TheWildlifeDiaries: Best places to see wildlife in Borneo @WildDiaries

Straddling the equator and divided among three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, Borneo is the third largest island on Earth. Its tropical rainforests are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife from giant apes to pygmy elephants and from wild cats to flying frogs.

Borneo’s Malaysian state of Sabah still retains a large portion of its forest cover and is one of the best places in South East Asia for wildlife watching. Sabah is home to a number of wildlife reserves and protected areas, but these three hotspots are the rare gems.

Best Places to see  Wildlife in Borneo

1. Danum Valley

Lying about 2.5 hours by road from the coastal town of Lahad Datu, Danum Valley Conservation area is home to one of the world’s oldest rainforests. Estimated to be 140 million-years-old, this forest has a distinctly primeval feeling to it.

Thick clouds of mist float lazily over the tops of some of the tallest tropical trees on Earth. Every surface in the forest is covered by the lush vegetation in all possible shades of green.

The wildlife is everywhere in Danum Valley: Bearded pigs and Sambar deer frolic on the lawns around the living quarters, cheeky Maroon langurs are frequent visitors to the camps.

The suspension bridges over the Segama River and canopy towers bring you even closer wildlife. But the best wildlife watching is at night on a safari drive. You are virtually guaranteed to see Flying squirrels, a few species of civets, Colugos and Slow lorises. And if you are lucky, you may spot Borneo pygmy elephants or even a Clouded leopard.

There are two accommodation options in Danum Valley: the luxurious Borneo Rainforest Lodge and the simpler rooms at the Field Center.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: TheWildlifeDiaries: Best places to see wildlife in Borneo

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Matador Network: Searching for wild cats in Borneo and scaring away poachers

Standing on the rickety suspension bridge over the Segama River, I am enveloped in the lush greenery of the ancient tropical rainforest. The heat is palpable, and the moisture-laden air is buzzing with a cacophony of insect calls. Thick clouds of mist drift lazily over the treetops and a rumbling sound growing in the distance warns of an approaching downpour.

This is Borneo’s Danum Valley, home to one of the oldest rainforests on Earth. Estimated to be 140 million years old, this forest has a distinctly primeval feeling to it. I almost expect a raging Tyrannosaurus rex to burst out of the mist.

But I am here to look for much less sinister creatures. Danum Valley is home to all five species of Borneo’s wild cats: the almost-never-seen Borneo bay cat, the elusive Sunda clouded leopard and marbled cat, the endangered flat-headed cat, and Borneo’s own species of leopard cat — the Sunda leopard cat.

Most of these cats are nocturnal hunters, concealed deep in the jungle during the daylight hours. But the jungle is teaming with life at any time of the day.

I return to the Field Centre — the research facility where I am staying, and discover a group of maroon langurs lounging in the low branches of the trees and occasionally sprinting across the lawn. It is a rare sight to see these handsome canopy-dwelling primates at such close range. They wouldn’t be as cheeky in the presence of a clouded leopard, but lucky for them, and not as much for me, no cats are lurking in the shadows.

Searching the jungle at night

When the darkness falls, our guide Mike leads us on a night drive. Standing in the back of a pickup truck, we follow the beam of Mike’s spotlight, as it dances across the solid wall of jungle. Soon we spot a three-striped palm civet munching on fruit high up in the canopy. Next, Mike points out a slow loris looking down at us with its cartoonishly large eyes.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Matador Network: Searching for wild cats in Borneo and scaring away poachers

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Original Travel: Your Child's First Expedition - Borneo

Once your children have reached the slightly scary 'tweenage' years of 9-12 years old, you can start veering toward the ever more adventurous holidays, for instance, their first expedition. 

We think that Malaysian Borneo provides adventure-a-plenty for little explorers; this is the land of wild orangutans, pygmy elephants, butterflies the size of dinner plates and ancient rainforest that is even older than Dad (yes, THAT old).

We can arrange private nature guides - essential to ensure that any trekking is perfectly suited to little legs - and be sure to build in some beach time to unwind after all that jungle excitement.

Plus, the kids' well-used wildlife checklists will provide some serious braggability at next term's show and tell...

Canopy Capers

Nippers with a head for heights will love exploring the canopy walkway in the heart of the Danum Valley.

The series of (very sturdy) bridges and platforms are suspended 100ft up, at their highest points, and look our over the 130 million year old jungle canopy.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Original Travel: Your Child's First Expedition - Borneo

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Six new insects found in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s reputation as a biodiversity hotspot has been reinforced with the discovery of six new insect species in the pristine Danum Valley near Lahad Datu.

The discovery was made by a team of “citizen scientists” who visited the 438sq km conservation area, which is about twice the size of Penang island, as part of the inaugural Taxon Expedition recently.

