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Sandakan
Wildlife Safari
Day 1
Arrive Sandakan Airport by MH2042 at 0810hrs,
transfer to jetty for approximately 1 hour boat ride by speedboat to Selingan
Island (40km). Check into chalet. Free at leisure to explore island, swim and
snorkel. After dinner, wait for signal from the Park Ranger before we proceed
in small groups to watch Green Turtle lay eggs on the beach, transplanting of
eggs to hatchery and release of baby turtles to the sea. This island is a park
conservation area since 1977 and turtles have been nesting here every night
throughout the year. Overnight in Twin Share room. (LD)
Photographing turtles are strictly prohibited
between 6pm – 6am.
Day 2
Return to Sandakan by boat. Proceed to Sepilok
Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Trek ten minutes through the rainforest on
wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the orang utans at 1000hrs and
video show. Continue to Sandakan jetty for boat journey to Sukau Rainforest
Lodge along Sabah's longest river, Kinabatangan with opportunity to view birds
and wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. Late afternoon
take a river cruise using electric motor in search of some of the 10 primate
species including Proboscis monkeys as they settle down on treetops along the
Kinabatangan River. Return for solar heated hot shower, candle light dinner and
slide show conducted by naturalist guide. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.
(BLD)
Day 3
Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills. A
0600hrs morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to view more birds and
wildlife. Proceed to the Kelenanap ox-bow lake for a short jungle walk (if
weather permits). Experience the wilderness of Borneo. You have the option to
participate in our Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Programme (KWICORP)
by planting trees at our 64 acres adopted land. In the afternoon, we proceed for
another river cruise for more wildlife. After dinner an optional (at a
surcharge) night safari cruise spotting nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds.
Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. (BLD)
Day 4
After breakfast, return to Sandakan by boat
journey. Have lunch before we proceed for a short tour of Sandakan town
including the Australian War Memorial. Transfer to airport for flight MH2047 at
1640hrs to Kota Kinabalu. (BL)
Camera Fee is not included. Snorkeling gear
available for hire at a surcharge.
Excludes domestic airfare, camera fee and
items not mentioned.
Please bring along swim wear, towel, binocular,
sun block lotion, personal toiletries, insect repellent, torchlight, hat, leech
sock, walking shoes & raincoat.
The
Kinabatangan River
At 560 km long, the Kinabatangan is Sabah’s longest and Malaysia’s second
longest river after Rajang River in Sarawak. Much of the lower Kinabatangan
River is gazetted under Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and meanders through a
flood plain creating numerous ox-bow lakes and an ideal environment for some of
the best wildlife and birdlife found in Malaysia.
History
Due
to its vast hinterland of jungle and numerous limestone caves, the Kinabatangan
has for many centuries, assumed strategic economic importance as a source of
edible bird nests, bee wax, rattan and ivory. Many believe that as China and
Borneo has trade links as far back as 631 AD, the origin of the name
‘Kinabatangan’ was derived from Kina (Cina) and Batang (large river).
Moreover, based on Chinese records, there existed a Chinese settlement in the
area most probably around Sukau.
Also in the 15th century, a Chinese princess from the Kinabatangan married the
first Sultan of Brunei. Between 1791 - 1808, the Sultan of Sulu even put his son
as a governor of this area and later in 1881, British North Borneo Chartered
Company took over control of this area after paying $5,000 per year to the
Sultan of Sulu.
People
The
inhabitants of the Kinabatangan region are mostly Orang Sungai of mixed ancestry
including Tambanua, Idahan, Dusun,
Suluk, Bugis, Brunei and Chinese.
Wildlife
Kinabatangan
Wildlife Sanctuary contains the highest concentration of proboscis monkeys and
orang utans in Malaysia. Proboscis monkeys can best be viewed from a boat in the
late afternoon when they converge on treetops.
Other
wildlife include long-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque, silver-red-and grey-leaf
monkey, gibbon, Asian elephant, wild cattle, Sumatran rhinoceros, sambar deer,
bearded pig, greater and lesser mousedeer, hairy-nosed otter, slow loris,
monitor lizard and crocodile. Birdlife include oriental darter, egret, herons,
storm’s stork, hawk and eagle, osprey, falcon, pheasant, pigeon and dove,
parakeet, coucal, owl, frogmouth, nightjar, trogon, kingfisher, bee eater,
swift, hornbill, roller, barbet, woodpecker, broadbill, pitta, swallow, bulbul,
forktail, babbler, warbler, flycatcher, flowerpecker, spiderhunter, drongo,
oriole, crow and many others. Some 27 species of bats or an estimated 2 million
bats, mostly wrinkled-lipped bat roost in Gomantong Caves. Predatory birds
include bat hawk, peregrine falcon and buffy fish owl.
Sukau
Rainforest Lodge (SRL)
Sukau
Rainforest Lodge is situated at the edge of the sanctuary in a secluded spot on
the Kinabatangan River. Set amidst the tropical rainforest, SRL has
accommodation for only 40 visitors and offers the rare luxury of perfect
solitude and tranquillity with luxuriant vegetation. Built in traditional
Malaysian architecture and on stilts to improve air circulation and mitigate
river flooding, the lodge is constructed with hardwood species including Belian,
Selangan Batu, Merbau, Nyatoh and tropical rattan.
All 20 rooms have solar-powered fan, twin beds, mosquito netting,
attached tiled bathroom and solar hot water. Guest facilities include an open
dining and lounge area with tropical cane sofas, gift shop, private garden and
an open sun deck overlooking the rainforest. Wake up to the call of Borneon
gibbons and birds. Cruise up misty KinabatanganRiver at dawn to nearby ox-bow
lakes in search of hornbills, snake bird, and otters. In the late afternoon,
watch acrobatic displays of proboscis monkeys as they settle in for the night on
nearby treetops. In the evening, savour a sumptuous dinner in the open deck
using oil lamp and under the moonlit canopy of towering trees as the sounds of
cicadas reach a crescendo at nightfall. Drift into sleep on coconut fiber
mattress caressed by soft breeze from solar-powered ceiling fan. What pure bliss
in the living forest.
Recreation
River
tours are operated by qualified guides using wooden boats built by the local
Orang Sungei craftmen, powered by petrol and electric engines to minimize
disturbance to wildlife. Jungle walks and night walks can be conducted when
weather permits. Two tree platforms (28ft and 52ft high) are also accessible to
the more adventurous and bird watchers.
Prices for-
Malaysian Safaris and Adventures
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