Rainforest - Day 1

The tour continued after the sun bears (btw, they are the smallest bear species) - a 2 hour minibus ride followed by a 2 minute boat ride downstream and across the other side of the Kinabatangan river.  Help your self lunch a couple of hours rest then a 4pm river cruise, wildlife spotting.  It was supposed to be either a trek or a river cruise.  The trek was cancelled as they said there were elephants about and an encounter may have been a bit hairy

The guides on all the boats were phone app connected and as soon as anything was spotted by one boat, the rest arrived shortly after

We were treated to 2 elephants trampling around a disused house, long tailed macaques, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and a small croc.  Only thing missing from the Sabah Big 5 was Orang Utan.  What a great day.  The evening cruise was cut short due to rain but only after a close-up of 2 Kingfishers asleep on a branch at the river’s edge.

The lodge accommodation was pretty basic - no hot water and because it was off season and not many people there - no evening activities, so very quiet.  - 06:30 start tomorrow !!!!


Please click here for PHOTOS

Sepilok - Sun Bears

Across the road from the Orang Utang sanctuary was one for the Sun Bears (also known as honey bears).  These are a protected endangered species as their natural habitat was severely destroyed by deforestation caused by logging in the second half of the 20th century

During feeding, the sun bear can extend the exceptionally long tongue 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) to extract insects and honey.

Sepilok - Orang Utang Sanctuary

  

We stopped the following day around the pool at the hotel in Sandakan as a day’s relax after the time spent in the big city.  Monday morning we were picked up @ 8am to take us to the rain forest.  First stop was the Orang Utang sanctuary at Sepilok where orphaned orang utangs are taught the rudiments of life to prepare them for return to the wild.  Normally they are with their mothers for 6 / 7 years and then they separate for ever.  This one, Rosa, cam out of the forest and walked along the side rail and guided us to the  day centre where we were treated to such antics as this, proving their skills