Explorer Borneo

Sukau Rainforest Lodge Experience

The 20 room lodge was built in 1995 in traditional Malaysian architecture using several Borneo hardwood species. It is built on stilts with a lounge, gift shop, education centre, Hornbill Boardwalk with two elephant passes, three open deck for wildlife viewing, an enclosed garden, a riverside Melapi restaurant, open sun-deck, river jetty. Electricity is supplied by acoustic generator, and hot water by solar heaters. All rooms are twin bedded, with ceiling fan, mosquito netting, attached bathroom, hot shower and toilets. River tours are conducted by boats powered by electric motors and four stoke outboard engines. Birdlife is especially rich here including eight species of hornbills, kingfishers, egrets, darters, owls, kites, eagles, broadbills, doves, storm storks, herons, hawks, ospreys, falcon, pheasants, parakeets, bee eaters, woodpeckers, pittas, bulbuls, forktails, babblers, warblers, flycatchers, orioles, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters, among others.

Day  1

Arrive  Kota  Kinabalu meet and  transfer to  hotel for  overnight.

Day  2

Depart from your hotel early morning for a 2 ½ hours journey to Kudat, the land of the last longhouses in Sabah. After lunch, we set off our journey to the ‘Tip of Borneo”. Witness the picturesque view of South China Sea meeting Sulu Sea, an exceptionally breathtaking scene you would ever come across. Proceed to longhouse homestay for check in. Cycle (optional) through scenic villages, oil palm estates and farms to Mompilis Village Longhouse. Enjoy fresh coconut drink and witness cultural activities while mingling with the friendly local folks and children. Return to longhouse homestay for shower. Enjoy a traditional-style dinner followed by colourful cultural performance by local Rungus community. Overnight in Twin Share room. Mattress and mosquito net are provided. (BLD)

Day 03

Wake up to the calls of roosters and enjoy the tranquility of the village. Take your breakfast before we trek to the nearby rubber estate. Test your skill at rubber tapping before continuing your journey to Kinabalu Park with lunch en route. Drive approximately 3 hours overland (88 km) through paddy-fields and Dusun villages over the ridges of the Crocker Range to the foothills of Mt. Kinabalu at 5,000 ft, to arrive at the park headquarters at Kundasang. Overnight at nearby lodge. (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)

Day 04

Visit the Visitor Centre and Mountain Garden; home to some of the 24 species of flowering rhododendrons, 10 species of carnivorous pitcher plants, estimated 1,400 species of orchids, over 600 species of ferns, more than 40 species of oak trees and over 300 species of birds. Proceed to Poring (130km), 450m, above sea level, east of Kinabalu Park HQ. Vegetation here is tropical lowland rainforest. Explore the jungle trail leading up to the treetop canopy walkways, 41m above the forest floor. Visit Kipungit Waterfall and soak in hot sulphur pools before we return to Kota Kinabalu in mid afternoon. (BL)

Day  5

P/up and proceed   to  airport  for  flight  MH2042 at 0730/0810hrs.

On arrival at Sandakan Airport by morning flight, transfer to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre for video show. Trek ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the orang utans at 1000hrs. 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. (LD)

Day 6

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 night safari cruise (at a surcharge) spotting nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. (BLD)

Day 7

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 late afternoon flight to Kota Kinabalu.  (BL)

Day  8

Transfer to jetty for 20 minutes boat journey to Gaya Island. Explore the 2km jungle trail and learn about some of the unique medicinal plants, tropical hardwood trees, coastal vegetation, tropical dipterocarp rainforest and the ecology of the mangrove forest. Transfer across to Manukan Island for a picnic lunch.  Relax, snorkel and free at leisure before returning at 1500 hours. (Snorkeling gear available for hire at a surcharge).Please bring along towel, hat, walking shoes, insect repellent, water bottle, swim wear and sun block lotion. (BL)

Day  9

Free  at  own  leisure. (B)

Day  10

P/up  at  hotel  and  transfer to airport for flight onward.  (B)