we leave behind the Danum Valley Jungle and travel to the Kinbanatang River. On route we will drive through palm oil farms that have been given a lot of bad press in recent years. Undoubtable masses of wildness have been cleared in the past to plant these but the Malaysian government have stopped any further clearance, realising the damage that past actions have caused and are now actively conserving and replant native trees.

We will stop for lunch on route and if there is time there is the optional visit to the Gomantong Caves. We have in the past seen wild orangutans hanging out in the forest by the car park here. We don’t include a visit to the caves as part of the general itinerary as it isn’t a place for everyone. The caves are famous for the swifts, which make their nests high in the vaulted roofs of the cave, which are harvested for bird’s nest soup. There are thousands of swifts living there that produce piles of guano, which in turn are home to many creepy crawlies like cockroaches. There are walkways through the cave which are over the top of cave floor but it isn’t for the weak stomached, the odour of ammonia is over powering to some so if you want to go in Anna-Mair will accompany you but it is at your own expense. You will pay an enter cost plus a camera tax both are around 30 MRG.

We will get to our riverside resort via boat and will have time to refresh before grapping the cameras and heading up the river for a sunset river trip. The river is edged by native forest, which is home to many animals. We have seen many birds, primates and organutan here and if we are luck pygmy elephant are occasionally seen.

Optional night walk at an extra cost (10 MRG)
Day 7 Day 7: Messing Around On The River
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Messing Around On The River

We have a full day on the Kinbanatan River starting with an early morning river trip to see the birds and animals feeding along the river’s edge. We will have time to look at images that have been taken so far between our activities today. We will arrange and afternoon walk with a local guide if you would like to explore further. We will return to the boats for the sunset river trip

Optional night walk if not done last night at an extra cost.
Day 8 Day 8: Primates And More Primates
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Primates And More Primates

We leave Kinbanatan River this morning. If we didn’t have time to go to the caves on day 6 we could go today if there is interest before we head towards Sepilok. We will head first to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, which is home to many proboscis monkeys, well in truth they live in the forests that surrounds Labuk Bay but they come in each day for a free feed.

Go to hotel in Sepilok our home for the next 2 nights.
Day 9 Day 9: Orangutan And Sun Bears
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Orangutan And Sun Bears

If we haven’t seen orangutan by now we will today. Sepilok is home to a wonderful rehabilitation centre, which rescues these apes for poachers and treats any that have been orphaned or injured. This is not a zoo, the aim is to get the animal back in to the wild and in fact much of the area is not fenced but backs straight into the surrounding jungle. This means that the orangutan once they start getting independent can wander into the jungle when ever they want and not return but it also means that occasionally wild apes visit for a quick feed of bananas. We were very fortunate to see a very large wild male who was probably around 30 years of age who swung in to the feeding platform, bellowed warning all other males to stay away but allowed a young mother and baby to feed next to him.

We will visit to centre for the morning and afternoon sessions at the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and visit the nearby Sun Bear Rehabilitation Centre which rescues animals. These small bears continue to be threatened by forest degradation, illegal hunting for bear parts and poaching to obtain young cubs for pet trade. The aim is the return the bears to the wild.

We will end the day at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, which is close to the hotel. This is a garden with elevated walkways through the trees. It is home to many birds and small mammals.
Day 10 Day 10: Waterfalls And Tea Gardens
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Waterfalls And Tea Gardens

We leave Seplilok and start our return journey west. We will stop along the way if we see something interesting to photograph like a local market. We are staying tonight at Sabah Tea Gardens, which produces some of the best tea in the world. On a clear day we have views to Mt Kinabulu over the tea terraces. We will have lunch here, check in and then head to Poring Hot Springs. This is a popular attraction with the locals and has many opportunities for photos. It is set in a beautiful wooded valley with an orchid and tropical garden (including a Rafflesia flower if it is in season). We will walk to a lovely waterfall to take some landscape images. There is the additional option if you would like to explore the canopy tree walk but this is not included in your itinerary as it isn’t for the faint hearted, it cost around 10 MRG with an additional camera tax.

Just outside to hot springs are colourful street stalls that give us an additional photo opportunity.
Day 11 Day 11: Mt Kinabulu National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Mt Kinabulu National Park

Our last full day together. We will start with a short visit to the Australian/British Memorial Gardens – Kudisang, whilst there are photo opportunities to be had here as the garden is lovely but you might want to take the opportunity to reflect.

We will wind through the hills towards Kinabalu National Park; whilst we will not get close to the mountain it’s self the trail and tropical gardens of the national park are spectacular with many species of flowers and fungi for us to enjoy.

Our best view of Mt. Kinabalu if there are no clouds are from at Nabala Handicraft Market which is also a great place to buy some souvenirs and some photos of their colourful goods. We will then descend in to Kota Kinabalu for our final evening meal together.
Day 12 Day 12: Farewell
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Farewell

We will farewell after breakfast but if you still have some energy a dawn shot can be arranged down on the water at Kota Kinabalu.

We will arrange airport transfers from your hotel to the international airport.

12 days tour

Borneo Photographic Tour – Photograph The Wildlife Of The Ju

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Borneo Photographic Tour – Photograph The Wildlife Of The Ju

Day 1: Kota Kinabalu - Markets, Tribesmen And Sunset

Day 2: Flight East And Enter The Jungle

Day 3: Explore Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Day 4: Transfer To Our Second Jungle Home

Day 5: Jungle Exploration At The Forest Research Centre.

Day 6: Jungles Life To River Life

Day 7: Messing Around On The River

Day 8: Primates And More Primates

Day 9: Orangutan And Sun Bears

Day 10: Waterfalls And Tea Gardens

Day 11: Mt Kinabulu National Park

Day 12: Farewell

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