Kuching, Kubah, Sepilok & Deramakot Forest Reserve 7D6N

Day 1                   Arrive Kuching – Kubah Frogging

Pick up from Kuching airport and transfer to Hotel. 1800 hours – pick up from your hotel and travel 22 km by road (45 mins) to Kubah National Park, a 2,230 hectare protected area of mixed dipterocarp forest that is rich in palms, orchids and pitcher plants.  Situated on a small sandstone plateau Kubah is dominated by the 911 metre high Mount Serapi. The park’s soft sandstone is punctuated with bands of hardened limestone which have created a number of clear streams, waterfalls and bathing pools. This habitat supports a rich variety of frogs. Over 60 species of frogs are found at Kubah, including one of the smallest species of frog in the world - the Matang narrow mouth frog. This pea-size frog lives inside and around pitcher plants. A natural frog pond located close to the park HQ is one of the best places to see frogs in Sarawak. Species found at Kubah include the File-eared frog, Bornean horned frog, Wallace’s flying frog, Mahogany frog, Dark-eared tree frog, Lowland litter frog, Harlequin tree frog, Black spotted tree frog, Peat swamp frog, Kuhl’s creek frog and many more.

Arrive at Kubah park HQ and start walking up the Summit Road to the frog pond. Along the way, look out for frogs at the side of the road and nocturnal wildlife in the forest. The tiny Matang narrow mouth frog can sometimes be spotted at the side of the road amongst the pitcher plants. Adult males are only 10.6-12.8 mm in size. Arrive at the frog pond, search for frogs and listen to wonderful frog sounds. In 2014 Australian sound recordist Marc Anderson recorded the frogs at Kubah and won the “Most Beautiful Sound in the World” competition. Enjoy similar sounds as ‘Dusk by the Frog Pond’. Stand in the middle of Borneo rainforest and listen to a living orchestra of wildlife. After your frogging experience, walk back to the park HQ. Depart Kubah around 2200-2300 hours and travel back to Kuching and be dropped off at your hotel. Overnight at Pullman Hotel (Superior Room).

Note: Please ensure you have an early dinner before the Kubah tour. Bring a good torch (flashlight) or head lamp, drinking water, mosquitorepellent, snacks, poncho or raincoat. Wear good walking shoes.

Day 2                    Kuching – Gunung Gading National Park (B/L)

0830 hours pick up from hotel in Kuching. Gunung Gading National Park is located 2 hours drive from Kuching and is home to the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia. En route, there are opportunities to view wild orchids and pitcher plants as well as the scenes of rural Sarawak. Upon arrival at the park, proceed for an hour of jungle trekking along a plank walk in search of the Rafflesia. The guide will point out the host vines, the cabbage-like Rafflesia buds that litter the forest floor, and if you are lucky a Rafflesia in full bloom. Lunch in a local coffee shop. Return to Kuching in afternoon.

1800 hours – pick up from your hotel and return to Kubah National Park for another night of frogging. Depart Kubah around 2200 hours.

Day 3                    Kuching - Sandakan (B/D)

Pick up at hotel and transfer to Kuching airport.

Pick up from Sandakan airport and transfer to MY Nature Resort.

Day 4  Sepilok -  Telupid - Deramakot Forest Reserve (B/D)

Breakfast in resort. Free at leisure (e.g. to go to nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre on own).

1100-1130 hours pickup from MY Nature Resort and transfer to Telupid. Deramakot is located approx. 190 kilometres from Sandakan. The first part of the journey from Sandakan to Telupid is on sealed roads. Arrive in Telupid around 1300 hours and have lunch (on own account). At 1400 hours depart Telupid for the 2-hour journey to Deramakot field base. Four-wheel drive vehicles are used for this stretch of the journeyon approx. 70 km of sometimes bumpy gravel tracks. Arrive in Deramakot around 1600 hours, although the exact time will depend on road conditions and the weather.

Deramakot is rich in wildlife with 75% of Sabah’s mammal species found within its 55,507 hectares of mixed dipterocarp forest. Deramakot is a logging area with 10% of the forest set aside for conservation and 90% set aside for reduced impact logging. It is also the longest Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified tropical forest in the world, having been first certified in 1997.

Although it is a logging concession Deramakot is one of Sabah’s best wildlife watching destinations. Orangutan, pygmy elephants, Banteng (wild cattle), proboscis monkeys and clouded leopards are just some of the iconic species that are found at Deramakot. Upon arrival check-in to the park-style chalet accommodation. Then attend a briefing on the lodge
and its facilities. Late afternoon go on drive to look for wildlife. As night falls you will return to the lodge, ‘spot lighting’ along the way as you search for wildlife. Have dinner at the lodge. After dinner attend a briefing on the next day’s activities and watch a presentation on sustainable logging at Deramakot. Overnight at Deramakot lodge.

Day 5  Deramakot Forest Reserve (B/L/D)

Early morning wake up call at 0500 hours. Then depart for a pre-dawn four-wheel drive safari. Drive along the various tracks in the reserve looking for wildlife. Return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast go on a jungle walk (optional). Return to the lodge for lunch. Afternoon is free at your own leisure. Late afternoon go on another drive through the reserve to look for wildlife. After enjoying the night safari return to the lodge. Dinner and overnight at Deramakot lodge.

Day 6  Deramakot Forest Reserve (B/L/D)

Continue to explore the biodiversity of Deramakot via treks and four-wheel drive safaris. Start the day with a pre-dawn wildlife safari. Return to the lodge for breakfast then go a jungle walk. Afternoon is free at your own leisure. Late afternoon depart the lodge and go on safari returning to lodge after dark. Dinner and overnight at Deramakot lodge.

Day 7  Deramakot Forest Reserve - Sandakan (B/L)

Early morning wake up call at 0500 hours. Approx. 0530 hours depart for a final four-wheel drive safari. Return to the lodge and have breakfast Depart Deramakot around 1000 hours and drive back to Sandakan. Arrive in Sandakan around 1500 hours and be dropped off at the airport or your
hotel.

The park-style accommodation is basic but has air-conditioning and attached bathroom.