Sabah & Deramakot Forest Reserve Holiday

Fly to Sandakan, Sabah, Borneo

Arrive Sandakan and transfer to MY Nature Resort. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure. (D)

• Hotel Description

This morning visit the nearby Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre to witness the feeding of the orangutans.Many of the orang-utan living in the forest return to the centre at the twice daily feeding times, giving visitors a unique chance to get close to orangutan. Continue on the journey towards the remote Deramakot Forest Reserve which comprises over 55,500 hectares of mixed dipterocarp forest. The reserve is managed by the Sabah Forestry Department with the aim to balance the needs for commercial forestry with the needs of the resident wildlife that call the reserve home.This afternoon enjoy a wildlife drive through the reserve and help set up camera traps. The reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife including orang-utans, clouded leopards, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, gibbons, civets, sun bears, sambar deer and the rare Borneon Falconet, the smallest raptor in the world. The reserve boasts 4 natural salt licks which attract wildlife from all parts of the reserve. Enjoy a nocturnal wildlife drive offering the opportunity to see sambar deer, owls and the rare civet cat. After dinner enjoy a presentation on sustainable logging which details the work they are doing in the reserve to manage the resources sustainably. (B,L,D)

Rise early for a pre-dawn wildlife drive - this is an ideal time to explore the reserve when the wildlife is active in the early morning cool. Return to the cabins for breakfast and then head out on a jungle walk before lunch, another chance to search for the resident wildlife. After lunch there is free time to relax before a final wildlife drive and night drive on the journey back to the cabins. After dinner enjoy a presentation by one of the on-site researchers. (B,L,D)

This morning enjoy breakfast and drive back to Sandakan. En-route there will be a visit to the Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary at Labuk Bay which offers the chance to see the animals at close quarters. After your visit you will be dropped at MY Nature Resort for the remainder of the day at leisure. (B,D)

Return to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary for the morning feeding plus a visit to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) which rescues captured sun bears and is involved in sun bear conservation, welfare rehabilitation and education. After lunch transfer to a boat jetty in Sandakan and depart for a 1-hour boat cruise up the Lower Kinabatangan River, passing pristine mangrove forests and searching for wildlife. Arrive at Abai Jungle Lodge around 1400 hours and check in. Enjoy free time to relax or explore the surrounding area on the nature boardwalk. Late afternoon go on a cruise in search of proboscis monkeys, birds, reptiles and other wildlife. As night falls witness the glittering of fireflies on the mangrove trees. After dinner, go on a guided night walk around the Lodge’s nature boardwalk and search for insects, birds and other wildlife. (B,L,D)

Enjoy an early morning river trip to the Pitas Lake to observe the wildlife which is often more mobile in the early hours when it’s cooler. After breakfast, there is the option to join the tree planting project: take a short tour around the village, plant a tree and enjoy a simple lunch with some of the Abai villagers. This experience directly contributes towards the village funding. Return to the lodge and enjoy time at leisure until your final late afternoon river cruise in search of the wildlife. (B,L,D)

Return downriver to Sandakan and enjoy an early lunch. Transfer to Sandakan airport for the short flight back to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your city centre hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day free at leisure. (B,L)

Day at leisure in Kota Kinabalu. (B)

Pick up from the hotel and drive through scenic countryside to Kudat, passing paddy fields, villages, oil palm plantation and local stalls selling handicrafts and local food. En-route visit Sumangkap Village, which is famous for its gong making cottage industry and skilled artisans. Proceed to the Bavanggazo Village for a Longhouse visit. Observe their unique beadworks, lifestyle and costumes and experience a native Rungus-style lunch. Continue the journey to Simpang Mengayau, the Northern Tip of Borneo to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the coastline. Return to Kota Kinabalu early evening. (B,L)

Today you will be returned to the airport for the flight back to London Heathrow. (B)