Starting in June 2012
Take a walk on the wild side, on this ‘Wild Culture’ journey into the heart of Borneo's spectacular natural landscapes. From the charming waterfront of Kuching, to the slopes of Mount...
Also known as Taman Negara Kinabalu, this is one of Malaysia's oldest national parks. Located on the west coast of Sabah, the park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, reflecting its incredible value as one of the world's most important biological sites. Covering 754 square kilometres and dominated by the imposing presence of Mount Kinabalu, the park is one of Sabah's most popular attractions, boasting 4 climate zones and a rich diversity of endemic animal species. From its lowland dipterocarp forests to its alpine meadows, the park is home to a multitude of carnivorous plants, over 1200 species of orchids and the somewhat pungent Rafflesia, the world's largest flower. Blooming only rarely and then just for a few days, the Rafflesia emits a smell that is reminiscent of rotting meat, attracting a swarm of flies and insects which the plant then feasts upon.
Formerly known as Jesselton, the capital of Sabah State lies along the north-western coast of Borneo, overlooking the waters of the South China Sea. Originally founded by the British North Borneo Company in the late 1800s, the settlement grew to become a major trading port, dealing in rubber, rattan, honey and wax. Destroyed by the allies during the Second World War, the town was rebuilt by the British in 1946, going on to become the state capital in 1963, when the Federation of Malaysia was formed between North Borneo, Sarawak, Singapore and Malay. Named after the famous mountain that lies to the north-east of the city, today Kota Kinabalu is one of Malaysia's major tourist destinations, offering easy access to Sabah, Borneo and the stunning natural beauty of Kinabalu National Park.
The capital of Sarawak, Kuching is the largest city in Borneo and one of the most vibrant cities in the region. Situated on the banks of the Sarawak River, in the north-western part of the island, the city's name derives from the Malay word for 'cat' and it was once the personal kingdom of the British adventurer James Brooke, the first Rajah of Sarawak. Surviving the destruction of World War II relatively intact, the city's historic centre reflects something of the city's colonial and Chinese influences, whilst its waterfront has been transformed into a landscaped esplanade of restaurants, shops and food stalls. The city can also boast an internationally renowned museum and a bustling Sunday market that is one of the best in Sarawak.
Set amongst the dramatic landscapes of the Kinabalu National Park, Mount Kinabalu is Borneo's highest peak, and one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia. Accorded UNESCO World Heritage status and rising some 4,095 metres above the surrounding forest and lowlands, the mountain lies amidst some of the most important biological regions on earth; home to some 4500 species of plants, over 320 species of birds and 100 different types of mammals. Dominating its surroundings and rising almost twice as high as the Crocker Ranges that encircle it, the granite spires of Mount Kinabalu provide one of the most spectacular climbing routes anywhere outside the Himalayas. The tough, 2-day hike to the summit ascends through cloud forest, gaining some 2500 metres over a 24 hour period, so, whilst non technical, it is a climb that requires a reasonable level of fitness.
Sarawak's oldest national park, and one of its smallest, Bako lies at the tip of the Muara Tebas Peninsula, at the mouth of the Bako and Kuching Rivers. Accessible only by boat, the park is a haven for an astonishing variety of flora and fauna including almost every known plant species found in Borneo. It can boast over 25 distinct plant species, seven complete ecosystems and over 150 species of birds. It is also home to rare endemic proboscis monkeys, flying lemurs, pangolin, monitor lizards and Bornean bearded pigs, which are the largest mammals to be found in the park. The park is also riddled with a network of well maintained walking trails that provide everything from gentle forest walks to full day jungle treks and overnight camping expeditions.
A stunning natural gem, the Danum Valley Conservation Area presents a pristine landscape of virgin jungle and lush tropical lowland forest that provides shelter for a rare collection of animals, including Asian elephants, Bornean pygmy elephant, Sumatran rhinos, proboscis monkeys and clouded leopard. Covering nearly 44,000 hectares and lying to the west of Lahad Datu (Sabah's fourth largest town), it has been recognised as one of the world's most complex ecosystems, and one of its richest conservation areas. Blessed with a collection of beautiful waterfalls and pools, as well as ancient Kadazandusun burial sites, the area is a paradise for bird watchers, with 270 species of birds having being recorded here and a wonderful 300 metre long and 27 metre high canopy walkway providing unparalleled access to the forest canopy.
Home to Orang Utan, hornbill and gibbon, Batang Ai covers some 240 square kilometres of tropical rainforest to the east of Kuching. Traditional homeland to the Iban people, the national park was founded in 1991 and is famed for its tranquil setting and its authentic Iban long-houses, which afford visitors a chance to experience something of the customs and culture of the local people. Batang Ai is also unique in that its management and conservation projects are run in conjunction with the local Iban people and the Forestry Department, with funds generated in the area kept within the community to further fund continued development. The park also encompasses Sarawak's only artificial lake, an expansive reservoir that covers some 24 square kilometres and extends up along the Engkari and Ai Valleys, forming part of the Batang Ai Hydroelectric Complex.