Three of the newly discovered insects, all tiny beetles living in rainforest leaf litter, were published in the Biodiversity Data Journal on Thursday.

The other three, belonging to the family Elmidae (riffle beetles), will be published next year.

Taxon Expeditions is the first organisation in the world to hold field courses for citizen scientists in biodiversity hotspots, with the aim of discovering, describing, naming and publishing new species under the slogan “You can be Darwin too”.

Taxon Expeditions director and biologist Dr Iva Njunji said scientists have estimated that over 80% of the world’s animal and plant species are still undiscovered.

Although the work of taxonomists – whose job is to describe and name these species – is appreciated by the general public, funding for taxonomy is dwindling, she said.

“Moreover, the areas hosting most of the unknown biodiversity are under threat ... time is running out,” Dr Iva said, adding that recruiting citizen scientists as extra hands means that unknown species may be discovered faster.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Six new insects found in Sabah

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62 species of dragonflies found in Imbak Canyon, Danum Valley

KOTA KINABALU: Sixty-two species of dragonflies were found in Imbak Canyon and Danum Valley during the recent Yayasan Sabah Batu Timbang Scientific Expidition, where some of it are endemic to Sabah.

One of participants of the expedition, Dr Choong Chee Yen, said one particular species, Telosticta Janeus can only be found in Imbak Canyon and Danum Valley.

“According to the previous research on this area, there are 68 species of dragonflies recorded but during this recent trip I only managed to identify 62.

This is due to limited time, but from my observation the population of dragonflies there are healthy,” he said.

Continue reading at: 62 species of dragonflies found in Imbak Canyon, Danum Valley

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Bornean Sun Bear Conservation - An Unconventional Hero

There’s something to be said about conservationists and their quest to save the world. They’re relentless and driven. “We have to be,” remarks Wong Siew Te wryly, “...but it’s possible to make a difference,” he adds after a pause.

He looks a little travel-weary as he sits across me in the crowded KLIA2 cafeteria. Securing an interview with the CNN Hero hadn’t been easy, as he’s been “living out of his suitcase” as he describes it. “I use every opportunity I get to raise awareness,” he says, telling me that he had just flown from Hanoi after attending the 9th East and Southeast Asian Wild Animal Rescue Network Conference held in Vietnam. “We’ve got a few hours to talk before I fly back to Sabah,” he tells me matter-of-factly.

“You’ve been hailed as a ‘Superman of sorts’,” I begin, wasting no time and he laughs heartily. “It’s an amazing opportunity to put the plight of the sun bears in the international spotlight,” he says of his recent achievement of being hailed by the global television network CNN as a ‘CNN Hero’.

For Wong, every media attention he has been getting is an “opportunity” to spread his message of conservationism. “I used to call the sun bear a forgotten species. When I first started almost two decades ago, most people didn’t know they even existed. Now that’s beginning to change and thanks to international attention, the message of protecting this wildlife is spreading to a larger audience.”

The 48-year-old wildlife biologist has been gaining attention both locally and internationally for his tireless work in championing and protecting the smallest bear species in the world — the sun bear. From being conferred the “Wira Negaraku” by the Prime Minister’s Office to being hailed as one of CNN’s Heroes, or as the global network describes as “everyday people doing extraordinary things to change the world”, Wong is not one to rest on his laurels.

“There’s still so much to do,” he says earnestly. After all, the founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok, Sabah is on a mission to “be the voice of the sun bears” and to fight for their survival in the wild.

Bear-ing a burden

Many have heard about larger bear species like the ferocious Grizzly or the more docile American Black Bears but the diminutive sun bears remain the least known and least studied species. Historically, sun bear populations were found in most of Southeast Asia but the total population has seen a drastic decline by at least 30 per cent (IUCN 2007).

Although sun bears have been listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species in 2007, the current status remains unknown because there still isn’t enough information about wild sun bear populations. “It was worse when I first started,” recalls Wong.

As a young Masters student working on his thesis on the “The ecology of Malayan sun bear in the lowland tropical rainforest of Sabah, Borneo”, Wong worked alongside Dr Christopher Servheen from the University of Montana, where the former was pursuing his undergraduate studies on wildlife biology. The professor had come to his class to give a talk on his projects working with various bear species, and Wong soon found out that he was looking for a Malaysian research assistant to help him with his pioneering sun bear project in Malaysia.

He quickly volunteered for the position: “I told him ‘Hey I’m your man!’”. In 1998, Wong completed his degree, got into the Masters programme and snagged the coveted position as Servheen’s research assistant for the sun bear project in Sabah.

Still, the project was fraught with many challenges. For one, there were no precedent for researching sun bears anywhere in the world. “It dawned on me that I was working with a very rare mammal whose numbers were very low and nobody had studied them before.” The lack of data meant that Wong had to rely on his own creativity to track down the elusive wildlife. “It was all one big question mark.

