Wildlife Encounters in Malaysian Borneo monkeysandmountains.com /wildlife-malaysian-borneo

Our guide stopped in his tracks. He motioned us closer. We tiptoed through the soft sand and twisting mangroves ofthe Malaysian rainforest.

A wild bearded pig and half a dozen two week old striped piglets were trudging through the sand a few meters away.

The mother was oblivious to our presence, but her young babies were curious. We froze.

They pattered over on tiny hooves, sniffing the air with their pink snouts. The wild piglets stood within touchingdistance for a moment. Then, the breeze changed direction and they scattered into the underbrush.

Our guide, who had lived his entire life in that jungle, said he had never seen anything like it.

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Photo by: Kelly Dunning

Of all the places we have traveled around the world, Malaysian Borneo has given us some of the most unforgettablewildlife experiences. These adorable wild piglets aren’t the only creatures we saw on our travels there – we alsoencountered orangutans, proboscis monkeys, enormous monitor lizards, bright green snakes and much more.

If you are looking for a Southeast Asia destination that is still relatively unspoiled by tourism and overflowing withnatural beauty, I would highly recommend it. It was also incredibly affordable and very easy to travel. Malaysian foodwas delicious too – a mixture of Indian, Chinese and ethnic Malay influences that I still crave to this day.

How to Get to Malaysian Borneo

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Photo by: Kelly Dunning

Via Air

You can fly into Sabah via the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, which is located about 20 minutes from the city.Then, you’ll need to take a taxi into the city as this is the only mode of transport, although some hotels offer shuttlebus pick up which can be arranged in advance.

There are daily flights offered from Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. It is also possible to fly into Sabah fromChina, Hong Kong, Brunei, Taipei, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

You could also fly into Kuching International Airport and once you are in Malaysian Borneo you can take flightsbetween many of the cities including Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Sandakan. Buses also travel between all of the mainpoints in Malaysian Borneo.

Via Sea

You can take a ferry to Sabah from the Philippines, Indonesia and Labuan. You’ll arrive at Kota Kinabalu and gothrough the immigration checkpoint there.

Passports and Visas

You’ll need to show a valid passport when entering Malaysian Borneo – even if you are travelling between Peninsular

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Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak. Most nationalities can enter without a visa and will be given up to 90 days to stay,including Canadians, British, Americans, Argentinians, French, Germans, Dutch and many others. Click here for amore detailed explanation of visas in Malaysia.

The Best Places to See Wildlife in Malaysian Borneo

Once you have made your way here, where are your best spots for getting up close with the local wildlife? Here aresome of the best national parks and outdoor experiences.

Bako National Park

Photo by: Kelly Dunning

Lee and I celebrated my 26th birthday by hiking around Bako National Park, which is where we had the unforgettableencounter with wild bearded piglets I wrote about in the introduction to this post.

We hiked around Bako National Park with a local guide who had grown up in the village of wooden huts near the river.Having a local who knew the jungle was so incredibly valuable and it enhanced our experience greatly.

It was almost like he had a sixth sense for spotting wildlife – he was able to see animals that we would havecompletely missed. He noticed a snake curled around a tree from several meters away, even though it was exactly thesame colour as the leaves. I would definitely recommend hiking around with a guide – they will point out so manycreatures and plants that you would otherwise walk by oblivious.

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Our guide spotted this snake from several meters away – Photo by: Kelly Dunning

Our visit to Lambir Hills National Park

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Photo by: Kelly Dunning

This dense rainforest ecosystem in Sarawak is home to 64 species of mammals, 237 species of birds, 46 species ofreptiles and 20 species of frogs – so there is a good chance you will spot some type of creature while exploring LambirHills. You can hike to a cool and refreshing waterfall and it feels so good to plunge in the cold water when you havebeen hiking in the steamy jungle.

It is possible to stay overnight in the park at wooden forest lodge chalets. They are quite basic, but they arecomfortable and very affordable. If you really want to get up close with nature there is also a campsite.

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Photo by: Kelly Dunning

Lambir Hills National Park almost became dangerous when we got lost in the jungle. Make sure that you understandwhere the paths are, so that you don’t make the same mistake we did!

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

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Photo by: Kelly Dunning

One of the most fascinating creatures you can see in Malaysian Borneo is the orangutan. These beautiful andintelligent animals are endangered, their numbers are decreasing due to hunting, the live animal trade, humansencroaching on their habitat and deforestation.

At the Semenggoh Wildlife centre you can gather on the viewing platform, gazing at the forest canopy as a buffet offruit is laid out on a high wooden shelf. A shaggy, graceful orangutan with rust-coloured fur swings lazily through thetreetops, peels a banana with its feet and eats it while staring curiously at the audience.

These semi-wild creatures are not fenced in, they are free to roam the jungle and are fed twice a day by the sanctuaryworkers. This protected park has been established since 1975 and it offers a safe retreat for orangutans that havebeen orphaned, injured or rescued from captivity.

When the orangutans are rescued, they are given medical care and then they are raised to become independent andbe able to survive on their own in the wild. They learn how to swing, climb and forage for their own food. It takesaround two to four years until the orangutans are able to fend for themselves and can be released.

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Photo by: Kelly Dunning

Kinabatangan River Safari

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Photo by: Kelly Dunning

The longest river in Sabah, the Kinabatangan emerges in the Crocker Range and travels 560km down to a mangroveswamp estuary in the Sulu Sea on the East Coast of Sabah. This gorgeous river has a unique ecosystem and isthought to be one of the most accessible and varied places to see wildlife in all of Southeast Asia.

The Kinabatangan River is a great place to encounter proboscis monkeys. Guest author Leyla describes spottingthese strange creatures in her story The Redheaded Primates of the Lower Kinabatangan. These monkeys have largebulbous noses that resemble a flaccid penis and they often seen jumping and chattering in the trees. On your journeyyou might also see giant monitor lizards, hornbills, hawks, kingfishers, rare birdlife and even saltwater crocodiles.

A river safari is the best way to see the abundant wildlife of this rich ecosystem close up. As you float down the riveryou will see the local fishermen everywhere, as the river is their livelihood.

Danum Valley Conservation Area

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Photo by: Kelly Dunning

This protected area of virgin rainforest is located in the eastern region of Sabah and it is home to an incredible cast ofcreatures, including mouse deer, clouded leopards, Sumatran rhinos, Borneo pygmy elephants and gibbons. It is alsoa very popular destination for bird watchers and it is the only place where the elusive spectacled flowerpecker hasbeen seen – one of the rarest birds in the world.

Staying in this region will give you the opportunity to experience many thrilling activities, including swimming in theriver, bird watching, jungle treks, night tours and much more. To get there, head to the nearest town of Lahad Datu,then make your way to Borneo Rainforest Lodge. From here you can do guided walks through the lowland rainforesttrails, night walks and drives.

Malaysian Borneo is Perfect for Nature Lovers

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Photo by: Kelly Dunning

I’ve had a lot of amazing wildlife encounters on my travels, from swimming with wild dolphins in Brazil to spottingleopards on safari in Sri Lanka to feeding kangaroos in Australia.

However, Malaysian Borneo still stands out in my memory as one of my favourite places in the world for experiencingunspoilt nature up close. Getting within sniffing distance of tiny wild piglets, watching proboscis monkeys swingthrough the trees, seeing rare orangutans – these experiences were unforgettable.

Kelly Dunning is a Canadian freelance travel writer. She lives a nomadic lifestylewith no fixed address – working x from the road for the last 6 years with herpartner Lee, a web-designer from England. They have traveled to over 45countries and they offer travel tips, stories and inspiration on Global-Goose.com.

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