Borneo - Exotic Island Paradise

Written by Walter Rajah


SABAH is Malaysia's premier nature adventure destination situated inrepparttar northern tip of Borneo Island,repparttar 134201 third largest island inrepparttar 134202 world. Sabah is popular for its wildlife conservation attractions, rain forest, surrounding nature and islands, beach resorts, tropical white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and its warm and friendly people. If you are thinking of visiting Borneo, these places of interest and activities will whet your appetite!

Mount Kinabalu

Let me begin with my favorite place and definitely not to be missed if you are visiting Borneo, Mt. Kinabalu (4,093m). It isrepparttar 134203 summit of Borneo andrepparttar 134204 tallest mountain in South East Asia. This mountain is sacred torepparttar 134205 locals. Thousands from aroundrepparttar 134206 world have trekked to its peak. Atrepparttar 134207 feet of this mountain is Kinabalu National Park, a botanical paradise where rare plants are found: rare orchids, nepenthes pitcher plants andrepparttar 134208 rafflesia,repparttar 134209 largest flower inrepparttar 134210 world.

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre

If you haven't heard yet,repparttar 134211 most popular native of Borneo isrepparttar 134212 Orang Utan. The world-famous Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre enables visitors to come in close contact with these amazing animals. This sanctuary allows visitors to witness an exciting conservation programme in action. Set in 43 square km of beautiful rainforest,repparttar 134213 sanctuary helps once captive Orang Utans learn to fend for themselves inrepparttar 134214 wild. Watch how these orphaned Orang Utans being taught to climb, and then go to a platform where you can witness them coming in from withinrepparttar 134215 forest for their daily meals of milk and bananas.

Danum Valley Rain Forest

If nature is close to your heart, then this next destination I am going to introduce you is a must visit, Danum Valley. Danum Valley is nestled deep inrepparttar 134216 rain forest of Borneo where nature is at its most pristine. As you travel deeper and deeper intorepparttar 134217 jungle, you will suddenly come across a magical paradise ofrepparttar 134218 Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL), erected overlookingrepparttar 134219 magnificent setting ofrepparttar 134220 Segama River and flanked by tall hill ranges. BRL is an impressive resort, designed by naturalists and built on stilts using traditional timber materials, and hasrepparttar 134221 comfort of a 3-Star Hotel. I totally recommend Danum Valley to those who yearn to see wildlife in a primeval Borneo rainforest -repparttar 134222 rare Sumatran rhino, proboscis monkeys, Orang Utan, elephants and over 275 species of birds.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Island Park

Borneo - Sandakan Wildlife Search

Written by Walter Rajah


Sandakan is situated onrepparttar East Coast of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. On its West isrepparttar 134200 interior mountain range and onrepparttar 134201 East isrepparttar 134202 Sulu Sea. Sandakan is definitely a dream location for travelers interested in wildlife and nature. Our Sandakan Wildlife Expedition brings you closer to three ofrepparttar 134203 worlds most exciting conservation programmes: Turtle Conservation onrepparttar 134204 Turtle Island Parks, Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center in Sepilok andrepparttar 134205 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition, this expedition takes you to Gomantong Caves whererepparttar 134206 largest collection of edible birds' nest is found.

Turtle Island Park The Turtle Island Park, lying some 40Km north of Sandakan and close torepparttar 134207 Philippines border, comprises of a group of three beautiful tropical islands - Pulau Selingan, Pulau Bakungan Kecil and Pulau Gulisan. The total park covers an area of 1,740 hectares embracing not onlyrepparttar 134208 three islands but alsorepparttar 134209 surrounding coral reefs andrepparttar 134210 sea. Pulau Selingan and Pulau Bakungan Kecil seem to attractrepparttar 134211 Green Turtles to come and nest here whilerepparttar 134212 Hawksbill Turtles prefer Pulau Gulisan. No obvious reasons can be found for these turtles' choice of nesting areas. The Green and Hawksbill Turtles come ashore to nest all year round butrepparttar 134213 best time to visit is between July to October because more turtles come to lay their eggs during this period. However, at least a few turtles do come up to nest every night ofrepparttar 134214 year.

Turtles normally arrive onrepparttar 134215 islands after dusk. While waiting forrepparttar 134216 sun to set andrepparttar 134217 arrival of these turtles, there are many activities that you can explore. The tropical white sandy beaches are ideal for relaxing and tanning whilstrepparttar 134218 crystal clear water is fantastic if you fancy snorkeling or watchingrepparttar 134219 beautiful sea lives and corals. The park is also a great spot for a BBQ picnic underrepparttar 134220 long hours of golden sunshine. You can also wander aroundrepparttar 134221 island to witness how many turtles have arrived inrepparttar 134222 islandrepparttar 134223 previous few nights as these turtles leave their marks onrepparttar 134224 sand.

The Park Rangers will inform you afterrepparttar 134225 first sighting of incoming turtles. You will be escorted torepparttar 134226 nesting turtle byrepparttar 134227 rangers to watchrepparttar 134228 eggs being laid. Clutches of freshly laid eggs are then excavated and transplanted torepparttar 134229 protected turtle hatchery, with minimum delay, to ensure that other wild predators, mainly monitor lizards, do not eat or destroy them. After a period of incubation,repparttar 134230 eggs will hatch andrepparttar 134231 hatchlings will be released torepparttar 134232 sea. The release of hatchlings is normally done early morning or night and are released at various locations onrepparttar 134233 islands again to avoid wild predators. Whenrepparttar 134234 hatchlings are released onrepparttar 134235 shore, they scatter in all directions and instinctively head forrepparttar 134236 sea. Once they enterrepparttar 134237 water, they are washed ashore byrepparttar 134238 incoming waves, but after a few attempts they swim strongly out torepparttar 134239 sea. The hope is for these hatchlings to surviverepparttar 134240 rough sea and to one day return torepparttar 134241 Turle Island Parks. Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre The most popular native of Borneo isrepparttar 134242 Orang Utan; one of nature's most endangered animals. Located 25Km from Sandakan isrepparttar 134243 world-famous Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre which has been around since 1964. Set in 43 square km of protected and beautiful rainforest atrepparttar 134244 edge of Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve,repparttar 134245 sanctuary helps once captive Orang Utans learn to fend for themselves inrepparttar 134246 wild. This sanctuary also enables you to come in close contact with these amazing animals and witness an exciting conservation programme in action. However, you are restricted to walkways and are not allowed to touch these animals in order to protect them from any diseases. The centre also provides medical care for orphaned and confiscated Orang Utans as well other wildlife such as Gibbons, Sumatran Rhinos and Elephants.

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