How do we trap these bears to study them? How do we even see them?” he says, recounting with a chuckle that it took at least four very frustrating months of trying to outsmart the bears before he managed to trap his first wild sun bear. “I named it Dally” he says with a laugh because it was found within the 438-square-kilometre tract of the relatively undisturbed Danum Valley lowland dipterocarp forest in Sabah.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Bornean Sun Bear Conservation - An Unconventional Hero

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Turquoise Holidays: Travel Diaries - Beautiful Borneo

1. If you were describing the wildlife experience in Borneo in three words, what would they be?

Breath-taking, Spectacular, Unforgettable

2. When you were in the jungle, where did you stay and what was your favourite thing about each lodge?

We started at My Nature Resort which is the perfect stop over for a night before heading into the depths of the rainforest. My favourite thing about this resort is how close it is to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre which you can visit the morning after your night’s stay and is only a short drive away from My Nature Resort.

Here you’re able to watch and learn about the process of reintroducing the Orang Utan back into their natural habitat, which is a truly humbling experience. A visit here also guarantees that you’ll see these gentle, ginger apes which is not always that common when staying within the rainforest.

From My Nature, we headed to Abai Jungle Lodge which is a delightful lodge situated on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. Guests shouldn’t expect five-star luxury here but it’s a charming, comfortable and clean place to stay.

My favourite thing about Abai was that as it’s further away from some of the other lodges on the river, the wildlife experience is more exclusive as there are no other boats around when you venture out in search of wildlife.

They also have strong links with the local village which allows guests to visit and interact with the local communities. After our stay at Abai, we moved an hour up stream to  Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge, a larger and slightly more luxurious lodge than Abai.

Their large, bougainvillea clad deck is absolutely beautiful and my favourite feature. It overlooks the gushing river and the tremendous virgin rainforest providing the most breath-taking view and an ideal spot for sipping some sundowners after a day out channelling the inner David Attenborough in you.

Our final jungle stop was Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Danum Valley, a 4-hour drive away, 2 of which are via a bumpy road through the rainforest which is an experience in itself! A stay here, in my opinion, is imperative and is the perfect way to round up your jungle experience of a lifetime!

The jungle treks, canopy walks and night safaris were my favourite experiences and a wonderful contrast to those on the river. One thing that will stay with me forever is the panoramic view from my private pool, the perfect place from which to watch the sun setting behind the misty rainforest and listen to the sounds that come from within it.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Turquoise Holidays: Travel Diaries - Beautiful Borneo

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Kim and Joe's Travels: Borneo – Sabah Part 2

Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Danum Valley

On our final morning in Kinabatangan, we opted for an additional boat safari.  We had been so close to an orangutan sighting the previous morning based on the freshness of the nests, that it seemed a no-brainer to have another attempt.

As it panned out, we didn’t manage to find one, but did manage to track down a Bornean Gibbon based on its distinctive call.  Add to that some sea eagles, hornbills and a baby crocodile and all in all it was a very worthwhile additional excursion.

After breakfast at the camp, we began our journey to our next stop, Lahad Datu.  A boat and two different buses got us to our comfortable and basic guesthouse in Lahad Datu.  After two hot and sticky nights in the jungle, the AC and warm(ish) shower made it as good as a 5 star hotel!

Lahad Datu offered very little as a destination in its own right, but does offer a route into Danum Valley.  Unfortunately, the shuttle bus to Danum Valley Field Centre (DVFC), wouldn’t be leaving for two days. 

Although as luck would have it, we were both fairly keen for a couple of restful days after an action packed time on the Kinabatangan.  There was plenty of tasty food close to where we were staying and we had a comfortable bed.  It wasn’t the most exciting couple of days, but there are worse places to recharge the batteries ahead of the next excursion.

It also gave us time to consider the next stage of the trip, in Central America.  Something that had seemed a million miles away not so long ago, but all of a sudden was only a few weeks away.  The search is on for somewhere interesting (and ideally cheap) on the Baja California peninsula, with a decent language school, in which we can base ourselves for a few weeks.

Back to the current trip, it was soon time to take the minibus shuttle from the DVFC office to the field centre itself.  The journey in was very fruitful.  Even before we had arrived at the centre, we had met some of the residents of the rainforest of Danum Valley. 

Macaques (of both pig and long tailed varieties), bearded pigs, sambur deer and electric blue kingfishers all made appearance in the last 20 minutes of the journey as we neared the field centre.

Up by our accommodation, we met even more of the local inhabitants.  A huge bearded pig strolled confidently outside the dormitory, whilst two maroon langurs sat high up in the canopy in the distance.  We even met some people!  As it happened, they were the same people who would be on our night safari later that evening.

