Borneo Photographic Safari

Sepilok Forest Reserve

Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is where captive orangutans are reintroduced into the wild and you will be able to observe them at their feeding stations in the rainforest. Focus on close up photography of orangutans with the great lighting from the large opening in the canopy around the orangutan feeding platform.

You will also visit the nearby Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, wake up early for a dawn canopy walk for bird watching and head out for night walks in the forest to search for nocturnal wildlife and to see giant red flying squirrels emerge from their nests. These squirrels can “fly” up to 500 feet between trees, which is a spectacle to see.

Kinabatangan River

Home to one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Borneo, take a cruise at dusk to look for orangutans, pygmy elephants, silvered langurs, hornbills, and proboscis monkeys. On a night walk, see nocturnal fauna such as the slow loris, western tarsiers, civets, and more. The Kinabatangan River is the longest river in Sabah known for the highest concentration of primates in North Borneo. The forest is secondary forest, with a large amount of ficus racemose, a preferred food source for a variety of species. The focus of this area is river cruises and photography from the boat.

Gomantong Caves

Take a short boat ride and overland transfer to Gomantong Caves. We will spend the afternoon walking in the reserve and visiting the bat cave. This is an amazing experience, with great wildlife around Gomantong Caves (orangutan, hornbills, red leaf langurs, birds, etc). If it is a clear day, shooting the million bats emerging from the cave is a spectacle worth seeing. Long ropes of tens of thousands of bats come out at a time, with raptors waiting to hunt the bats mid-air.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Head into the heart of Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah’s largest wildlife sanctuary, home to a plethora of wildlife and ten primate species, five cat species, some 220 species of birds, pygmy elephants and banteng. Set off in 4x4s to search for leopard cats, marbled cats, flying squirrels, and binturongs (bearcats). Take an early morning nature walk, hike to the mud volcano, where salt-enriched mud bubbles up and attracts many different animals. Climb the observation tower for great views of the surrounding forest. Head out on a jungle trek and for a night drive to search for wildlife.

Danum Valley

Travel to Danum Valley, known for its 400 square kilometres of virtually undisturbed primary rainforest. There are over 30 resident orangutans around the lodge. Because there is no hunting, they are very comfortable around people. Other notable species are red leaf langurs which hang around close to the lodge, hornbills, gibbons, deer, owls, and more. Snakes, lizards, insects, and frogs are also fantastic around the lodge. Spend two days exploring the local nature trails, keeping an eye out for rare species, including the pygmy elephant, clouded leopard, Bornean gibbon, and maroon langur. Bird life is especially diverse, with some 275 recorded species. Take a guided night hike when the forest is vibrant with wildlife. Watch a dazzling sunrise over the valley from atop an observation tower, stretch your legs on a moderately challenging hike to a nearby waterfall; go on a canopy walk in the treetops surrounding the lodge; venture out on night safaris to experience the forest when it is vibrant with wildlife.

Photography can be challenging in Danum Valley. Even though you get up close subjects during the day, the canopy is very tall (100-140 feet) and it can be quite dark on the forest floor. A tripod and a lens with a wide aperture are recommended. Cameras that handle well with high ISO is also recommended for this.