Borneo wildlife holidays
The geographical isolation of Borneo has helped create one of the most extraordinary wildlife habitats on Earth. The island is home to an incredible variety of species, including its most famous resident, the orangutan, as well as proboscis monkeys, Bornean pygmy elephants, Irrawaddy dolphins, turtles and countless tropical birds and reptiles.
But wildlife tourism isn’t always kind to the animals it aims to showcase. We believe travel can play a positive role in protecting Borneo’s wildlife, provided experiences put animal welfare and conservation first.
That’s why we want your Borneo holiday to be memorable for all the right reasons. Read on to find out more about the wildlife you might encounter, how we choose responsible experiences and the simple ways you can help protect Borneo’s incredible animals while you travel.
Where you can see wildlife in Borneo
Kinabatangan River
In the north of Sabah, the Kinabatangan River is one of the best places in Borneo for wildlife spotting. Its winding waters connect a remarkable mix of habitats, from dense rainforest and limestone caves to mangrove swamps, creating a haven for some of the island’s most iconic wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for Bornean pygmy elephants, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, gibbons, crocodiles and colourful tropical birds.
The region is also home to Borneo’s so-called ‘Big 5’: orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, rhinoceros hornbills and crocodiles. The beauty of a Kinabatangan safari is that much of the wildlife spotting is done from the water, allowing you to explore the rainforest with minimal disturbance to the animals.
You’ll head out on several boat safaris at different times of day, when different species are active. Drift quietly along the river, scanning the jungle-lined banks and treetops for movement. You never know what might appear around the next bend.
Danum Valley Conservation Area
This protected area is home to some of the oldest and most pristine rainforest in the world, creating a haven for an incredible variety of wildlife. Orangutans, gibbons, Bornean pygmy elephants, hornbills, sun bears and more than 270 species of birds all call the forest home. You’ll explore on guided jungle walks, take to the canopy for treetop views and head out on night drives in search of the forest’s more elusive nocturnal residents.
Tabin Wildlife Reserve
For another side of Borneo’s wildlife, head to Tabin Wildlife Reserve, one of Sabah’s most important protected areas. The reserve covers around 1,200 square kilometres of rainforest, rivers and swampy forest, providing a home for Bornean pygmy elephants, orangutans, gibbons and hornbills. Wildlife is naturally drawn to Tabin’s mud volcanoes and salt licks, and guided walks, drives and night safaris give you the chance to see what’s stirring after dark.
Sungai Kapur
Tucked away in the remote northeast of Sabah, Sungai Kapur is a wonderful choice for birdwatchers and anyone looking to experience Borneo’s rainforest away from the crowds. The area combines mangroves, lowland rainforest and winding rivers, creating a rich mix of habitats for an impressive variety of birdlife.
With more than 300 bird species recorded here, there’s plenty to look out for. Keep your binoculars handy for colourful kingfishers, pittas and hornbills, as well as less common species that are harder to spot elsewhere. The elusive Bornean ground cuckoo is one of the real highlights, while the quiet forest and relatively few visitors make Sungai Kapur a particularly rewarding place for patient birdwatchers.
Animal welfare in Borneo
Orangutans
No trip to Borneo would be complete without seeing the famous, and sadly now critically endangered, orangutans. Much of their wild habitat has been lost in recent years due to deforestation for palm oil, so the sanctuaries that we take you to in Sabah (Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre) and Sarawak (Semenggoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre) play an incredibly important role in ensuring these unique creatures are able to exist for generations to come.
In Borneo, there are opportunities to touch or hold the animals, however, we strongly advise against this for a number of reasons. Firstly, as we are closely genetically-related to orangutans and they have not been exposed to many European diseases, it puts the creatures at risk of becoming seriously ill. On top of this, close contact with tourists also encourages the animals to become too accustomed to human interaction and threatens their ability to adapt and survive once they are released into the wild.
Conservation projects in Borneo
We’re proud to support a local project in each of our destinations, with £5 from every booking going towards the cause. In Borneo, we support Reef Guardian, a non-profit organisation that manages the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) in Sabah. Covering more than 46,000 hectares of protected waters around Lankayan, Billean and Tegapil, SIMCA protects coral reefs, seagrass beds and important feeding and nesting grounds for endangered sea turtles.
Reef Guardian monitors turtle nesting, protects eggs from poaching and human disturbance, runs hatchery programmes and releases hatchlings back into the sea. It also monitors coral reefs, restricts fishing and carries out marine patrols to protect the wider ecosystem. If you visit Lankayan as part of our Lazing on Lankayan bite-sized trip, you can visit the Reef Guardian office and may have the chance to see hatchlings released into the sea or spot turtles while snorkelling around the protected reefs
Take a peek at our wildlife trips in Borneo