Even the walk to dinner was a wildlifespotting  opportunity!  Frogs, sambur deer and bearded pigs all made an appearance en route to a tasty dinner in the dining hall.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Kim and Joe's Travels: Borneo – Sabah Part 2

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This is Toby: Into the Jungles

I’d never properly been into a jungle prior to this trip and was very excited to experience them.

I wasn’t sure that they were really my kind of thing, I much prefer the crisp air and expansive views from up a mountain than dense, humid vegetation, but in I went regardless; twice.

I was very much a rainforest tourist, heading for a couple of nights, before swiftly retreating back out to civilisation.

Whilst amongst the vines I met scientists that were there for weeks and even months at a time, sampling and studying the climate.

I don’t think I would enjoy that myself, but my short trips were very enjoyable.

I went into two jungles, Danum Valley and Mulu National Park.

I had organised both my trips D.I.Y. style to save on the pennies as going into remote jungle can add up very quickly.

I stayed in the scientists research area in Danum and the parks hostel in Mulu, both had to be booked months in advance as during peak season they sell out very early.

A quick comparison of the two locations would be Danum is rough and ready, whereas Mulu is the luxury jungle experience.

I imagine this is because Danum has a separate area where the fancier places to stay are, whereas Mulu is just one area so I still had the fanciness of the surroundings despite my cheap accomodation.

To get in I either jumped in the back of a van for a few hours or had to fly in, both are pretty disconnected from the world.

As we drove deeper into the jungle, the trees rose up further and further overhanging the road, surrounding you with walls of green, wisps of mist shrouding the gaps between the trunks.

We broke into a clearing where the centre was and I went to sign in – the woman at Danum Valley gave me a shocked looked when I told her I was cooking for myself – apparently not many people are as cheap as me.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: This is Toby: Into the Jungles

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BizarreGlobeHopper: The Best of Borneo in 2 Weeks: Itinerary for Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants, Snorkeling, and Jungles

Squeeze the highlights of Borneo into an adventurous 2-week itinerary. Explore the last stronghold of Bornean primary rainforest – the real jungle – in Danum Valley, make a record in orangutan spotting on tranquil river cruises along Kinabatangan, unwind on a secluded paradise island snorkeling with turtles, visit orangutan sanctuaries, and indulge in Bornean cuisine and cultural treats in the charming cities.

Along the way, you can choose between world-class hiking, snorkeling, and wildlife spotting – or just opt to sit back and enjoy the sceneries. This two-week route maximizes the chances to find funny-looking proboscis monkeys, orangutans and rare Borneo pygmy elephants in the wild – astonishingly, we saw the latter three times!

The pace is leisure, so following this 2-week itinerary will set you to relaxed vacation mode. But at the same time, you’ll pack in a lot in terms of truly experiencing all the different flavors of Borneo. Let’s take off!

Sepilok: Introduction to Borneo with Orangutans, Sun Bears, and Giant Flying Squirrels (2 nights)

Sepilok is a perfect spot to start your journey, as it allows you to avoid starting and ending your trip in Kota Kinabalu. When time is short, every night counts! Internal flight from Kota Kinabalu (where your international flight lands) to a nearby coastal city of Sandakan takes just 45 minutes, and from there it’s just less than 30 minutes’ taxi drive to Sepilok.

But why Sepilok? Choose a resort that is tucked away from it all and a room facing the rainforest and sleep away your jetlag. Wake up to the sounds of exotic birds and enjoy breakfast outdoors while spotting monkeys in the trees.

Then head to the world-famous orangutan sanctuary to witness semi-wild red-furred cousins swinging to the feeding platforms for their lunch. Still not completely charged up? What about visiting orangutan nursery and watching babies wrestling and chasing each other?

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: BizarreGlobeHopper: The Best of Borneo in 2 Weeks: Itinerary for Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants, Snorkeling, and Jungles

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Festival of Wildlife in Danum Valley, Lahad Datu

KOTA KINABALU: Naturalists including film producers and award winning photographers are in Sabah’s Danum Valley, in Lahad Datu as they arrived earlier this month for the inaugural Festival of Wildlife .

Over 30 wildlife enthusiasts have been in Danum Valley since June 4.

Chris Breen, founder of Worldwide Wildlife, a company specialising in wildlife related tours, said the delegation was excited to see what Sabah, particularly Danum Valley, had to offer.

“We heard so much about this pristine virgin forest filled with flora and fauna and cannot wait to see and experience for ourselves what it has to offer.

“We have similar programmes globally and each time, we want to find iconic places that truly have prime wildlife.

“We cannot wait to see what all of us can get here, be it ideas for painting or sculptures, amazing photographs or just the experience of being in a virgin forest of Sabah,” he said at a cocktail reception here.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Festival of Wildlife in Danum Valley, Lahad Datu

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A giant reason to conserve Sabah's forests

A towering giant has recently been discovered in the heart of Borneo, the most imposing of its kind in a land of giants. The world's tallest tropical tree stands at over 94m - taller than New York City's Statue of Liberty or the former Asia Insurance Building at Raffles Place.

