Birdwatching at Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia)
Day 1: Arrival at Kota Kinabalu and Birding at Tanjung Aru
Pick up from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, then spend some time birding the nearby city park of Tanjung Aru for the common species: Pied Triller, Green Imperial and Pink-necked Green Pigeons, White-breasted Woodswallow, Ornate and Brown-throated Sunbirds, and Blue-naped Parrot.
Day 2: Trus Madi Hide & Rafflesia Information Centre.
Visit Trus Madi hide in the morning (30 mins, 20 km), where Bulwer’s Pheasant, Bornean Banded Pitta, Crested Partridge, Dayak Jungle Flycatcher and White-crowned Shama comes to feed. You could stay in the hide the whole day or do some road birding in the nearby Rafflesia Information Centre.
Day 3,4 & 5 : Birdwatching at Gunung Alab & Kinabalu National Park
Head up to Gunung Alab first thing in the morning (40 mins, 30 km) and visit another hide here for Crimson-headed and Red-breasted Partridges. The forest in the area also holds Mountain Blackeye, Golden-naped Barbet, and Sunda Bush Warbler. Once done, we drive to Kinabalu National Park (2 hours, 100 km) with lunch along the way. There should be enough time to explore Kinabalu National Park in the late afternoon.
Day 4 we will spend the entire day at Kinabalu National Park, Borneo’s premier montane birding site, will have us seek the Bornean endemics such as Mountain Serpent Eagle, Bare-headed Laughingthrush, Sunda and Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrushes, Mountain Wren Babbler, Bornean Stubtail, Bornean Green Magpie, Mountain Black-eye, Pale-faced Bulbul, Fruit-hunter, the superb Whitehead’s trio (trogon, broadbill and spiderhunter), and the elusive Everett’s Thrush.
On Day 5, After morning’s birding in Kinabalu National Park before we set off for Sepilok (5 hrs, 225 km).
Day 6: Full Day Birding at Rainforest Discovery Centre
A full day in Rainforest Discovery Centre. We’ll be looking for the lowland rainforest endemics of Borneo and other Sundaic endemics. Black-crowned Pitta, Sabah Partridge, Bornean Black Magpie, Wallace’s Hawk Eagle, Rhinoceros and Black Hornbills, Black-and-yellow Broadbills, Red-naped and Diard’s Trogons, many woodpeckers, bulbuls and babblers. There’s also a slim chance for Bornean Bristlehead. A night walk here may not be very rewarding but Brown Boobook, Sunda Scops Owl and Oriental Bay Owl are found here.
Day 7 : Morning at Rainforest Discovery Centre & Sandakan Airport Drop
Morning’s birding in Rainforest Discovery Centre before we set off for Sandakan Airport (30 mins, 20 km) for connecting flights home. End of tour.
6 Nights 7 Days Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia): $1650 Per Person
Inclusions: All accommodation, land transportation, main meals, water, entrance fees and guiding
Exclusions: international flights, insurance, drinks, alcohol, and other items of personal nature.
