Yuhina Sabah Wildlife Watching Photography Tour 16D15N

1 Sep 2021        Arrive Kota Kinabalu

Pick up at Kota Kinabalu International Airport and transfer to hotel. Rest of day at own leisure. Overnight at Jesselton Hotel (or equivalent).

2 Sep 2021        Kota Kinabalu – Lahad Datu – Tabin Wildlife Reserve (B/D)
Pick up at hotel and transfer to airport for flight to Lahad Datu. Arrive Lahad Datu and transfer to Tabin Wildlife Reserve on a gravel road for about an hour and a half.  Check into the charming timber bungalow of Tabin Wildlife Resort which comes complete with private balcony and hot water shower, a real luxury in the forest.  A variety of birds, insects and even small mammals can be sighted quite easily within the resort which is set amongst the rainforest alongside the Lipad River. Discover the rich variety of jungle herbs, some endemic, used for generations by local folks for the treatment of various ailments. In the afternoon, visit the Lipad mud volcano which serves as a mineral salt lick for wildlife.  After trekking through the jungle for twenty minutes, arrive at the elevated bare area of the mud volcano. Try to identify the multitude of animal footprints here. After dinner, enjoy a slide presentation on Tabin’s uniqueness, followed by a Night Safari to look out for nocturnal wildlife and birds

3 Sep 2021        Tabin Wildlife Reserve (D)
Early morning bird walk to discover some of Tabin’s rich collection of almost 300 bird species. After breakfast, trek through the lush green rainforest known for its rich diversity of plants and animal species to visit Lipad Waterfall.  Take a dip in the natural pool and enjoy a natural and refreshing shower under the waterfall. Alternatively explore the surrounding vegetation or simply relax. Then return to the lodge. Afternoon at leisure to explore the forest near the lodge. In the evening, go on a dusk drive to look for nocturnal wildlife. Overnight at Tabin Wildlife Resort.

4 Sep 2021        Tabin – Lahad Datu – Kinabatangan River (Sukau) (B/L/D)
After breakfast, stroll to the nearby rock pool or river side where groups of macaques and other small mammals can sometimes be seen.

Depart Tabin at around 1100 hours and proceed to Lahad Datu. Have lunch in Lahad Datu before departing around 1300 hours for the drive to Sukau.

Arrive  Sukau and Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge. Arrive and go on a wildlife cruise along the Kinabatangan River. Return to lodge for dinner. Overnight at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.

5 Sep 2021        Oxbow Lake – Menanggul River (B/L/D)
0630 hours take a boat trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Ox Bow Lake.  Then return to the lodge for breakfast. Free at leisure to relax. 1630 hours venture on another river cruise down the Menanggul River in search of wildlife. Return to the lodge at dusk. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the Kinabatangan Riverside lodge.

6 Sep 2021        Sukau - Abai (B/L/D)
0630 hours take a boat trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing along the Kinabatangan River. Then return to the lodge for breakfast. Depart the lodge around 1100 hours and travel downriver to Abai. Check into your room and have lunch. 1630 hours go on a cruise in search of proboscis monkeys, birds, reptiles and other wildlife. Return to the lodge for dinner.  After dinner, go on a guided night walk around the Lodge’s nature boardwalk and search for insects, birds and other wildlife. Overnight at the Abai Jungle Lodge.

7 Sep 2021        Abai -  Sandakan – MY Nature Resort (B/L/D)
After breakfast depart Abai and take a 1-hour boat cruise down the Kinabatangan River to Sandakan. Arrive at Sandakan jetty and transfer to MY Nature Resort at Sepilok. Rest of day at own leisure.  Overnight at MY Nature Resort. 

8 Sep 2021        Sandakan - Telupid – Deramakot Forest Reserve (B/L/D)
1100 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 journey on 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 go on a forest walk near the base station. After dinner go on 4x4 night safari to look for wildlife. After approx. two hours of ‘spot lighting’ and searching for wildlife return to the lodge. Overnight at Deramakot lodge.

9 Sep 2021        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. After dinner go on another 4x4 night safari (2 hours). Overnight at Deramakot lodge.

10 Sep 2021        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. After dinner go on another 4x4 night safari. Overnight at Deramakot lodge.

(Note: The schedule at Deramakot is flexible. If you wish to focus your 4x4 time purely on night drives this is also possible. Please discuss with your guide upon arrival at Deramakot. The guide will take the programme to suit your wildlife watching requirements.)

11 Sep 2021        Deramakot Forest Reserve (B/L/D)
As above.

12 Sep 2021        Deramakot Forest Reserve (B/L/D)
As above.

13 Sep 2021        Deramakot Forest Reserve (B/L/D)
As above.

14 Sep 2021        Deramakot Forest Reserve (B/L/D)
As above.

15 Sep 2021        Deramakot Forest Reserve (B/L/D)
As above.

16 Sep 2021        Deramakot Forest Reserve – Sandakan (B/L)
Early morning wake up call and depart on a dawn walk through the rainforest. Return to the lodge and have breakfast. Leave Deramakot around 0900 hours and drive back to Sandakan. Arrive in Sandakan around 1100-1200 hours and be dropped off at the airport or your hotel.