Researchers found it in a protected Sabah forest and are hoping that the discovery will highlight the need to conserve the forests of Borneo, home to thriving wildlife and plants.

Said ecologist Gregory Asner, who found the tree with his colleagues: "Sabah (and Borneo in general) harbours some of the most spectacular tropical trees on earth. I have worked throughout the Amazon, Central America, on tropical islands including Madagascar, in tropical Africa and beyond, and yet Sabah's forests stand out as truly inspiring."

The Shorea faguetiana tree first caught the eye of researchers last year when Dr Asner and his colleagues were surveying Sabah's forests in a helicopter.

That was when they struck gold and found the tree that turned out to be 94.1m tall, with an immense canopy measuring 40.3m in diameter, in an undisturbed forest patch in Danum Valley.

Even better, they also found 49 other specimens taller than 90m spread all over Sabah, all of which would have crushed the previous record for tallest tropical tree.

Describing the moment he saw the tallest among them, Dr Asner, director of the Carnegie Airborne Observatory at the Carnegie Institution for Science in the United States, told environmental news site Mongabay it was flanked on each side by a tree of the same species of Shorea, each almost as tall.

"There are three trees, like brothers, standing above the rest of the canopy. I almost cried as we circled the tree maybe 10 times before the pilot said we had to go back," he said.

The previous record belonged to an 89.5m giant discovered in Sabah's Maliau Basin last year. It was reportedly spotted during a research project that used an airborne Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) scanner to create 3D images of forest structure.

News of the latest record prompted Datuk Sam Mannan, the Chief Conservator of Forests at the Sabah Forestry Department, to organise an expedition to locate the tree and determine what species it was.

After trekking through a forest trail on Feb 22 this year, the team found the tree on a slope at about 359m above sea level. Mr Juanis Runcin of the Sabah Forestry Department then climbed the tree to obtain leaf samples so that the tree species could be identified.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: A giant reason to conserve Sabah's forests

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World’s tallest tropical tree in Danum Valley

TAWAU: In November 2016, at the Heart of Borneo Conference held at The Magellan Sutera Harbour, Prof Gregory Asner, an ecologist at the Carnegie Institute of Science at Stanford University announced the discovery via air surveillance of the tallest tree in Danum Valley, Lahad Datu.

Asner, who is also the leader of the Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO), said the tree is in the genus Shorea, though the exact species has yet to be determined.

The tallest is a towering 94.1 metres tree with a canopy measuring 40.3 metres in diameter.

Asner and his colleagues also found 49 other trees taller than 90 metres spread all over Sabah (https://news.mongabay.com).

Impressed with the announcement and with the hope that it would highlight the need to protect Borneo’s rainforests, Datuk Sam Mannan, the Chief Conservator of Forests instructed an expedition to be organised in 2017 to locate and determine the tree species.

Recently, a team of researchers and supporting staff from the Forest Research Centre (FRC) of the Sabah Forestry Department, led by its Forest Botanist (John B. Sugau), together with two guides from Danum Valley Field Centre (DVFC) carried out an expedition from February 20 to 24.

Prior to the expedition, the coordinates of the tallest tree, obtained from Asner were plotted on the map of Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA).

The map showed that the tree is located about 600m south west of Ulu Purut Research Station (UPRS) Camp.

UPRS is located about seven kilometres east of DVFC and can be reached by about 4-5 hours trekking through an existing forest trail.

The team commenced the search from UPRS Camp at about 8am on February 22 of this year based on the coordinates that were logged into the Garmin Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

Fifty minutes later, the team found the tree about 150m from the existing Ulu Purut Research Station Camp-Mount Danum Raleigh Camp trail, growing in an old forest gap of Lowland Mixed Dipterocarp Forest on a slope at about 359m above sea level.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: World’s tallest tropical tree in Danum Valley

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TheBudgetSavvyTravelers: Real Life Jungle Book – What to expect at Borneo Rainforest Lodge

Traveling to wild, remote destinations can take you back to a different time or place. Whether it’s the feeling of playing outdoors as a child, or capturing the essence of a turn of the century explorer, adventure awakens your senses and shakes the soul.

In an overly digital world, at Borneo Rainforest Lodge visitors can find that rejuvenating connection with nature and more importantly, a reconnection to one another.

Why Borneo Rainforest Lodge?

Have you ever come across a photo, possibly in a magazine or on an advertisement, which completely grabbed your attention? My fascination with Borneo Rainforest Lodge started this way.

One day, I was on Pinterest, trying to satisfy my wanderlust by scrolling through inspirational travel photos.

I came across a photo of a canopy walk, hanging high above a misty rainforest.

At that moment, I was determined to someday escape to this far off place full of wildlife, adventure, and natural beauty.

