Borneo: Aug 01—19, 2009

This combination of superb forests, incredibly exotic wildlife, and friendly people is hard to beat—surely one of the most exciting destinations on earth for the natural history enthusiast. Towering Mount Kinabalu is home to an impressive array of endemic species, both plants and animals (including many endemic birds) while the magnificent lowland forests of the Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley are home to herds of Bornean pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, rare Storm's Stork, eight species of hornbills, the ethereal Bornean Ground-Cuckoo, and several species of jewel-like pittas.

The tropical Dipterocarp forests of Borneo are among the world's oldest, supporting a diversity of animal and plant life, surpassed only by the lowland communities of the Amazon Basin. The sheer numbers of mega-charismatic species that inhabit the lowland forests of Borneo, species such as Bornean pygmy elephant, Bornean orangutan, proboscis monkey, Bornean clouded leopard, and several species of gigantic hornbills, endow these forests and their visitors with arguably the single most exciting tropical rainforest experience on our planet.

Proboscis Monkey— Photo: K. David Bishop

The thrill of exploring these magnificent forests cannot be overstated, and we will do so from the comfort of the finest and most beautiful lodge in the whole of Southeast Asia. Borneo Rainforest Lodge, located in the heart of the Danum Valley, Sabah, is set in the midst of some of the most magnificent lowland rainforest remaining on the island of Borneo. The days at Danum are so filled with natural wonders that to reiterate them all would take many pages. It isn't only the birds and mammals. Just being in such a wonderfully peaceful place in the presence of such pristine forest, dwarfed by truly gigantic trees, is a humbling and soul-rejuvenating experience; the constant array of big, colorful butterflies constantly distracts us—and not just briefly.

Towering over the surrounding landscape, the awe-inspiring granite peak of Mount Kinabalu has long lured travelers and naturalists alike to explore her lush, cloud-enshrouded forests. The highest landmark between New Guinea and the Himalayas, Mt. Kinabalu is virtually an island and, as such, supports a number of extremely local endemics. From attractively appointed cabins which look out over the forest to the mountain, we will search among huge moss-clad sentinels, giant pitcher plants, and blooming rhododendrons and orchids for a number of specialties such as Crimson-headed Wood-Partridge, Whitehead's Trogon, Golden-naped and Mountain barbets, the sumptuous Whitehead's Broadbill, Mountain Wren-Babbler, Sunda Laughingthrush, diminutive Bornean Stubtail, and Whitehead's Spiderhunter.

Borneo—the very name conjures images of teeming jungles and a profusion of strange and little-known creatures. You will not be disappointed. Flying frogs, gliding snakes, orchid-like praying mantis, goggle-eyed tarsiers, and hairy Sumatran rhinos characterize this fabulous island. Its birds are no less exciting, with a host of apparently rare and little-known endemics, in addition to a plethora of pheasants, pigeons, parakeets, cuckoos, trogons, kingfishers, hornbills, barbets, woodpeckers, broadbills, bulbuls, babblers, and sunbirds. Our tour will focus on three areas: the Danum Valley, the magnificent Mt. Kinabalu Park, and the Kinabatangan River. In addition we will spend one morning on what many regard as one of the most spectacular coral reefs on our planet! Join us on one of the most comfortable and exciting tours garnished by some of the best food you will ever encounter anywhere in the tropics.

Excellent accommodations; exceptionally delicious food; roadside and moderate trail birding; midday breaks; hot and humid in the lowlands, cool to cold in the hills and mountains.

Visit VENT tour participant Romney Bathurst's web site for an excellent inside look at her tour to Borneo.