Bucket List Destinations – May – Borneo

Liz Penn on 26 November 2020
Unique wildlife is a big draw for many people, so the opportunity to see orangutans in their natural environment is on a lot of people’s bucket list. Borneo is the ideal place to do this and makes for a fabulous trip of two weeks combining wildlife with beaches and starting the whole thing off with a stay in Malaysia’s capital – Kuala Lumpur. This itinerary would work pretty much anytime from March through to October, with peak season being May to September, making it ideal for families, especially those whose children have a passion for wildlife.

KL has a surprisingly compact city centre and you will easily spot the influences with Chinatown, Masjid India and the colonial district. You’ll find KLCC – the modern City Centre – with the instantly recognisable Petronas Towers to the east of the original city. It’s certainly worth getting over a long flight by spending a few days sampling the different cultures of the neighbourhoods. Don’t forget to check out the markets and if the city gets too much there’s plenty of green space to escape to – try the Eco Park at Bukit Nanas and while you’re there the Menara tower offers great views over to KLCC.

From KL we’re heading to Sarawak in Borneo. Basing yourself in the bustling regional capital of Kuching, Bako, the oldest of Sarawak’s national parks, offers the perfect introduction to Sarawak’s forests and wildlife. Bako is home to 275 rare proboscis monkeys, found only in Borneo, as well as silvered langurs, bearded pigs, monitor lizards and over 200 types of birds. Despite its seemingly small size, Bako contains a wide range of ecosystems – swamp forest, scrub-like padang vegetation, mangrove forest, dipterocarp forest, delicate cliff vegetation and beautiful sandy beaches – providing a natural habitat for many indigenous species. You can explore the rainforest on a variety of walking trails or arrange a one-way boat hire from the park headquarters and hike out/back from there. While you’re in Kuching it’s worth making a visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village – a living museum which the locals take great pride in as it keeps their traditions alive – you can see traditional dwellings as well as music and dance performances.

Next up we move over to the east coast of Malaysian Borneo – Sabah. This area is home to the native orangutans, so head straight to Sepilok, the epicentre of local wildlife. From here you can visit several centres aimed at the conservation of not only orangutans but also sun bears and proboscis monkeys – many of the animals have been rescued, so the focus is on rehabilitation with a view to releasing them back into the wild where possible. Fully educated you’ll spend the next couple of days based on the Kinabatangan river, with opportunities to see wildlife along the riverbanks on early morning boat trips. Accommodation in both the Sepilok and Kinabatangan areas is of a more rustic nature in keeping with its surroundings but there are many family-friendly options available.

Following our days observing nature it’s time to head back to civilisation and the capital of Sabah – Kota Kinabalu or KK. If you’re fit and fancy a challenge then Mount Kinabalu at just over 4,000 metres is waiting to be climbed – this is a two-day climb and it’s strongly recommended that you book in advance as the overnight stop gets booked up. For us mere mortals, or once you’ve bagged your mountain, the beach is calling. You can stay in KK or a short boat ride will take you into Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park with several hotel resorts blending into the scenery on one of four islands to enjoy some well-deserved R&R along with excellent snorkelling before heading home.