When the day came when we finally arrived at the lodge, it was hard not to get emotional.

I felt I was in the midst of a great travel icon – no differently than standing at the base of the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Rome’s Colosseum.

Our Journey Deep into the Rainforest

Part of the allure of staying at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge was the opportunity to be pampered in the middle of a dense jungle.

Located in the isolated Danum Valley, getting there is no easy feat.

From Kota Kinabalu we took a propeller plane to Lahad Datu.

From Lahad Datu airport we traveled overland for almost three hours in a rugged 4×4 to reach the lodge.

Much of the ride to the lodge is bumpy, through a thick, impressive forest.

Although the windy roads tried to lure us to sleep, we forced ourselves to stay awake.

Thankfully, we were awarded with our first orangutan sighting!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics & Vid) at: TheBudgetSavvyTravelers: Real Life Jungle Book – What to expect at Borneo Rainforest Lodge

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TheBudgetSavvyTravelers: How To See Danum Valley Rainforest – Borneo Nature Tours

With the opportunity to visit one of the premier, luxury eco-lodges in the world, Harry and I wanted to do something special to document our time spent at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge at Danum Valley.

We worked together to write daily journals and create cinematic videos to offer an insight at the travel experience of a lifetime.

Visiting Borneo Rainforest Lodge was a dream trip for us.

We hope that our story will inspire others to embrace their inner adventurer and to live their own story of exploration in the Borneo Rainforest.

Explorer Journal Day One

After two hours of bumpy, gravel roads we arrived to “camp.” It was a long journey, but being in this beautiful, secluded part of the world, it was worth it.

With luck on our side, our guide spotted an orangutan off into the distance right away. Hopefully, a good omen for future wildlife crossings to come.

Tonight, we ventured deep into the Rainforest for a night drive. To us, this is our favorite way to view nocturnal animals.

We spotted a flying squirrel taking flight, gliding from one tree to another. We whispered to each other, “Damn. That was a National Geographic moment!”

The Rainforest is dark. We laughed imagining that if we were contestants on Naked & Afraid, we’d never make it.

Upon our arrival today, I have to admit, I got a bit emotional. The kind staff here joked that it was simply from a long day of travel.

But I knew that wasn’t the case. This was a bucket list journey that we are so blessed to be on.

Explorer Journal Day Two

Didn’t sleep much last night. Maybe it was the anticipation, or maybe it was the unfamiliar sounds of the forest.

At 6:30 am, we set out to fulfill a goal – to walk high above the trees on the Borneo Rainforest Lodge canopy.

Ever since I first saw that iconic photo, it’s been a dream to walk those swaying bridges.

Once there, we took the time the view deserved, just taking the time to enjoy the moment.

Still on our excitement high, we spotted a large male orangutan on our walk back to the lodge.

Late morning, we trekked into the forest. Harry discovered first hand that all the warnings about leeches weren’t just for kicks.

I picked four off his legs within minutes. Changing out of our sweaty trekker pants, he quizzically wondered how one got under his pants to bloody up his upper thigh.

It’s all just part of an explorer’s adventure. Tonight, we braved the forest at night where we spotted frogs, snakes, tarantulas, centipedes, and even a bearded pig!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics & Vids) at: TheBudgetSavvyTravelers: How To See Danum Valley Rainforest – Borneo Nature Tours

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Fulbright National Geographic Stories: Senses at Work in Danum Valley

I’ve been in Danum Valley, a protected forest in Malaysian Borneo, for just over two months.

In addition to setting up camera traps in the canopy, I’ve also been setting a ground-level network of cameras, which have to be rotated every few weeks.

Because of this, my field schedule involves a great deal of waiting, punctuated with bursts of intense weeks collecting, resetting, and deploying cameras all over the forest.

Days in the field can be as mentally draining as they are physically exhausting, so it can be easy to just hike in and hike out thinking only about the next step.

As my time in Danum Valley nears the end I made a conscious effort to be a bit more present while making my final collections and appreciate this remarkable place.

I just recovered from a cold, so just a few days ago I couldn’t smell anything at all.

At various times in the forest I could have sworn I smelled anise, camphor, menthol, and on a couple occasions (perhaps swayed by a rumbling stomach), French fries.

Many of the trees in tropical forests produce aromatic compounds used in soaps and perfumes, so my nose might not be far off in some of those cases.

Today on the trail, there is a potent musk in the air.

There are a few piles of elephant dung scattered here and there, but they’re old and mostly grass, a few of them with mushrooms sprouting out – they really don’t smell like anything anymore.

The musk is coming from an animal, however – probably a Bearded Pig, but Malay Weasles can also be quite pungent.

It takes a lot of work to get up the tree. I use a mechanical ascender with little spiked teeth that grip my rope to slide my way up the tree.

