Borneo holiday, Highlights of Borneo

Planet

We work with the Orangutan Appeal UK, the only not-for-profit charity that works directly with the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary in Sandakan. Clients have the option to sponsor an orphaned Orangutan named Canyon who was being kept illegally as a pet and was taken in by the sanctuary when she was 2 years old. She is now 5 years old and progressing well.The money goes directly to the Sanctuary in Sepilok to continue their excellent work. Clients receive an ‘adoption certificate’ and regular email updates on the progress of Canyon and of course if you’re lucky you may see her when you visit the Centre

On this Borneo holiday, you will visit the famous Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah, founded in 1964, to rehabilitate orphan Orangutans. The site is 43 square kilometres of protected land at the edge of Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve. Today around 60 to 80 Orangutans are living free in the reserve. The facility provides medical care for orphaned and confiscated orang-utans as well as dozens of other wildlife species. Some of the other animals which are treated at the centre include:- sun bears, gibbons, Sumatran Rhinos and the occasional injured elephant. A visit to the Sepilok Rehabilitation centre benefits the Orangutans in a number of ways as the entrance fees paid to the centre go directly to paying the staff, providing the food and the training of specialist guides to rehabilitate the Orangutans back into the wild. Donations are welcomed by the centre although not a condition of entry and we separately would request all of our Borneo clients donate a small amount for their visit.

During the tour you also have the opportunity to visit The Borneo Sun Bear Centre, a conservation centre with the aim to raise awareness and encourage research on the world’s smallest bear. Found throughout mainland Asia, Sumatra in Indonesia and Borneo, the exact number of Sun bears in the wild is unknown, making it even more pressing to reduce pressure on a species that is classified as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List and at risk of becoming endangered unless circumstances threatening their survival improve. The BSBCC, the first and only facility of its kind in the world, is a non-governmental organisation set up in 2008 through collaboration of the Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Wildlife Department and LEAP.

Gaya Island Resort is committed to leading the community in marine conservation, and the on-site Gaya Island Resort Marine Centre advocates three conservation pillars – Turtle Rescue, Coral Reef Restoration and Conservation through Education. There is a conservation fee of MYR32 (approx. £6.00) applied per guest for the first night and MYR22 (approx. £4.00) per guest for each subsequent night by Sabah Parks in support of their efforts to continue to preserve the most unique animal and plant species in this area.

People

Our local ground operator owns and operates a number of eco-lodges which are included in this itinerary. Accommodation has all been locally built and is run and operated by local people. The main purpose of these trips is to interact and contribute to local communities and projects and understand the need to minimize any negative impact on the local environment. Our ground agents only employ local guides to accompany our clients. All food in the lodges is sourced locally, helping the local rural communities wherever possible.

Abai Jungle Lodge runs a yearly "Most Beautiful House" competition with nearby Abai Village. The inhabitants of this remote, isolated community on the river take it in turns to host the Lodge's guests for lunch, showing off their creative, vibrantly decorated houses and often putting on musical performances, teaching traditional dances or handicraft demonstrations. At the end of the year, votes are counted and the winning houses receive prizes at a closing ceremony, supporting the locals and raising cultural awareness of these rural communities.