Pristine primary rainforest and other State of Sabah, Malaysia Things to Do Tips

Danum has a combinations of features that is rare in my experience. The only thing that comes close is Treetops in Africa: a fine lodging experience, excellent guides, very satisfying food all in a pristine wilderness setting. I saw so many animals, birds, insects and plants that I have never seen before that this will always remain an important event for me. See Borneo Rainforest Lodge tip for more on this very nice, but very VERY expensive lodging option.

Another option I did not try is staying at the Field Center that is primarily intended to provide housing and support to the scientific community. Unlike the Lodge, this apparently is very Spartan accommodation with little in the way of guides or amenities, but at a much cheaper price. It was also reported that unlike the Lodge’s meandering trails that follow the contours of the land, the Field Center trails are arrow-straight to accommodate accurate GPS tracking of animals. Don’t know if that’s true, but it doesn’t sound quite as charming. I would still like to go there.

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I can’t remember when I first heard of Sipadan. But its renowned as one of the best dive sites in the world and there’s definitely a reason for it. In my own experience, it is a treasure trove for the larger denizens of the sea, especially the endangered hawkbill turtle and many, many white tip reef sharks as well as a whole host of other pelagic and macro life.

The island itself is really incredible. As you may have read elsewhere, the island is the crown of a massive underwater mountain. So, you can be sitting on the beautifully white sand beach and walk/swim 50 meters off shore and literally have an 800 meter drop off underneath you which makes for some pretty spectacular wall drift dives.

A word of warning, though. There are a maximum of 100 divers per day allowed at Sipadan. This is mostly a good thing, as long as you can get a spot. The dive sites are uncrowded and the macrolife surprisingly tame. But it can take up to a week to get a permit, depending on your shop. See the Uncle Chang tip for more.

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Mabul island is famous for “muck diving” – a term which does nothing to relate well to the treasure trove of colorful beauty that hides in the sand and reef crevices. At times, there are so many different, bright hues of fish darting around that it feels like I was swimming in a giant tropical aquarium… which I guess I was.

Mabul is also the home to Uncle Chang’s backpacker lodge (see separate Places to Stay tip) which meant that early morning/ afternoon and evening, there were plenty of opportunities to see underwater wildlife more or less at our feet. During the full moon, I was able to see morays, crabs and a diverse set of starfish right off the dock.

But it’s not Sipidan. For my money, it’s better. Because I like all the little colorful beauties a bit more than the larger ones.

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The orangutan sanctuary at Sepilok deserves a visit from anyone who is really interested in the fate of these endangered animals. Set on a large forest preserve, the staff weans rescued, abandoned and injured orangutans from total dependence on humans in the ‘nursery’ stage to an ‘outdoor nursery’ at a secondary level.

That’s what we get to see – feeding time in the outdoor nursery. After several months of this supplemental meal, orangutans are expected to thrive independently in the woods. Let’s hope this design succeeds.

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Website: http://www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk/sepilok-rehabilitation-centre/