Each time I pull the excess rope, I can advance an arm’s length further upward.

The particular technique I use is not the most efficient, but it allows me to go down easily if for some reason I need to make a rapid descent (ants, bees, monkeys, an unnoticed broken branch balancing overhead).

As you rise above the first layer of trees, the sun hits you for the first time all day.

There’s a light breeze and the air almost feels a little dry, a stark contrast from the sweltering humidity of the forest floor.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Fulbright National Geographic Stories: Senses at Work in Danum Valley

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Malaysia Asia: Where to go in Sabah for 2017

You may be asking Where to go in Sabah for 2017, and fear not as Malaysia Asia will give you a basic guide to this as we have been traveling around North Borneo quite a bit. For the year 2017, there are many interesting places in Sabah for all kinds of travelers out there, which includes Ecotourism, adventure, islands, beaches, mountains, wildlife, birding, food hunting and even shopping. Yes, you guessed it, Sabah is one of the destinations of Malaysia that offer the best of just about anything.

The main entry point into Sabah is Kota Kinabalu, the capital city which is a located by the sea and a mere 10 minutes from both the international airport and also the domestic airport which are side by side. You should also know that Kota Kinabalu or KK as it is commonly called is central, is your gateway to all around Sabah.

Before I proceed, I will just highlight what KK has to offer below.

Kota Kinabalu offers a mixture of lifestyle, shopping, food, relaxation, islands & beaches and loads of culture. While some may spend a day or two in KK, note that you can easily hop on a 15 minute boat ride from Jesselton Pier to visit the beautiful islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park which consist of Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi Islands. Sunbathing, snorkeling, scuba diving, sea walking, trekking and an island to island zip line awaits you here.

For those wanting food, lifestyle and culture, you can simply explore KK city on foot and encounter all of these, especially near the Gaya Street area. Hotels, restaurants, cafes, malls and souvenir shops await the city traveler. A tip is to try the local breakfast and tea time at one of the classic coffee shops here. However, we recommend that you visit other parts of Kota Kinabalu to fully experience what Sabah has to offer.

Where to go in Sabah for 2017

This is a common question that I always get from travelers from my social media accounts and now, I can recommend some interesting places for where to go in Sabah for 2017. I will also highlight them by the destination and not by the city or town so you can roughly find what you would like to to or where you would like to visit in Sabah. Take note that the places below are not for your commercial tourism as those can be easily done at KK City with abundance of information available. The ones recommended below are catered to visitors wanting something different from the ordinary.

Kinabatangan River for a Wildlife Experience

Kinabatangan is clearly one of the best places in Sabah for wildlife and everything related to it. In short, it is here where visitors will see the most wildlife, birds, reptiles and flora, all in one destination. The popular Kinabatangan River is also known as Sukau where you will find numerous Eco resorts and lodges along the main river where moving around in boats is your main transportation.

Among the activities, the Kinabatangan River Cruise is listed as the number one thing to do there, where you have the opportunity to spot wildlife, namely the Borneo Pygmy Elephants who move around in herds. Other wildlife include Orang Utans, Gibbons, Proboscis Monkeys, Birds, Snakes and even Crocodiles. Trekking is also available, but with the local nature guides that take you into the dense rainforest.

For the nocturnal animals, there is a Kinabatangan night river cruise where you will experience spotting crocodiles, wild cats, snakes and birds in a boat that moves really slow along the side of the river and some smaller rivers here. Chances are you will be seeing wildlife, hence this is one of the best places in Sabah to spot wildlife. To book tours here, you can contact North Borneo Safari as they are one of the reputable Kinabatangan tour operators for many years. They also provide professional services like wildlife photography tours and video shooting.

Danum Valley

Since the dawn of age, Danum has always been there and till this very day, Danum Valley is still one of the top three pristine rainforest that is under conservation. The absolute beauty about this place is that there is only one Eco resort called Borneo Rainforest Lodge or BRL in short, which is a 5-Star luxury resort and the Danum Valley Field Centre. Recently in 2016, news of another new resort in Danum Valley surfaced where they plan to open in 2017.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Malaysia Asia: Where to go in Sabah for 2017

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Ambitious book sheds new light on Danum Valley Conservation area

KOTA KINABALU: One of the best ways to explore Sabah’s renowned Danum Valley Conservation area at Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, Lahad Datu, is by flipping through the pages of a newly-launched book - “Danum Valley, the rainforest”.

Its author, Dutchman Hans Hazebroek, said the monograph provides readers an overall insight into the rainforest which they could never get by visiting the place alone.

“By going through the book (which is written using layman’s terms), readers will get invaluable information about Danum Valley.

“(Readers who later visit the site can therefore experience Danum) in the right context with the knowledge they have,” said the geologist after the book-launching ceremony, held in conjunction with the opening of the Danum Valley Wildlife and Resources survey 2016 here.

