Borneo De Luxe (Wildlife Photography and Birdwatching) 26 to 29 November 2022
This trip is for maximum 10 Pax. On a double room sharing basis.
Borneo Photography tour including private transportation in Sandakan, park entrances, the best local guides, accommodation & meals at KWR.
$1,375.00 SGD/Pax on a double room basis. Excludes flights and insurance
Day 1, Singapore/Sandakan, Kinabatangan river
Meet at Changi Airport. Flight to Sandakan. Pick up by private transport and transfer to Sandakan Jetty.
Transfer by private boat to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort (KWR). We depart Sandakan by the open sea, and deep in to the Kinabatangan delta. On the way we are able to spot Borneo’s wildlife by the river sides and mangroves until we reach Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort.
After check in at the resort, followed by Afternoon tea break, we shall start our first river cruise at 6:00pm. All river cruises will be on private boats and is dedicated specially for Photography, we shall take the time needed until everyone have their photos in every spot (the afternoon river cruise duration is 90 minutes), with dinner back at the resort at 8:00pm.
After dinner at 9:00pm, we start on the second Night river cruise on private boat. Once again, this is set aside especially for Photography, we shall take the time needed until everyone have their photos in every spot (the night river cruise duration is 90 minutes). At 10:30pm we retire to our own rooms or we can hang out at the Foyer, download the photos on our laptops to start the editing and upload the photos online using the resort’s WIFI (note this resort is really in the middle of the Rainforest so there is no phone connection, we shall be using the resort’s satellite WIFI)
Night at KWR
Day 2, Kinabatangan River
An early rise with quick coffee and light bites, enjoy the 6:00am river cruise on private boats dedicated specially for Photography. We shall take the time needed until everyone have their photos in every spot (the morning river cruise duration is 120 minutes) and back at 8:00am for breakfast at the resort.
The river cruises are specially curated to see and photograph wildlife, so we need to follow the set times when the wildlife is more active, which is early on the morning, afternoon, evening sunset & night time. That means we have some free time between the boat cruises and the meals, and we shall use this time exclusively for photo touchups and post production photo processing work.
At 10:00AM Carlos will be at the Foyer, editing his photos from the day and sharing with you his Photography and post Edition technics in LR and PS. Together will achieve the best results and that we make it a real photography adventure.
At 2:00pm, lunch at the Foyer/Restaurant.
From 3:30pm to 5:30pm, we meet at the Foyer for editing and online sharing using the resort’s WIFI (note this resort is really in the middle of the Rainforest so there is no phone connection, we shall be using the resort’s satellite WIFI). Carlos will be sharing all his knowledge about wildlife photography and photo editing in LightRoom & PhotoShop (you can called it Photography-Class-in-the-Rainforest) !
At 6:00pm we shall start our evening river cruise. All river cruises will be on private boats dedicated specially for Photography. We shall take the time needed until everyone have their photos in every spot (the river cruise duration is 90 minutes), followed by dinner at the resort at 8:00pm.
After dinner at 9:00pm, the night walk takes place on a 1000 meters wooden boardwalk which surrounds the resort, this habitat is the perfect spot for Macro photography on insects and nocturnal animals, as usual, we shall take the time needed until everyone have their photos taken. At 10:30pm we retire to our own rooms or we can hang out at the Foyer, download the photos on our laptops to start the editing and upload the photos online using the resort’s WIFI (note this resort is really in the middle of the Rainforest so there is no phone connection, we shall be using the resort’s satellite WIFI).
Night at KWR
Day 3, Kinabatangan River
An early rise with quick coffee and light bites, enjoy the 6:00am river cruise on private boats dedicated specially for Photography. We shall take the time needed until everyone have their photos in every spot (the river cruise duration is 120 minutes) and back at 8:00am for breakfast at the resort. From 10:00am to 2:00pm, we meet at the Foyer for editing and online sharing using the resort’s WIFI (note this resort is really in the middle of the Rainforest so there is no phone connection, we shall be using the resort’s satellite WIFI).
At 2:00pm, lunch at the Foyer/Restaurant.
From 3:30pm to 5:30pm, we meet at the Foyer for editing and upload online using the resort’s WIFI (note this resort is really in the middle of the Rainforest so there is no phone connection, we shall be using the resort’s satellite WIFI). Carlos will also be sharing all his knowledge about how to shoot and carry out editing in LightRoom & PhotoShop.
At 6:00pm we shall start the Evening river cruise. The river cruises are on private boats dedicated specially for Photography.
We shall take the time needed until everyone have their photos in every spot (the river cruise duration is 90 minutes) and back at 8:00pm for dinner at the resort.
