June 12 - 28, 2012

A frog with no lungs, a “ninja” slug that fires love darts at its mate and the world’s longest insect are among new species discovered in the past three years alone on the island of Borneo.

It’s astounding to think that scientists, including WWF researchers, are unearthing such a treasure trove of amazing species – something you’ll discover when you travel to Borneo with WWF in 2012. Our popular journey takes you into the rain forest to look for such animals as the proboscis monkey, slow loris, barking deer, pig-tailed macaque and the huge flying fox bat.

Trip Itinerary

Tuesday – Thursday, June 12 – 14, 2012: USA / Kota Kinabalu, Borneo
Depart the United States Tuesday evening. You’ll cross the International Date Line and “lose” a day, arriving Thursday morning in Kota Kinabalu. Check into your resort on the South China Sea. Meet up with your fellow travelers to explore the city bird sanctuary, including a mangrove ecosystem supporting a colony of purple herons here. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening. Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort (D)

Friday, June 15: Sepilok
Enjoy the morning at leisure before departing on an early-afternoon flight to Sepilok. Arrive in time to observe the afternoon feeding at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.

Founded in 1964, the center was established to help orphaned orangutans learn how to live in the wild. Young ones are housed in the nurseries, and dozens of others live free in the protected forests surrounding the center. Other protected animals brought here include Malay sun bears, baby elephants, wild cats and even crocodiles. Later, tour the Rainforest Discovery Center and enjoy a walk along a bridge high in the rain forest canopy. The bird’s eye perspective on the flora below is unparalleled! Go for a night time boardwalk safari. Sepilok Nature Resort (B,L,D)

Saturday, June 16: Sepilok
Spend more time observing the wildlife at the rehabilitation center, with an opportunity to take advantage of the morning light and photograph the young orangutans. Afterwards, go on a tour of the city of Sandakan. Return to the resort in the afternoon, for more rain forest explorations and a guided walk in search of nocturnal species. Sepilok Nature Resort (B,L,D)

Sunday, June 17: Selingan “Turtle” Island
Take a morning speedboat to Selingan Island, watching for pods of dolphins along the way. Selingan Island, one of three islands that make up Turtle Island National Park, is a nesting ground for endangered green turtles and critically endangered hawksbill turtles. Spend the afternoon exploring the island, swimming and snorkeling in warm clear waters over dazzling coral reefs. After dinner, park rangers will take you to see green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on the beach. Selingan Chalet (B,L,D)

Monday, June 18: Abai
Return to the mainland by boat, then travel upriver by boat to the pristine mangrove forests along the lower Kinabatangan delta in search of proboscis monkeys, birds, elephants and reptiles. After lunch, explore the surrounding area via boardwalk before cruising up the Kinabatangan River in search of other wildlife. After dinner, go on a night cruise and witness the spectacle of thousands of glittering fireflies perched on mangrove trees. Abai Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

Tuesday, June 19: Abai
Take an early morning bird and wildlife outing at a nearby oxbow lake before breakfast. You’ll then have the option of helping villagers plant trees in an area known for agriculturally driven deforestation. This evening enjoy another guided nighttime cruise in search of nocturnal wildlife. Abai Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

Wednesday & Thursday, June 20 & 21: Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary
On Wednesday morning, continue by riverboat to your lodge in Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, which protects the highest concentration of orangutans in all of Malaysia. Several WWF-supported studies have taken place in this sanctuary, including the Kinabatangan Orangutan Research project and several conservation efforts protecting Asian elephants and Sumatran rhinos. 

During two days of forest outings, look for proboscis monkeys, leaf monkeys, gibbons and pigtailed macaques. Visit Ox-Bow Lake to search for hairy-nosed otters, tortoises and freshwater terrapins. Head upriver in small boats with local guides in search of long-tailed macaques, monitor lizards, crested serpent eagles, blue-eared kingfishers and rare Storm’s storks. And venture out at night with your guide in search of the western tarsier and slow loris. Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge (B,L,D daily)

Friday, June 22: Gomantong Caves & Danum Valley
Drive in the morning to the Gomantong Caves. These tall caves provide habitat for nesting swiftlets, and the surrounding area is a haven for many bird species, including bat hawks and peregrine falcons. Continue into the heart of Borneo to your lodge on the Danum River. 

As Sabah’s largest protected lowland forest, the Danum Valley Conservation Area is 108,230 acres of virgin rain forest. It's estimated to be more than 100 million years old and thus is considered the world’s oldest. Designed for wildlife observation, the lodge offers large, open public spaces, well-marked nature trails, a canopy walkway for tree-level viewing and an outstanding team of naturalists and guides. Borneo Rainforest Lodge (B,L,D)

Saturday & Sunday, June 23 & 24: Danum Valley Conservation Area
Continue discovering the undisturbed forests of this incredible valley during guided nature walks, evening treks and night drives using spotlights. At least 110 species of mammals – including orangutans, Asian elephants, gibbons, loris, giant flying squirrels, Malayan sun bears, bearded pigs and yellow barking deer – live here. The forest is also home to 275 species of birds, including crested fireback pheasants and rhinoceros hornbills, and some of the world’s biggest butterflies and moths.

The valley supports one of the largest remaining populations of wild orangutans, which expert trackers from our lodge will help us find. Discover the canopy along a walkway suspended 150 feet above the forest floor. Take a short hike to a gorgeous waterfall and swimming hole. Or go on a more challenging trek to the ancient Kadazan-Dusan burial grounds in the cliffs high above the lodge. Borneo Rainforest Lodge (B,L,D daily)

Monday & Tuesday, June 25 &26: Tabin
After breakfast on Monday, drive to Lahad Datu. Continue on to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, one of the largest reserves in Borneo.

The conservation area shelters more than 300 species of birds and 109 species of mammals including Asian elephants, orangutans and deer. It is also home to Bornean rarities such as Sumatran rhinoceroses, clouded leopards and the impressive Bulwer’s pheasant, not to mention some of the world’s largest butterflies and moths.

Activities here include rainforest nature walks through undisturbed riverine and lowland dipterocarp forests, night walks and drives using spotlights. A self-guided nature trail, observation points, waterfalls and rivers for swimming add to the enjoyment of this fascinating area Also partake in a rain forest trek to see the Lipad mud volcano, which serves as a mineral salt lick for wildlife. The elevated bare area of the mud volcano attracts deer, wild boar, elephants and countless birds – including hornbills – which you’ll look for from a well-positioned observation tower. Tabin Wildlife Lodge (B,L,D daily)

Wednesday, June 27: Lahad Datu / Kota Kinabalu
After breakfast, drive to Lahad Datu, then fly back to Kota Kinabalu. The rest of the afternoon and evening are unscheduled to allow you time to explore Kota Kinabalu on your own. Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening. Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort (B,L,D)

Thursday, June 28: Depart
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home, arriving in the United States the same day. (B)