Heading to Borneo and don't know what activities await you in the northern part of the island? Below is an overview of everything you can experience in Borneo.
Jungle expeditions
When you say Borneo, it's the wild and dense virgin rainforest that most travellers think of. Although parts of Borneo's endless plains are now covered in oil palm plantations, there are still many places in Borneo where you can find the original, thousands of years old, rainforest.
The local jungles are also a great place to observe wildlife and interesting plant species such as snapdragons and rafflesias.
Some of the best places to experience the Bornean jungle in Sabah include:
- Rainforest Discovery Center in Sepilok - You don't have to embark on a multi-day expedition to learn more about the jungle. The Rainforest Discovery Center in Sepilok offers treetop walkways, interesting exhibits, a botanical garden and several jungle trails that you can explore on your own.
- Danum Valley - Primary lowland rainforest on the eastern side of Sabah, where orangutans and other primates can be spotted.
- Tabin Nature Reserve - A secondary rainforest in the area of mud volcanoes that is rich in elephant.
- Kinabalu National Park - The mountain jungle can be explored in Kinabalu National Park, due to the higher altitude you can see very different animals and plants than in other areas of Borneo.
- Maliau River Basin - A forgotten piece of rainforest in the south of Sabah that was only opened up to tourists by road in 2014.
Wildlife Sightings
Borneo is one of the best wildlife watching areas in the world.
What animals can I see in Sabah?
There are several places in Sabah where you can see the so-called Bornean Big Five - the orangutan, the kahau-nosed primate, the Bornean elephant, the two-horned rhinoceros and the crocodile. In addition to the Big Five, the following animals can be seen in Sabah:
- The puff adder, a rare big cat.
- the husky leopard - an insectivorous small mammal covered in large scales
- Muller's gibbon - an endangered primate endemic to Borneo
- Indochinese macaque - a widespread monkey species that is often seen in the city or resorts
- langur - a distinctive orange primate that can be seen high in the branches of trees
- outlaw - a miniature primate often seen on night journeys through the forest
- narwhal - a small nocturnal primate with giant eyes
- black-bellied flycatcher - a green frog that glides through the air thanks to the blanks on its legs
Where to go animal watching in Sabah?
Before visiting Sabah, you must be wondering where exactly to go to see the animals to have the best chance of spotting them.
Conservation centres are a good option, where you can see the animals in their almost natural habitat, you'll be supporting a good cause and at the same time the chances of spotting animals are really high:
- Orangutan Rehabilitation Center - The best place to see semi-wild orangutans in their natural habitat. The orangutans return to the centre mainly to feed.
- Borneo Malayan Bear Conservation Centre - A station for the breeding and rescue of bears endangered by poachers.
- Labuk Bay kahau reserve - An offshore reserve where feeding of kahau takes place several times a day.
But of course, the best way to see the animals is in the wild. For animal experiences, head to the following places:
- Kinabatangan River - A strip of jungle along the river where there is one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Borneo. You can see all of Borneo's Big Five here, although the chances of seeing elephants are very slim. Many agencies organise river safaris here.
- Danum Valley - Ideal primary rainforest for spotting the usual Bornean species, especially primates. The area is also famous as a place to spot puff adder leopards.
- Tabin Nature Reserve - A lowland area of secondary forest with the highest chance of wild elephant sightings in Sabah.
- Klias Wetlands - A wetland and mangrove area, particularly famous for the presence of kahau-nosed primates as well as night cruises in search of fireflies.
- Maliau River Basin - A unique intact ecosystem with incredible biodiversity where many mammals can be observed, but especially unique reptiles and insects.
- Kawa Kawa River - A well accessible area for a day trip from Kota Kinabalu for a river safari with primate viewing.
- Deramakot Forest Reserve - A nature reserve that is particularly famous for its night safaris featuring big cat sightings.
The 10 best organised wildlife tours in Sabah
Mountain climbs
High mountains don't usually come to mind when people think of the word Borneo, and yet Sabah is home to Southeast Asia's highest mountain, Gunung Kinabalu (4,095m).
This peak is, of course, the king of all the mountains you can conquer on foot in Borneo. Reservations need to be made quite a long time in advance and it is mandatory to have a guide, but the climb is still a unique experience.
Book a climb to Gunung Kinabalu!
There are many other interesting mountain climbs you can do in Sabah. Worth mentioning are:
- Mount Trusmadi - Sabah's second highest mountain offers incredible views of the landscape and also of Mount Gunung Kinabalu.
- Bukit Bongol - A grassy hill with spectacular views near Kota Belud.
- Mount Sinsing - This photogenic two-thousand-foot peak is the perfect peak to climb if you haven't managed to make it to Gunung Kinabalu.
- Mount Tambuyukon - Malaysia's third highest mountain without a distinctive peak, but with spectacular views of the landscape and the opportunity to often take photos of Gunung Kinabalu above the clouds.
Diving and snorkelling
It's not for nothing that Sabah is considered one of the best destinations for divers from all over the world. It lies on the edge of the coral triangle between Asia and Australia, where some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world are found.
But non-divers can also enjoy a stay on the islands, with snorkelling trips offered almost everywhere at much cheaper prices. Prices for individual dives can vary greatly depending on which part of Sabah you're in, but compared to global benchmarks, dives here tend to be cheaper.
Some of the most interesting sites for observing underwater life include:
- The islands around Semporna - Offering arguably the best diving around Semporna, Sipadan Island is particularly famous as it forms the top of the seamount.
- Pulau Mantanani - A beautiful coral island on the west side of Sabah, surrounded by colourful corals and also a site where dugong marine mammals can be spotted.
- Turtle Island - This islet north of Sandakan offers a program for visitors on sea turtle conservation, but is also a great snorkeling location.
- Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park - The archipelago near Kota Kinabalu is full of tourists, but you'll also find decent coral and interesting dive sites.
- Pulau Tiga - Snake Island, where the famous show Survivor was once filmed, is surrounded by some nice snorkeling spots.
Beaches and swimming
Few people go to Borneo for beach stays, but in case you're already here, be sure to set aside a day or two for beach relaxation and swimming. You can either choose one of the resorts right on the islands and by the sea, or take a day trip for what's known as island hopping.
For the best swimming, head to these areas:
- Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park - The islands here offer beautiful swimming and are family-friendly. However, it is compulsory to wear a life jacket when swimming.
- Pulau Mantanani - If you want to experience paradise, stay on this small island and enjoy the sandy beaches and swimming in the turquoise water.
- Surrounding Kudat - The most beautiful beaches of mainland Borneo can be found on the northern tip of the entire island, around the town of Kudat.
- Pulau Lankayan - This tiny tropical island off the coast of Sandakan is especially popular with honeymooners and couples.
- Pulau Mataking - The island is part of the archipelago around Semporna and offers beautiful beaches with fine white sand.
