Malaysia Borneo Sabah 3 Days 2 Nights with Nature & Wildlife in Sandakan  

Overview

Malaysia Borneo Sabah 3 Days 2 Nights with Nature & Wildlife in Sandakan

Enjoy 3 full-day tour experiencing the best wildlife in Malaysian Borneo and discover :

Turtle Island Park
Selingan, one of the composition of Turtle Island Park, houses the park’s headquarters, a turtle hatchery, tourist accommodation and basic facilities. Turtles lay their eggs throughout the year, but the best time to head there is between July and October. As turtle landings usually occur after dusk, an overnight stay would be the best plan to see the turtles as they come ashore to lay their eggs, but shining a light on them or using camera flashes should be avoided as either can be stressful on the creatures.

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre
The SOURC giving tourists the opportunity to watch the orang utan up close in their natural habitat. A boardwalk leads you to a viewing gallery and feeding platform where the apes are fed by rangers.The center taking care of about 80 apes, keeping the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros, elephants and other rare animals as well.

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
The mission of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sabah, Malaysia, is to promote sun bear conservation in Borneo through animal welfare, conservation, rehabilitation, education and research - giving captured sun bears a better home and restoring their right to live in the wild, by:
- Creating the capacity to confiscate, rehabilitate and release suitable orphaned and ex-captive bears back into the wild.
- Providing an improved long-term living environment for captive bears that cannot be released.
- Educating the public and raising awareness about this species.
- Achieving increased protection for sun bears and their habitat through ongoing research, increased knowledge and awareness, and further protection of habitat.

Kinabatangan River
Stretching 560 km from the Crocker Range in the southwest of Sabah to the Sulu Sea in the east, the Kinabatangan River sustains one of the world’s richest ecosystems. The lower basin of the river itself is the largest forest covered floodplain in Malaysia and has the largest concentration of wildlife in the South East Asian region. A trip up the river at dawn or dusk is the best opportunity to see the wildlife, eg. Proboscis monkeys, langurs, orang utan, hornbills, kingfishers, mangrove snakes and etc. You might even sight an Asian elephant or a Sumatran rhinoceros wandering through the trees.

Gomantong Cave
Described by WWF as ’the best-managed edible birds’ nest cave in the world’, Gomantong Caves in the heartland of the Gomantong Rainforest Reserve have been the focus for birds’ nests for centuries. There are two cave complexes - Simud Hitam (Black Cave) soaring up to 90 metres high and the more accessible of the two, and Simud Putih (White Cave), where the more valuable nests are found. A well-maintained boardwalk gives you easy access to do some exploring or watch the skilled harvesters at work.

Sandakan Nature City
Sandakan is located on the eastern seaboard of Sabah. It is a city which is steeped in history. Its character is shaped by the hinterland that embodies Sabah’s rich and diverse biodiversity in all its glory.
The city tour includes :
1. Sandakan Memorial Park - commemorates the sacrifice and suffering endured by both Australian and British soldiers who were held by the Japanese as Prisoners of War between 1942 and 1945.
2. Puh Jih Shih Buddhist Temple
3. St. Michael’s Church - a century old building where Christianity is preached.
4. Central Market - see the local produce and fresh seafood are being sold.
5. Agnes Keith Museum - learn about the life in the colonial days on Agnes & Harry Keith, who was the first conservator of the Forestry Department in Sabah.
6. English Tea House - may have your own choices of refreshment (own expenses).

Itinerary
* The itinerary is for reference only, it subjects to any necessary changes in accordance to local requirements.

1st Day
09:15
Pick up from Resort and transfer to CQ Jetty for Selingan Turtle Island. This journey by motorised boat will take about 1 hour.

After lunch, grab your mask, fins and snorkel and head to the beach where you can find lots of juvenile marine life or you can choose to relax or sun bathing by the beach.

Before dinner, treat yourself to a slide show featuring information of the turtle park and turtles.

After dinner, standby at the Cafeteria. Wait for Park Ranger’s signal before proceed in a small group to the egg-laying site to witness the mother turtle laying eggs, transferring of eggs to the hatchery and releasing of hatchlings to the sea.

Stay overnight at Island Chalet (Twin Sharing Basis)

2nd Day
Wake up early in the morning for breakfast.

07:00
Depart the island.

08:00
Pick up from CQ Jetty and proceed to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, watching the Orang Utan and scheduled video show programmes (25 mins) and visit to the Exhibition Hall.

Lunch enroute.

After lunch, we will continue overland to Bilit, Kinabatangan River. Upon arrival, a warm welcome by the staff followed by an afternoon tea with some local bites.

16:00
After a short briefing by the nature guide, take an afternoon cruise along the Kinabatangan River (Sabah’s longest river at 560km) where you can observe wildlife on the boat itself.

Dinner and stay overnight at Bilit Adventure Lodge (Twin Sharing Basis).

An Optional Night walk can be arranged and pay locally at the lodge.

3rd Day
06:00
Wake up to the calls of gibbons and birds and start the day with an early river cruise.

07:00
After the cruise, proceed back to the lodge for breakfast.

08:30
Drive overland (25 mins) to reach Gomantong Cave to explore the largest limestone and bird nests cave in Sabah where millions of swiftlets make the cave their home.

10:30
Transfer to Sepilok Jungle Resort for lunch.

14:00
Afternoon, depart for Sandakan Nature City Tour.

17:00
End of service. Transfer to respective hotels.

Warm Remind
Things to bring : raincoat (wet season Nov - Feb), cap/hat, insect repellent, sun cream, good walking shoes, socks, a pair of sandals, torch, comfortable cotton T-shirt, coat, binocular, camera, personal toiletries and medications.
Photographing of turtles only with camera of unaided flash.
Snorkelling gears are available to hire (Please refer to the Island).