Borneo Safari thrill for adventure seekers

IF there was any doubt about the popularity of the annual International Borneo Safari Off-Road Challenge, the 27th edition that ended last week would have quashed it.

Not only did it draw the biggest number of participants (with 412 four-wheel drive vehicles and 1,168 hardcore adventurers, including a handful of journalists, including yours truly), this year’s Safari showed that the thrill was not gone!

The eight-day expedition took us to the highlands of Kimanis, 60km from Kota Kinabalu. The route moved the convoy of vehicles and adventurers to Kampung Ovai, Papar, and Kampung Mandalipau before disappearing for five days into the so-called hardcore session, and from there to the final checkpoint in Kota Kinabalu.

Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, the Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, flagged off the event at Tong Hing and Sabah Customs Department.

Also present were Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association president and event director Faez Einstein, Isuzu Malaysia chief operating officer Masayuji Suzuki, and UMW Grantt Sdn Bhd general manager Amri Hashim.

Right after the lunch, the convoy headed for a construction site behind the Benoni Commercial Centre in Papar for the special stage, or “prologue” of the Borneo Safari.

Already a major sponsor of the Borneo Safari since the last decade, Isuzu Malaysia came on as strong as ever this year. As of last year, it reserved three models for the journalists: the seven-seater Isuzu mu-X SUV, two 2.5-litre Isuzu D-Max (Red and Black Monster), and the 3.0-litre D-Max V-Cross (White Monster).

The three modified Isuzu D-Max “Monsters” have been the ride for the Isuzu media team for four years now. And as a result, some believe, the D-Max “Monster” was declared Car of the Year twice in the Borneo Safari.

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Borneo Safari – Choose Your Own Adventure Edition

No matter what people say, no matter what advice they give you: nothing can fully prepare you for the first time you take part in the Borneo Safari.

You might have gone trekking in the jungle before, or you might do a spot of camping on the weekends, or perhaps you fancy yourself as an off-road aficionado- the Borneo Safari is an event that takes all of it to another level.

This year, over 340 cars turned up for the event. Some of these participants flew over from Peninsular Malaysia and tagged along, while others drove their own vehicles up from Sarawak and across from Brunei.

But regardless of where you come from, the annual event offers a unique opportunity to catch up with friends and take part in a rigorous challenge together- with plenty of stories to tell after.

While Arvinda and I were both attending the event, we were assigned to entirely different teams. I happened to be with the Isuzu team, and as media I was riding in one of Isuzu’s modified D-Max pickup trucks. There were two other D-Max trucks and an MU-X as well, along with over 10 other support and crew cars.

These vehicles are properly built, sporting lifted suspension setups and 35 inch tyres, along with extra reinforcement and secure areas to store fuel and cargo. The point, however, is that these cars are capable of going into this kind of terrain with only the simplest of modifications- no air-locking differentials here.

Many Different Faces

There are a few different groups that attend the Borneo Safari aside from the media contingent, and each has their own purpose throughout the event. While the event does have a ‘hard core’ section that all participants have to traverse, there are also specific special stages that occur throughout the event.

These stages are almost like a gymkhana reimagined in a rainforest setting, with specific routes that competing participants have to take.

For this, it isn’t uncommon to see modified Suzuki Jimnys with tube frame architecture and powerful turbocharged engines blasting along. But while these cars are the “focus” of the event, they are also so bare bones that they can hardly carry enough fuel or equipment to make it through the entire safari on their own steam.

For that they have a support crew that follows them through, and these vehicles carry the necessary tools and equipment to keep the cars going- much like the support crew in a rally. The support cars have to be able to traverse the trail as well, meaning their drivers must be adept at navigating through the thick jungle.

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Record number of vehicles for 26th Borneo Safari

KOTA KINABALU: A record-breaking number of 357 four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles and 987 participants are taking part in the 26th Borneo Safari International Offroad Challenge which was flagged off here yesterday.

Event director Faez Nordin said a 350 target was set this year but an exception was made for seven vehicles only for one of the most challenging expeditions in the Borneo Safari history whilst more applications had to be rejected due to the set limit.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun flagged off the eight-day and seven-night expedition at the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) building on Gaya Street where the 4WDs will drive 680km through the Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Ranau, Kota Marudu and Kota Belud districts.

“The logging road has been abandoned for 20 years, I think. A lot of landslides, broken bridges and as you know right now in Ranau and Marudu, it’s raining a lot.

“It will be more challenging because there are more participants ever. Last year only 318 vehicles,” said Faez, adding a majority of the participants are Malaysians and the international participants hailed from Brunei, Indonesia, China, Japan, Thailand, Ireland and Portugal.

