11 day safari

Prices from

£3900

Excluding international flights

Tour Highlights

6 nights at the Mecca for nocturnal cat sightings in Borneo
Chances for Pygmy Elephants and Flat Headed cat
Expert private naturalist throughout
Tour can be tailored to your individual requirements

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Small Wild Cat Nocturnal Safari in Deramakot and Kinabatagan

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Small Wild Cat Nocturnal Safari in Deramakot and Kinabatagan

As we write this article in July 2020, we can say that with some confidence Dermakot wildlife reserve in northern Borneo is one of the best locations to see small wild cats in the whole of Asia. This is a combination of ideal habitat, extensive research and the huge amount of time spent on night drives within the reserve – the harder you work, the luckier you get. Genuine chances to see Clouded Leopard – Tarsier – Slow Loris – Leopard Cat and Marbled Cat.

When to Go:

Best time to visit -

JUL

Safari Style -

Bespoke Wildlife

Day 1

SANDAKAN AIRPORT TO SEPILOK NATURE RESORT

Upon arrival at Sandakan airport you will make the 30 minute transfer to Sepilok Nature Resort, situated next to the world famous wildlife centres. There is time in the afternoon to go to the Rainforest Discovery Centre, or possibly enjoy the 3 p.m Orangutan feeding; which are both located a short walk away. After dinner you will enjoy a night walk in the nearby forest. With luck you may spot the Western Tarsier and sleeping birds and frogs and snakes

Accommodation : Sepilok nature resort

Day 2

VISIT ORANGUTAN AND SUN BEAR SANCTUARIES

After breakfast you’ll visit the nearby Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation center where you have an opportunity to enjoy these iconic primates at close quarters and learn more about the rehabilitation and conservation work that takes place here. Next, you visit the Sun Bear Conservation Center, a relatively new center established in 2008, which provides care and rehabilitation for orphaned and captive Malay Sun Bears

Accommodation : Sepilok nature resort

Day 3

SEPILOK TO DERAMAKOT

After breakfast you will drive 2 hours to Telupid town, where you will take lunch at a local restaurant (cost included). You will then drive a further 2 hours to Deramakot forest reserve through oil palm plantations and forest reserves. The road can be wet and muddy. Deramakot is the jewel in the Sabah Forestry Departments crown and spans an area of over 100,00 hectares with its adjacent Tangkulap reserve. It was the first tropical forest reserve to be recognised by the Forest Stewardship Council for good forest governance and since AA Borneo pioneered nature tourism in the reserve 4 years it has rapidly become justifiably famous for its astonishing mammal and bird diversity. Possibly the best in South East Asia? The exact program at Deramakot will depend on weather and recent animal sightings. Your private naturalist will discuss fully with you after check in.

Days 4-8

FIVE ACTIONED PACKED DAYS AND NIGHTS IN DERAMAKOT

Four full days in the reserve. Exact itinerary will be discussed with your guide but you will have dawn and night walking and 4*4 safaris each day, 2 hours are included each evening which can be extended for an extra 125 myr per hour, cash payment.

Accommodation : Deramakot wildlife lodge

Day 9

DERAMAKOT TO THE KINABATANGAN RIVER

Time for morning birding before breakfast and check out by 9am and return to the main highway and travel approximately 2 hours to the river village of Sukau – gateway to the mighty Kinabatangan River and where you will take your boat transfer from. Enroute to Borneo Nature Lodge, you’ll stop by the famous Gomantong caves. This large cave chamber is famous for its swiftlets and bats but the surrounding jungle is home to Maroon Langurs and Orangutan

Accommodation : Borneo nature lodge

Day 10

FULL DAY OF BOAT SAFARIS ON THE RIVER

Wake up to the calls of birds, insects and animals as the pre-dawn chorus begins at 6.30am take a morning cruise. Enjoy a flexible itinerary to explore the river with your private naturalist and maximize your wildlife viewing opportunities. This will include longer river trips if required to try and view the migratory Borneo Pygmy Elephants.

Day 11

BOAT AND CAR TRANSFER TO SANDAKAN

Sadly, you have come to the end of your Borneo safari and depending on flight departure time from Sandakan, we will organise an appropriate departure time.

Pricing Info & Dates

Costs £3900 based on two people sharing and not including flights. Costs valid for multiple departures in 2024

Services of a private expert Naturalist throughout
All meals, except on the first and last days
Additional time in the evening at Deramakot for night safaris

Cost of international flights
Cost of applicable visa entry fees
Some meals in first and final days of the tour
Gratuities for local staff and your naturalist

Tour Route Map

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Asian Elephant

Clouded Leopard

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What

Our Clients Say About Us

★★★★★

Komodo and Sabah adventure 2013

My wife and I travelled on a private safari to see Komodo dragons in Indonesia, and on to Sabah. Komodo and Rinca Island were well worth the effort ,the dragons are well worth seeing, and the time the boat was tremendous, with stunning scenery and great snorkelling. The captain’s culinary skills were a surprise bonus. All of the lodges within Sabah were excellent, but with their own, different personalities The Rainforest lodge offers real comfort and the opportunity for good wildlife viewings, we even had a brief sighting of two Pygmy elephants en route to the lodge. Macaques greeted us as we arrived, and Dean, our guide at the lodge was excellent. Tabin is a birder’s paradise, and we saw 6 species of hornbill during our stay. Israel was our guide and was an expert birder. Gibbons were to be seen on some mornings, and the sound of their calling across the forest was memorable. The trails between the Primary, secondary rainforest and palm plantations gave opportunities for good sightings during dusk, and night drives, including Civet, flying squirrels and a number of leopard cats. Forest walking yielded our first Orang Utan sighting, a young male, a bit miffed at being stung by some bees. Myne lodge stands out for us as we love boats and we had a number of OU sightings including one great one, spending over an hour watching an older male feeding from a Ficus tree. More macaques than you can shake a stick at, and good Proboscis monkey watching too. No elephants around for us though. Special mention to Maik, our main guide and companion for our time in Sabah. Excellent guide, knowledgeable, resourceful, and with a great sense of humour. Lankayan Island is truly a paradise. A great way to relax after an arduous trip, more excellent snorkelling,and we were lucky enough to witness newly hatched Hawksbill turtles being released to make their way to the sea. We have travelled many times now with Wildlife Trails, and have had some memorable experiences within Asia, Africa, Canada, the Arctic circle and South America. Allan and his team have always come up with an itinerary, customised to our needs. The fact that we have come back so many times says it all.

ByDel and Sheila