The book is co-authored by Sabah Parks chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Dr Zainal Adlin Tengku Mohamood and Yayasan Sabah conservation and environmental division group manager Dr Waidi Sinun.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Ambitious book sheds new light on Danum Valley Conservation area

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Superior status for iconic tree at Danum Valley

Kota Kinabalu: The 94.1m (309ft) super giant discovered at Danum Valley will soon be accorded "Superior Mother Tree" status, Sabah Conservator of Forests, Datuk Sam Mannan, told Daily Express.

"The reason is big trees, old trees, huge trees usually are of superior genetic material.

They have lived so long because of something special about them so we can collect seeds and mark them as superior tress," he said, on what his Department is going to do following the discovery of an "epic super giant" by Prof. Gregory Asner.

The Head of the Carnegie Airborne Observatory stumbled upon the find in the course of 3-D mapping to gain insight into the structure, quality, carbon stock and biodiversity patterns of Sabah's forests since March, in partnership with Sabah Forestry Department.

Besides the 94.1m super giant confirmed as the tallest tropical tree in the world, Asner went on to give Sabah a clean sweep of having all top 50 tallest tropical trees on the planet – 33 in Danum, 10 in Tabin, six in the UNDP area.

Mannan said the findings have many implications for Sabah.

"We always think the Redwood (in California) is massive and here is a treasure for the world in our own place – giants equivalent to the length of five Sperm whales which we never knew until they did this survey.

I think this is a starter, let's see how we develop further," he said. He said the idea of 3D mapping has much more serious objectives than just finding the tallest trees but then everything depends on whether the funding is there to move things to its end objectives.

"It is not cheap, the aeroplane has to fly thousands of miles to get here, it got its crew, and they have to get to work straight away, once they move from simple carbon stock mapping to something else like biodiversity assets survey, it's far more complicated and more expensive. So they are doing their best to source funds from around the world and am sure if funders feel it's worth doing, we should be able to get help."

Mannan said people always think the Amazon is super but then per unit basis, the carbon stock mapping found Sabah's forest got 250 tonnes of carbon per hectre and so is far richer, almost double the carbon content compared to the Amazon.

"We want to use all this information for land use planning – the most important reason for the Carnegie Airborne Observatory project. Maybe later on we have no choice but to swap lands such as somebody got a good forest land but the soil is poor but we have certain places in forest reserves which no longer have forests, so why don't we do a swap.

"We take the forest and let them take what's useful to them on one to one basis or more to conservation and less for other uses," Mannan said on the future direction.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Superior status for iconic tree at Danum Valley

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World's Tallest Tropical Trees Discovered in Borneo

Laser scanning in Borneo has revealed 50 trees that break previous records. The giants are about as tall as five sperm whales stacked end to end.

The tallest tropical tree in the world is right where we thought it was—in a protected forest reserve in the state of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. But it’s not the one we thought.

Greg Asner of the Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO) revealed the new record holder this week in his keynote speech at the 2016 International Heart of Borneo Conference.

Earlier this year a team of researchers led by David Coomes of Cambridge University made headlines with their announcement of the tallest tropical tree measuring 89.5 meters (293.6 feet) in Maliau Basin, a protected reserve managed by the Sabah Forestry Department.

However, concurrent laser scanning in May 2016 across a broad swath of Sabah’s forests conducted by Asner shows that one behemoth tree on a hillside in Danum Valley, another protected reserve, measures 94.1 meters (308.7 feet), surpassing the Maliau specimen for the honor of the world’s tallest tropical tree.

The tallest known trees anywhere are California redwoods, which live in the temperate zone. They have been measured up to nearly 116 meters (380 feet).

The large-scale census in Borneo covered many of Sabah’s protected forests, and actually pinpointed 50 trees that broke the previous record scattered across the state—33 in Danum Valley, 10 in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, and 10 within the United Nations Development Program’s biodiversity conservation project area.

He also found that the Maliau Basin tree was in fact just over 90 meters tall, adding that “either that tree grew half a meter or one of us is wrong”—a collegial nod to Coomes, who worked closely with Asner on his work in Sabah.

For reference, Asner noted in his talk that the height of the Danum Valley tree was about equal to five sperm whales stacked snout-to-fluke, an image enjoyed by the audience of scientists, government officials, and public and private stakeholders working in the Heart of Borneo—an area in the interior of the island of Borneo that includes parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

Since the tree was measured remotely, scientists aren't sure which species it is, although it is likely in the genus Shorea, they say. That group includes nearly 200 species of mostly rainforest trees native to Southeast Asia.

The trees can live for hundreds of years but many are endangered. Borneo has more than 130 of the species, including 91 found nowhere else. A number of the species are prized for their lumber.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: World's Tallest Tropical Trees Discovered in Borneo

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