“There are a lot of newcomers, and we have more than 20 vehicles from Indonesia. Last year, there were only two from there. We also have a lot from Semenanjung as well as Kuching, Sarawak. There are 42 from Brunei so it is good for our tourism,” he added.

Faez said the annual event, which started in 1990, is the ‘new year’ for 4WD adventure enthusiasts and reckoned a 380 target would most likely be achievable in 2017 based on the overwhelming response of this year’s Borneo Safari.

Continue reading at: Record number of vehicles for 26th Borneo Safari

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25th Borneo Safari expedition biggest this year with 1198 participants, 320 vehicles

KOTA KINABALU: The 25th Borneo Safari expedition set another record as it attracted the biggest participation yet with 1198 participants in 320 vehicles.

It also registered the biggest international participation not only from neighbouring countries such as Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand, but also France, Australia, Japan, and Ireland.

The eight-day expedition will see the convoy exploring the villages in Keningau and Tenom where around 100 of them will enter into the Dalit and Pensiangan forest reserves.

Speaking to reporters after flagging off the convoy at the Sabah Tourism Board building here yesterday, Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that the activity is not only a mere expedition but also a tourism product for the state.

He said that the activity does not only benefit the people in the city where the convoy starts but also the people in the villages where the convoy pass by.

“I hope there will be bigger participation next year, and I’d like to thank all the sponsors including the Youth and Sports Ministry, Isuzu Malaysia, UMW Grantt International Sdn Bhd and Borneo 4WD/ARB Australia,” he said.

This year also marks the ninth consecutive year that members of the media will be able to depend on the trusty Isuzu D-Max to get them close to the thick of action effectively and comfortably.

According to Isuzu Malaysia Executive Director, Hajime Machimura, the Izuzu D-Max vehicles have long risen beyond trying to prove their abilities in rough terrains.

“They have established themselves as a fixture of the Borneo Safari where they are depended upon to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently.

Continue reading at: 25th Borneo Safari expedition biggest this year with 1198 participants, 320 vehicles

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500 set off on grueling Borneo Safari

KOTA KINABALU: The 22nd edition of Sabah’s very own extreme off road motoring event, Borneo Safari 2012, has kicked off to an exciting start.

Heavy rain poured over Kota Kinabalu yesterday, but it did not stop the crowd from thronging the specially built mud tracks next to the Borneo 4WD Outdoor Show at Alamesra here.

They came to witness drivers and machines being pushed to their limits trying to conquer the short but very slippery and challenging courses of stages one, two and three, set up by the organizer.

The initial plan was to have Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Datuk Seri Tengku Adlin lead a team of paragliders to land at the show ground before launching the special stage challenge.

Uncooperative weather forced the organizer to cancel the plan for safety reason, but the downpour that pummeled hours before the special stage runs started was nothing less than a blessing.

Mud holes of at least 1.5 meters deep were filled with sludge that would engulf the smaller 4×4 vehicles almost to the roof, the kind of challenges extreme off-road drivers would dive in head first.

Winches were put into overdrive and the crowd cheered, perhaps more in relief than excitement, as steel cables endured under the weight of a roaring beast slowly climbing out of its watery graves.

The special stage challenge marked the unofficial start of the highly anticipated event and gave the newcomers a taste of what lies ahead as the Safari progresses in the next grueling eight days.

The event this year attracted over 500 participants which included experienced and new drivers, co-drivers, support crew and thrill seekers who are simply tagging along for the adventure.

Some 220 off-road ready 4×4 of all sizes will embark on their journey this morning, with a mission to conquer varied off-road terrains in a return trip of about 1,000 km.

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22nd International Off Road Challenge “Borneo Safari”

4Wd enthusiast are set and ready for another challenge for this up coming 22nd  four wheel drive challenge.

It is another interesting route for this as they will go around the highest mountain in South East Asia.

The 1st Borneo 4WD & Outdoor Show will be held from 26th to 28th October at the Alamesra showground with an action-packed list of activities culminating with the official flag-off of the Borneo Safari Xtreme Challenge on the last day of the show.

An auto enthusiasts will get their first look at some of the latest 4WD gear, gadgets and accessories with special product presentation highlights.

And for outdoor enthusiasts, check out the water sport, fishing and boating, camping accessories, tourism and destination, and lifestyle product booths to equip you for your next outdoor adventure.

Its a big change for this year’s Borneo Safari programme where the staging of 3 SS (Special Stage) challenges at the auto show.