After dinner at 9:00pm, we start the next Night river cruise on private boat. Once again, this is set aside especially for Photography, we shall take the time needed until everyone have their photos in every spot (the river cruise duration is 90 minutes) We dedicate this river cruise for very special photography. The Kinabatangan River provides many unique and memorable experiences, so for this night we shall allot extra time to shoot the Fireflies by the river during nightime. For those who are adventurous photographers, they can position the tripods on the river bed, while the rest can shoot from the boat.
At 10:30pm we retire to our own rooms or we can hang out at the Foyer, download the photos on our laptops to start the editing and upload the photos online using the resort’s WIFI (note this resort is really in the middle of the Rainforest so there is no phone connection, we shall be using the resort’s satellite WIFI).
Night at KWR
Day 4, Kinabatangan, Sandakan. Singapore
Breakfast at 7:00am with check out of the resort for private boat transfer to Sandakan Jetty and by private van to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Center where we can see the Orang-utans up-close, including the Orang-utan babies playing on the playground, we will have opportunities to photograph the Orang-utans in the wild in Kinabatangan River. This is a memorable experience to photograph these amazing primates close to you in Sepilok with viewing on the feeding platforms. With the admission payment at the Sepilok entrance, we support the rehabilitation work.
After the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Center, we shall visit the Sun Bear Rehabilitation Centre also in Sepilok, where we can see the smallest bear in the world which unfortunately is also a very endangered species like the Orang-utan.
The visit ends with 1:00pm lunch on a restaurant in Sandakan and transfer to Sandakan Airport.
Flight from Sandakan to Singapore and home sweet home.
* KINABATANGAN RIVER & Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort (KWR)
A charming resort tucked in the wilderness of Lower Kinabatangan surrounding the pristine freshwater swamps and mangrove forest. An exclusive nature retreat, distance away from the crowded city and the busy ‘touristy’ areas of Sabah!
Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort is a hidden gem located in Abai, a quieter area of the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain, about an hour’s boat ride from Sandakan harbour. If you are looking for something exclusive and away from the main tourist hotspots of Sukau and Bilit, Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort is the place to go.
It is recognized internationally as an important wetland area and an attraction for people who find solace in the presence of the wilds and its stunning wildlife. Abai village is the nearest access to LOWER KINABATANGAN SEGAMA WETLANDS, located 50km or about an hour and a half boat ride from Sandakan harbour. It borders the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain, one of the most important wildlife refuge in Malaysia.
The resort is surrounded by secondary forest reserves, and is located within beautiful nipah and mangrove vegetation. Apart from the river cruises, you can spend time relaxing and observing nature from your chalet, a myriad of birds and monkeys, such as silver leaf langurs, maroon langurs, hose langurs, and wild Orang-utan are regularly spotted within the area. Raised boardwalks are available for night walks and morning strolls.
The 3 big prices we can spot in the area are the Wild Orang-utan, the Proboscis monkey and the Pigmy Elephants.
* Sepilok OrangUtan Rehabilitation Center
When Sabah became an independent state in Malaysia in 1963, a Game Branch was created in the Forest Department for the conservation of wild animals in the region. Consequently, 43Sq/km of protected land at the edge of Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve was turned into a rehabilitation site for orang-utans and this is where Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre is located.
Today around 60 to 80 orang-utans are living independently in the reserve and approximately 25 orphaned orang-utans are housed in the nurseries.
The facility provides medical care for orphaned and confiscated orangutans as well as dozens of other wildlife species. Some of the other animals which have been treated at the centre include; sun bears, gibbons, and elephants.
Recently rehabilitated individuals have their diet supplemented by daily feedings. The additional food supplied by the centre is purposefully designed to be monotonous and boring so as to encourage the apes to start to forage for themselves.
In the wild Orang-utan babies stay with their mothers for up to six years while they are taught the skills they need to survive in the forest, the most important of which is climbing. At Sepilok a buddy system is used to replace a mother’s teaching. A younger ape will be paired up with an older one to help them to develop the skills they need.
The creation of reserve areas minimises the impact of deforestation on Orang-utans and far fewer young apes become the victim of the illegal pet trade as a result of these ‘sanctuaries’. Babies are often caught during logging or forest clearance or captured by poachers who slaughter the adult apes to reach them.
Youngsters kept in captivity often become sick or suffer neglect which in some cases extends to cruelty. Whilst some of the Orang-utans raised as pets can never be returned to the wild, others can be rehabilitated; it is a long and expensive process, taking up to seven years but one centres such as Sepilok take on without question.
* Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) is the only sun bear conservation centre in the world. It was founded in Sabah, Malaysia in 2008 with two aims:
- to provide care and rehabilitation to rescued sun bears; and
- to increase awareness of sun bears internationally. These aims work to ensure the absolute right of every bear to live in the forest.
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.
