Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hi everyone
Here are our trip notes for the 10 day trip on Borneo. The trip starts on October 27th and ends on November 5th.
This is what we will be doing:
Day 1 Kota Kinabalu
Selamat datang! Welcome to Malaysia.
You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting tonight. After the group meeting there is the option of joining the group for dinner.
Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, is an intriguing city that was born between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Having recovered from World War II bombings, KK now possesses a gateway charm that can only be found in a frontier town. In your free time here, you can immerse yourself in local history at the Sabah State Museum, visit the Monsopiad Cultural Village (once home to a notorious headhunter), or explore the islands off Kota Kinabalu - excellent for swimming or snorkelling.
Tonight we stay in a centrally located 2 star hotel close to major shopping centres and the Kota Kinabalu waterfront.
Days 2-3 Kinabatangan Jungle Camp/Homestay
We depart Kota Kinabalu early on Day 2. Leaving the busy city of Kota Kinabalu behind, we travel to the jungle, travelling by local bus through palm oil plantations along Sabah's main highway (approx. 5 hours). We arrive in Batu
Putih, a small village on the banks of the Kinabatangan River, where our programme for the day involves meeting members of a local ecological initiative, MESCOT.
The MESCOT project aims to provide villagers with environmental education and the means of making a living from their forests, without the need for its destruction by chainsaws. Part of the program is to develop an ecologically sound wildlife and eco-tourism centre, owned and operated by the villagers themselves.
After learning about forest rehabilitation, we head by boat (approx. 30 minutes) or on foot (approx. 1 hour, at an easy pace) into the jungle to spend the night. Here we will erect our own hammocks to sleep beneath the stars. This is the best way to experience the true wild Borneo. Wild elephants are rarely seen but we will hopefully find crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutans and freaky-looking proboscis monkeys, while hornbills fly in the skies overhead.
Be prepared for an adventure!
Day 3
We are invited into the homes of a local traditional Malay village for a night.
Experiencing the ways and traditions of the locals firsthand like this is an amazing privilege and your leader will explain local cultural expectations to ensure that we make the most of our stay. Tonight, we are billeted out into different homes throughout the village.
Day 4 Sepilok Orangutan Reserve
An early morning wake up call and a bus trip takes us to Sepilok (approx. 1.5 hours). Looking out of the window on the way, you'll get a good idea of the vast areas of rainforest that have been cleared for palm plantations. We should arrive in time for the morning session at the Sepilok Orangutan Reserve.
This reserve was set up to help re-introduce these wonderful ginger-haired creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned.
The afternoon is free for you to return to the reserve for more orangutan viewing or perhaps head into Sandakan, the commercial hub of the district, to explore the local fish market.
Tonight we stay in multishare accommodation with private amenities. Our guesthouse is centrally located, being only a short stroll to Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre.
Days 5-7 Mt Kinabalu
Today, we leave Sepilok and head for the base of Mt Kinabalu (approx. 5 hours).
On night 5 we stay at Mesilau Resort. Nestled amongst the lowland forests, this is the perfect place to relax before tomorrow's climb. Breakfast is provided.
We begin the climb up Mt Kinabalu early in the morning on day 4. It's not an easy walk, being uphill all the way, and you need to be prepared to tackle a trail made up of steep steps that vary considerably in size. Altitude can also affect you, regardless of your fitness level, and it will certainly slow you down a fair bit. However, there's absolutely no rush so take your time and enjoy the pristine environment - this is an area which boasts a remarkable variety of plant life, including some 1,000 species of orchid, the extraordinary carnivorous pitcher plant as well as the rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. We cover 7.6 km today (approx. 5-6 hours) and stop at a resthouse in Laban Rata (3,272 m) for the night.
Go to bed early, so you're ready for the final climb the following morning.
We rise very early this morning in order to catch the sunrise at the summit of Mt Kinabalu (4,095 m). It is difficult walking, but you'll feel a huge sense of achievement! Also, the view from the summit is stupendous - the jungles of Borneo in one direction, the South China Sea in the other, making every inch of the climb worthwhile. The climb from Laban Rata to the summit takes between 2 and 4 hours. Even if you are very fit you may find this section of the climb difficult because of the altitude. This can make you feel quite nauseous and short of breath. The trail is marked by a white rope that is also useful to help you up some of the steep sections.
After returning to Laban Rata for breakfast, we descend the mountain via the main trail (3-5 hours) in time for lunch at the park's headquarters.There are some beautiful nature trails you can follow, around the headquarters and through lowland tropical forest. Otherwise, feel free to just relax in the afternoon.
Night 7 we stay in a guesthouse at the base of Mt Kinabalu with a great view of the mountain. This guesthouse is the ideal location to celebrate your climbing achievements and rest your weary limbs.
Days 8-10 Kota Kinabalu
From the base of Mt Kinabalu - we head back to the coastal city of Kota Kinabalu by minivan (approx. 2 hours) where we spent the next 2 nights in a seaside guesthouse south of the city. Day 9 we spend the day snorkelling and relaxing in the Tunku Abdul Marine Park. Your afternoon is free to relax by the pool or venture into Kota Kinabalu (approx. 30 minutes by taxi).
There are no activities planned for day 10 and you are able to depart at any time.
- comments