Visitors will get the chance to witness live the awesome 4WD vehicles as they navigate the specially designed course with one of the SS happening at night for the extra thrill.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: 22nd International Off Road Challenge “Borneo Safari”

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Safari in Sandakan

By NYL

Wild or domesticated, animals fascinate us. We love watching them. They make popular subjects for both nature films and documentaries.

In 1920, pioneer Hollywood filmmakers Martin and Osa Johnson, an American couple from Kansas, came to Sabah, then British North Borneo, to film the wildlife on the east coast.

They explored then unknown lands and brought back knowledge of cultures thousands of miles away through their films, writings and lectures.

Fifteen years after they left Sabah, the Johnsons decided to return in 1935. With better equipment and many years of experience filming wildlife in Africa, Martin Johnson felt he could now truly capture and portray Borneo in all its glory.

When I was in Sandakan recently, I had the opportunity to see an amazing collection of photos at the "Safari in Sandakan" exhibit in the Sandakan Heritage Museum. Dedicated to Martin and Osa Johnson, the images are invaluable documentation of Sabah's natural history, ethnography and history of that period and gave it an early edge as an eco-tourist destination.

The Johnsons had used two amphibious planes in Africa and brought one to Borneo, renaming it "Spirit of Africa and Borneo", an S-39 Sikorsky amphibian. Leaving Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) for Sandakan, they used the plane to select a base camp which was near the small village of Abai on the Kinabatangan River, and named it "Johnsonville". Several large gobangs or canoes were procured and a Chinese junk, with full crew, also joined in the expedition.

The expedition saw the Johnsons travelling over rapids a mile beyond Pinangah, a remote government station, and then on foot safari to Tenggara territory. They spent much of their time among the riverine communities and habitats of the Kinabatangan River and filmed numerous primates of Borneo.

From this expedition, their finest motion picture "Borneo" was made. The Johnsons took 3,000 photos and made over 150,000 feet of film. Their images of orang utans, proboscis monkeys, tarsiers, slow loris and elephants in the Kinabatangan together with friendly tattooed natives in loin cloths were the first that Western audiences saw when screened in cinemas.

One of their shots of an adult male proboscis monkey was so striking that it was selected for reproduction on a North Borneo postage stamp. It went through five issues: the State of North Borneo in 1939, then two Japanese overprints during the occupation, next a British military overprint and finally in 1947 representing North Borneo as a British Crown Colony

Leaving Borneo in 1936, the Johnsons gave copies of all their photos to the government, hoping that they would be preserved as a record of the untouched haven they saw vanishing before their eyes. World War II, however, destroyed all but a handful of these images.

In 2004, the Sabah Museum and the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, Kansas won an International Partnership among Museums Exchange Grant and digital images of the 2,700 original photos taken by the Johnsons housed in the Safari Museum were made available to the Sabah Museum for educational and exhibition purposes.

On February 22, 2011, the Sabah Museum opened its "Safari in Sandakan" exhibit which covers the Johnsons' 1920 and 1935-1936 Borneo expeditions. Their collection is currently on display at the exhibition galleries of the Sandakan Heritage Museum and will run until December 31, 2012.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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Borneo Jungle Safari organises new route for expedition 2011

MIRI: Following the success of the 4×4 wheel drive expeditions to central ‘kelapang’ for the last two years, Borneo Jungle Safari (BJS) has extended the route with more exciting and challenging off-road obstacles and scenery.

For this year, the expedition is dubbed ‘1 Borneo 4×4 Wheel Drive Expedition 2011’.

Chairlady of the organising committee, Rona Sultan said the expedition, scheduled from May 29 until June 3, is the first of its kind ever to be organised by BJS.

“This expedition is fully supported by Ministry of Tourism and Heritage Sarawak, Ministry of Tourism Malaysia and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB),” she stated when chairing the organising committee meeting at BJS office in Centrepoint Commercial Centre on Sunday.

Rona added the objective of the expedition was to allow the participants to explore the diverse and wonders of the real and most exotic parts of Borneo through Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah and Kalimantan.

“This 1Borneo expedition would offer the participants extra ordinary exploration of the wild, and it is the journey itself that truly counts. Main highlights for such extreme sport are of course the Sarawak northern region potential rugged terrain,” she remarked.

The event is also designed to nurture the spirit of adventure, teamwork, and safari skills as well as promoting the local tribal unique culture and lifestyle.

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North Borneo photo safaris

Almost everyone can take a photo but only a select few can produce great work.

Hailing from Lahad Datu, Sabah, Cede Prudente’s interest in photography started in the early 90’s when he purchased his first Nikon camera working as a nature guide in Sandakan. During his daily “tour of duty”, Prudente had the opportunity to observe various wildlife, giving him the inspiration to pursue wildlife photography.

