MALAYSIA Category: Individual Travel TOUR CODE: SDDRL1 4D3N SANDAKAN WILDLIFE ADVENTURE-River Lodge & Selingan Island ACCOMMODATION DISCOVERY RIVER LODGE (DRL), SUKAU (Basic eco friendly accommodation) SELINGAN ISLAND CHALET PACKAGE INCLUSION 2 nights accommodation at Discovery River Lodge in Sukau 01 night accommodation in standard (basic) room at Selingan Island Chalet Full Board meals as specified in the itinerary Return airport transfers, boat transfer and other transfer as specified in the Itinerary English speaking guide, tours and entrance fees Note: Accommodation in Sukau and Selingan lslands are basic with ceiling fans, towels, soap, bed and hot water. There is no air- conditioning at DRL. *Subject to change REMARKS Valid for Malaysian, Malaysian Residents and Singaporeans only. Tour fare exclude: Camera Fees, Beverages, Porter, Tips and other miscellaneous expenses. Cancellation policy- please refer to our General Terms & Conditions Exclude Airfares Price and Itinerary is subject to change without prior notice Terms & conditions apply ITINERARY *(tentative) Day 1 / Gomantong Cave/ Sukau-Kinabatangan River (-/L/D) Meet and greet with your guide upon arrival and drive for about 2 hours passing through Oil Palm plantation to Gomantong Cave. Explore one of the fascinating caves in Sabah which is home to millions of bats and swiftlets. The swiftlets make the famous Chinese edible bird s nest soup. Continue your journey overland for another half an hour to Sukau. Have lunch and check-in to Discovery River Lodge (formerly known as Sri Menanggol Cabins). Take for an evening boat cruise to Menanggol river, a tributary of Kinabatangan river, is the longest and the biggest river in Sabah to search for wildlife like the elusive Proboscis Monkey, and pygmy elephants, which is endemic to Borneo. Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places in Southeast Asia to observe wildlife. After dinner, you can watch a video documentary about the Proboscis Monkeys or take an optional Night Cruise/Night Safari at a minimal price which can be arranged through the lodge. Overnight at eco friendly accommodation- Discovery River Lodge, Sukau Day 2 Sukau -Ox-Bow Lake / Resang River (B/L/D) Take an early morning cruise to one of the Ox-Bow Lakes which was formed by large meanders of the Kinabatangan river that had been cut off from the main channel. The trip takes you to see the riverine forest and wildlife in the area. The Oriental Darter, Storm s Stork, various species of Hornbills and Kingfishers are commonly seen. If the weather permits, you could also do jungle trekking. Return to the lodge for breakfast, and you are at leisure to take a short walk or hire our mountain bike to explore the village of Sukau nearby. In the evening, embark for another evening cruise in search of more wildlife. After dinner, you may take an optional Night Cruise tour in search for nocturnal animals. Overnight at eco friendly accommodation- Discovery River Lodge, Sukau
DISCOVERY RIVER LODGE ITINERARY Day 3 Sukau / Selingan Island at Turtle Island Park (B/L/D) After breakfast check-out and take an early drive from Sukau to jetty (takes approx 2 hours) and then a boat ride for about 1 hour to Selingan Island, one of the three islands of Turtle Island Park. Check-in to enjoy the sun, sea and sand for the rest of the day. In the night after dinner, wait at the cafeteria for the ranger s signal to witness the process of Green Turtles laying eggs, transplanting the eggs to hatchery for protection and watch newly hatch baby turtles being released into the sea. Note: Sabah Parks only allowed photography of turtles at night. Cameras with unaided flash and videography at night are not allowed at all. Overnight at Selingan Island Chalet, Selingan Island Day 4 Selingan Island / Sepilok Orang Utan / (B/L) Discovery River Lodge lets you experience village life surrounded by nature and all its serene beauty. Meals are prepared local style at the Lodge s café which overlooks the Kinabatangan River. Just relax and enjoy the scenery of our tropical rainforest while sipping your coffee and tea. SELINGAN ISLAND RESORT After breakfast, depart from Selingan Island to return to the mainland for. Upon arrival, drive for about half an hour to Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre where orphaned and injured Orang-Utans are brought to Sepilok to be rehabilitated and nursed to return and fend for themselves back in the wild. Sepilok is a primary lowland forest, a fine showcase of Borneo s remaining rainforest. Witness the feeding of Orang-Utans from a platform in the forest. Stop for lunch at a beautiful colonial English Tea House and Restaurant. Later do a city tour and visit the various landmarks and historical points in like the Water Village, Central Market and Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple before your transfer back to airport/hotel. Recommended flights: Kuala Lumpur to AK 5160 (0715-1000) to Kuala Lumpur AK 5163 (2025-2305) (Note: Recommended flights schedule are subject to change) Basic accomodation in Selingan Island TOUR FARE Adult (Single) Adult (Twin) Adult (Triple) Child (With Bed)