Sabah's Kinabatangan River is the second longest river in Malaysia, running some 560 kilometres from its source in the mountains of the south-west to the Sulu Sea, east of Sandakan. Blessed with one of the world's richest ecosystems, including the largest forest covered flood-plain in Malaysia, the river supports five distinct habitats, from limestone forests to saline swamps, providing a haven for some of Borneo's richest concentrations of wildlife. There are saltwater crocodiles and indigenous proboscis monkeys, Asian elephants and Sumatran rhinos, as well as all eight species of hornbill. The surrounding forest is also one of only two places in the world where 10 species of primate are found in one place, making the region one of the best areas to view wildlife, not just in Sabah, but in the whole of Southeast Asia.
Located about 40 kilometres north and an hour and a half by boat from Sandakan, Selingan Island is part of the Turtle Islands National Park, an area famed for its green and hawksbill turtles. One of the most important turtle breeding ground in the whole of Southeast Asia, the park covers over 17 square kilometres of beaches, coral and reefs, with Selingan providing the only overnight accommodation in the area. During the peak season in October, up to 50 turtles come ashore each night to lay their eggs in the soft warm sands, providing a unique opportunity to observe one of nature's most remarkable events. Park rules and regulations are strictly enforced so as not to disturb the turtles, but it is possible to visit the turtle hatchery and visitor's centre on the island to gain more of an insight into the world's oldest turtle conservation programme.
One of Sabah's top diving spots and part of the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area, the virtually uninhabited Lankayan Island lies amidst the pristine waters of the Sulu Sea about 90 minutes by boat from Sandakan. Renowned for its whale shark sightings (between March and May), Lankayan is also an important green and hawksbill turtle nesting site, offering a rich selection of dive sites that boast everything from wrecks and sharks, to rays and giant clams. The island's only resort offers a choice of 16 attractive wooden chalets that provide a tranquil haven for divers and non-divers alike, with beautiful thick tropical jungle and unspoilt white beaches offering some idyllic diversions away from the coral reefs and clear waters.
Constituted in 1920, Semenggoh is Sarawak's oldest forest reserve and is home to both a wildlife rehabilitation centre, an arboretum and a botanical research centre. Covering some 653 hectares, the reserve is an abundant mix of lowland forest and undisturbed primary jungle that contains some of the richest collections of flora on the planet. A haven for gibbons, giant and pygmy squirrels and a collection of birdlife that includes kingfishers, bulbuls and woodpeckers, the reserve has had an astonishing success in recent years with its Orang Utan rehabilitation programme, which has seen incredible numbers reintroduced back into the wild. Located just 20 kilometres south of Kuching, it continues to play a vital role in conservation education and provides visitors with a number of opportunities for wildlife watching, nature study and trekking.
One of Sabah's most popular attractions and part of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was set up in 1964 to help rehabilitate orphaned Orang Utans. Set amidst 4,300 hectares of lush forest, the centre offers an opportunity to observe these magnificent primates up close and in their natural environment. Accessed by a boardwalk, there is a viewing gallery and feeding platform at the centre, whilst those looking for a more adventurous trek can obtain a permit to hike through the 5 kilometre trail that runs through the mangrove forest. Conservation and rehabilitation is still the primary goal of the sanctuary and the orphaned Orang Utans are trained to survive back in the wild before being re-released into the reserve. Today there are between 60 and 80 of them living wild within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve.
Located along the Sungai River and part of the Niah National Park, these caves represent one of the most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia. Forty-thousand years ago the Niah caves first sheltered human life and evidence of prehistoric man, including the oldest human remains ever found in the region, give emphasis to the park's claim to be one of the birthplaces of human life in the area. Home today to bats and swiftlets (an important source for guano and bird nests), the significance of the caves was first highlighted in the late 1950's, when a 40,000 year old skull was discovered, along with detailed wall paintings and 'death ships' - boat shaped coffins containing the remains of the deceased, along with a selection of artefacts destined to travel with them into the afterlife. Today the Great Cave and the painted Cave are both National Historic Monuments.
The Gunung Mulu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site that encompasses some of Sarawak's most spectacular natural attractions. Covering nearly 53,000 hectares of primary rainforest, the park is dominated by the craggy peaks of Gunung Mulu, Guning Api and Gunung Benarat, but it is below ground where its real treasures lie. The park is home to one of the largest limestone cave systems on earth, including the world's largest (Deer Cave), Southeast Asia's longest (Clearwater Cave) and the largest natural chamber on earth (Sarawak Chamber). Over 200 kilometres of caves have so far been surveyed, but this is believed to represent only about 30-40% of the total. It is also home to an impressive array of flora and fauna including 8 species of hornbill, 27 species of bats, over 280 species of butterfly and 262 species of birds.
Visa Information
UK Passport holders do not require a visa to visit Borneo. You get a 3 month entry stamp on arrival in Kuala Lumpar.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Borneo though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Yellow Fever and Malaria can be an issue in certain areas, we recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
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