North Borneo Safari was established in 2003 to create an appreciation for Sabah’s nature and wildlife through tailor-made photography trips, attracting both local and foreign photographers.

“We will recommend the best possible locations to capture desired images. Clients can share photography tips, updates on the latest technology and gadgets, participate in field workshops, coaching clinics and much more,” explains Prudente.

Wildlife photographer Bjorn Olesen, who has participated in seven safaris arranged by Prudente over the past five years, says that he has found the trips to be extremely satisfying.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: North Borneo photo safaris
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Borneo discovery

THE word Borneo has somewhat become a rarity in our vocabulary, especially when most Malaysians from the peninsula refer to that part of the country as Sabah and Sarawak.

But for most Westerners, Borneo is still very much alive, and usually romanticised and mentioned in the same breath as untouched virgin tropical forests, men in loin cloth or giant apes.

We had a first-hand excursion into the our two eastern states' interior last month under Isuzu Malaysia's Dura-Mission, and are pleased to inform that the former may ring true but the rest are probably the result of over-imaginative Hollywood movie script writers who have never set foot on the island.

The mission, on a convoy of 10 Isuzu D-Max 4x4s, involved a 700km plus drive from Ba'Kelalan, Sarawak, to Maliau Basin in Sabah and finally to Tawau airport for our flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

Flying over Ba'Kelalan on a 19-seater Twin Otter from Miri, we could see pockets of settlement scattered over the green forest of the Sarawak highlands before the aircraft swung around to land on an airstrip.

The villagers are a closely-knit community of a few thousand and they are bound to give a rousing welcome to outsiders, complete with a musical ensemble.

Ba'Kelalan is a group of nine villages in the Bario Highlands. At 1,000m above sea level, it is cool in the day and can be chilly at night.

Indonesia's Kalimantan border is just 4km away. Don't be surprised that the Malay the locals speak has an Indonesian twang.

With no mobile phone coverage, the latest Nokias and Blackberrys are pretty useless in these parts except for taking pictures.

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Borneo Safari - Wet and wild

Unfavourable weather or not, the Borneo Safari is an event not to be missed.

I CANNOT speak for the rest of the world but 2008 was a good year for me. I got to tick off several boxes on my to-do list, including driving a topless Lamborghini through the hills of Bologna and bit of backpacking in Italy, all without any work involved.

But the highlights came towards the end of the year, when I got to indulge to the max in my passion – 4X4 adventure.

There was a bit of worry, initially. It looked like nature was going to pour cold water on my plans to enjoy Sabah’s famous Borneo Safari, with a weather alert warning of heavy rainfall towards the end of October.

The expected deluge might cause “flash floods and mudslides in low-lying areas and river banks”, the met boys warned, in “Sabah’s coastal areas and the interior”. (Call me an alarmist but wouldn’t that description cover the WHOLE state?)

This was to be a homecoming of sorts for me because I had lived in Sabah for several years in the early 1990s, and the 1992 edition of the Borneo Safari was my induction into the world of hardcore 4X4 (followed by the inimitable Camel Trophy of 1993).

In this hobby of “challenging nature”, rain means tough trail conditions. But that’s regarded as a promise, not a threat. It is something to welcome, not to dread.

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Sabah Tourism Upcoming Event: 4 x 4 Borneo Safari

26th October - 2 November 2008

The Borneo Safari involves 4WD vehicles and their fearless drivers who will be challenged in the world’s most beautiful jungle terrains in Sabah. It is a unique adventure where all participants, be it men or women, enthusiasts or professional, have an equal chance of winning.

Participating teams will compete for awards, which are presented in recognition of driving skill, innovation in vehicle recovery, obstacle clearing, and of utmost importance, cooperation and team spirit. Points will be allocated for many special stages set during the event.

Tasks include deep-driver crossing, map reading, bridge building and mud side clearing. Points are deducted for over-speeding, dangerous driving and vehicle equipment abuse.

The event will take the teams along Lingan Batu, Ulu Kimanis, Bambanagan, Binsuluk, Beaufort and Kuala Penyu. The flag-off is scheduled for 26 October at Sabah Tourism Board headquarters along Gaya Street and is expected to be officiated by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Masidi Manjun.

For more information about vehicle checks, flag-off, routes, registration forms, venues and related schedules, please contact Jessica Chong at 013-8817389 or fax 088-383286.

Source: Sabah Tourism

NOTE: Photo Copyright to Sabah Tourism