GENERAL INFORMATION Kinabatangan River Stretching 560km from the Crocker Range in the southwest of Sabah to the Sulu Sea in the east, the Kinabatangan River sustains one of the world's richest ecosystems. The surrounding areas along the river consist of five distinct habitats - dipterocarp or dry, waterlogged and limestone forests, and freshwater and saline swamps. The lower basin of the river itself is the largest forest covered floodplain in Malaysia and has the largest concentration of wildlife in the South East Asian region. Other than being home to Borneo's indigenous orang utan and proboscis monkey, the surrounding forest is also one of only two known places in the world where 10 species of primates are found. All the eight species of hornbill found in Borneo make the area their home. A trip up the river at dawn or dusk is the best opportunity to see the wildlife. You might even sight an Asian elephant or a Sumatran rhinoceros wandering through the trees. Optional tours can be arranged for night safaris as well to spot crocodiles, birds and nocturnal animals. Many major local tour companies run lodges in the Sukau area with packages that include accommodation, transportation, meals and guided tours. Alternatively, you may want to experience the homestay programme which is available at surrounding villages and which provides a good opportunity to truly experience the life of the Orang Sungai. Join in their cultural activities or even try your hand at the local way of farming! Getting There The overland trip from to Sukau covers 135km where 42km of the journey is on gravel road through palm oil plantations. A 350km drive from Kota Kinabalu is also possible but will take at least six hours. Transportation can be arranged with Mayflower. Source: Sabah Tourism Board
GENERAL INFORMATION Pygmy Elephant facts: Pygmy elephants are found only on the northeast tip of the island of Borneo, and inhabit forests near water sources and grasslands. Borneo pygmy elephants are smaller than other Asian elephants, chubbier, and have bigger ears and tails. They eat roughly 300 pounds of food daily mostly roots, grasses, leaves, bananas and sugar cane. WWF estimates that there are as few as 1,600 individuals remaining in the wild, and the top threats to pygmy elephants are habitat loss and conflict with humans. Adopt a Pygmy Elephant. Source:www.worldwildlife.org
GENERAL INFORMATION Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was set up in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned baby orang utan. Set in the lush 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Centre under the administration of the Wildlife Department of Sabah attracts tourists and researchers alike, giving them the opportunity to watch the orang utan up close in their natural habitat. A boardwalk leads you to a viewing gallery and feeding platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas twice a day at 10.00am and 3.00pm by rangers. Feeding time also attracts long-tailed macaques to the area. While orang utan rehabilitation is still the primary goal at Sepilok, it also focuses on public education on conservation, research and assistance on other endangered species such as the rhinoceros. Visitors are restricted to walkways. Some orang utan have become familiar with people but touching them is strongly discouraged, and while the apes are naturally shy and gentle, the more mischievous ones may try to grab your camera or hat, in which case you should call for a ranger as trying to wrestle the 200 pound apes may not be a good idea. For the more adventurous, there is trekking through mangrove forest. As this is under the Forestry Department, you will have to get a permit from them before trekking the 5km trail which runs through Sepilok Laut. You can also arrange for a boat return or accommodation in chalets in the forest. Opening Hours Security Gate: Daily from 8.00am till 5.00pm Reception & Ticketing Counter: Daily from 9.00am till 11.00am and 2.00pm till 3.30pm Exhibition Hall: Daily (except Fridays) from 9.00am till 4.30pm Source: Sabah Tourism Board Gomantong Cave Described by WWF as 'the best-managed edible birds' nest cave in the world', Gomantong Caves in the heartland of the Gomantong Rainforest Reserve have been the focus for birds' nests for centuries. Since the 13th century, Chinese traders have come to in search of birds' nests, a prized delicacy among the Chinese and found nearly 100 metres up on the ceilings of the Gomantong Caves. Harvesters put their lives on the line literally, climbing networks of rattan ladders and ropes to get to the nests. The risky nature of nest collecting has only helped made the commodity a pricey one. There are two cave complexes - Simud Hitam (Black Cave) soaring up to 90 metres high and the more accessible of the two, and Simud Putih (White Cave), where the more valuable nests are found. Simud Hitam is a five- minute walk from the registration centre. A well-maintained boardwalk gives you easy access to do some exploring or watch the skilled harvesters at work. The resident creatures of the caves include swiftlets (from which the nests are collected) and bats among others. Outside, other birds such as serpent eagles, bat hawks and kingfishers can be seen. You might even spot an orangutan or two. You will need to make prior arrangements for exploring the more challenging Simud Putih which calls for more serious caving.facilities include a picnic area as well as the Gomantong Rainforest Chalet which can accommodate up to 30 people a night. Source: Sabah Tourism Board
GENERAL GENERAL INFORMATION INFORMATION Turtle Island Park The Turtle Island Park (gazetted 1977) lies 40km north of in the Sulu Sea and consists of Selingan, Bakungan Kecil and Gulisan islands. The park is a safe haven for the endangered green and hawksbill turtles and gives you the rare opportunity to watch turtle landings. Selingan, the largest of the islands, houses the park's headquarters, a turtle hatchery, tourist accommodation and basic facilities. The other two islands are more for conservation activities. As turtle landings usually occur after dusk, an overnight stay would be the best plan to see the turtles as they come ashore to lay their eggs, but shining a light on them or using camera flashes should be avoided as either can be stressful on the creatures. Turtles lay their eggs throughout the year, but the best time to head there is between July and October when the sea is calmer. Observe the collection of eggs, tagging of mother turtles and releasing of baby turtles into the sea. Getting There The boat from the Sabah Parks jetty at Jalan Buli Buli Sim leaves at 9.30am and the ride to Selingan takes an hour. Visiting Period Throughout the year Source: Sabah Tourism Board