Philippa Baines, Leisure Development Manager at Broads Travel Group discovered that the famous Orang-utans are just one reason to visit the beautiful island of Borneo. Read Philippa’s report to find out more or call 0121 250 2211 or 01543 412768 to book your holiday to Borneo.
When I was told I was going to Borneo I was thrilled. However, trying to conjure up an image in my mind of what it would be like was difficult - all I could think of was jungles and orang-utans!
Flight My 10 hour flight from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpar was pleasant and relaxed – despite the shock of being offered curried goat for breakfast! From Kuala Lumpur it was a short flight to Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of the Malay state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. Sabah is renowned for its great beaches, natural wonders, scenic beauty and rugged landscape plus the world famous orang-utan sanctuary.
Kota Kinabalu is a charming picturesque city which offers a cosmopolitan mix of world class hotels and restaurants. On a tour of the city I visited the State Mosque, the Chinese Temple and the War Memorial before being driven through the ‘Little Hong Kong’ shopping area to a local Kadazan village which consists of houses built on stilts along a winding river bank. It was fascinating to visit these unique wooden houses and I received a very warm welcome from the locals.
After spending a few days exploring Kota Kinabalu I flew to Sandakan, which is located on the east coast of Sabah and is the starting point for many eco-tourism destinations such as the Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary, Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley, Gomantong Cave and the Turtle Island National Park.
The Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary was definately the highlight of my trip. It covers 4,000 km square of equatorial rainforest and is home to orphaned and captured orang-utans which are cared for and rehabilitated before being returned to the wild. I had the opportunity to learn about these amazing animals in their natural environment before trekking into the jungle to encounter the orang-utans first hand at their feeding posts.
The next day I visited Turtle Island National Park, which is made up of a group of eight islands lying 40km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea, where Green and Hawksbill turtles come to lay their eggs from July to October. As the turtles only come ashore after dark you have to stay overnight in quite basic accommodation, but it is worth it to see the turtles, sometimes as many as a hundred or more, heaving themselves up the beach to lay their eggs. It is also possible to handle hatchlings, incubated and born in a breeding centre on the island under the watchful eyes of wardens, and then set the tiny turtles to swim free into the black night sea.
If you have enough time, make sure you also visit the Kinabalu National Park and enjoy the canopy walk which is 156ft above the forest floor and offers some great views (if you dare to look!) and amazing photo opportunities. Other popular ways to explore the park involve trekking up Mount Kinabalu and walking along the picturesque jungle trails. These jungle trails involve steps and muddy pathways but you are escorted by a knowledgeable guide who explains the flora and fauna of the forest on the way. If you do choose to climb the 4,000m high Mount Kinabalu you will have to stay overnight on the mountain in basic dormitory style accommodation as the climb and descent can not be completed in one day. Also in the National Park you can find the Poring Hot Springs, but they are just a couple of pools overlooking some sulphur baths – as you can imagine the smell isn’t too pleasant and the baths are cubical style with taps (you could do with a bath after you’ve bathed!).
Summary Borneo is a fascinating destination for a holiday as it is a country of contrasts with beautiful white sandy beaches, picturesque mountains, tropical jungles and wonderful nature reserves. The accommodation is excellent; most hotels have their own golf course and spa, plus top quality restaurants offering Malay dishes which are similar in taste to Indian/Chinese combinations and cost very little for quite substantial portions. The people of Borneo are extremely hospitable - where else will hotel staff gather to bid farewell in song as you check out of your accommodation? - and the friendly tour guides relish in telling stories of Borneo myths and legends. On my trip to Borneo I was constantly amazed by the breathtaking scenery and wildlife that the island has to offer and would recommend it to everyone looking for a holiday with a difference to remember for a lifetime.
