Wildlife Wanderings

a Luxury Sabbatical in Borneo and Indonesia

DAY 1 Your Wildlife Wanderings Begin

Your first stop on your luxury wildlife sabbatical in Borneo and Indonesia is the capital of Borneo, Kota Kinabalu.. After landing, you will be transferred to Deramakot Forest Reserve, which will be your home for the next four nights. This reserve was first certified in 1997 and today 10% of its 137,000 acre area is dedicated to conservation. Despite being a logging concession, Deramakot is one of the best spots in Sabah for wildlife watching, with 75% of the region's mammals calling this home. Expect to see our cousins, the gentle orangutans, plus pygmy elephants, banteng (wild cattle), proboscis monkeys, captivating clouded leopards and many more rainforest-dwelling species.

On your first night in the forest, enjoy a 4x4 drive at dusk to spot as many animals as you can. Searching as the sun sinks means you have a greater chance to spot the forest's inhabitants as the temperature cools and the animals start to stir.

During your time here you might wake a little bleary-eyed for your pre-dawn wildlife drive at five in the morning, but trust us, it's worth it. Spend time walking through the rainforest listening to the sounds of the residents before lunch and then there are even more chances to spot the more elusive inhabitants of this lush, green world before dinner. Listen to monkeys calling between the trees and the chorus of birds. Stand still for a moment and watch the forest come to life around you in this Eden-like world.

DAY 2 Between the Sea and the Rainforest

Catch a flight back to Kota Kinabalu before jumping on a boat to Gaya Island and your resort home for the next few days on this luxury wildlife sabbatical in Borneo and Indonesia. Spend your days lazing on the beach, by the large infinity pool or in the jungle spa, all with virgin rainforest as a backdrop. For those days when you are feeling a little more adventurous, try out a zipline through the forest. Explore the island on a guided jungle and mangrove walk, and look out for the amazing flora and fauna - from tropical hardwood trees and forest flowers to hornbills, monkeys and lizards.

For ocean enthusiasts, there are watersports off the beach or the chance to go diving on the reefs that surround the island. The local waters are home to myriad species, from sea turtles, giant groupers and clown fish to colourful corals, trigger fish and, occasionally, majestic whale sharks. The nearby Marine Ecology Research Centre is a must visit for those interested in the underwater world, where you are able to actively participate in restoring vibrant life back into the ocean thanks to their coral and giant clam projects.

DAY 3 Jungle Cruising in a Houseboat

After a flight to Jakarta and another one to Kalimantan a car will take you to Kumai. Upon arrival, board a luxury houseboat which will be your watery home for the next three nights. About 15 minutes down the Kumai River, you will reach the Sekonyer River, the main river in Tanjung Puting National Park. Spend the next three days cruising up the Sekonyer River, on the lookout for macaques, proboscis monkeys and orangutans. You can also visit the orangutan feeding platform in Tanjung Harapan to get another fix of our orange friends. You can learn more about the residents of the park during a visit to the information Centre at Camp Leakey to get an overview of the work of Dr Birute Galdikas, who has been studying orangutan in the national park since 1971. You can then trek into the forest to see the orangutan feeding that takes place in the afternoon. For a different kind of animal encounter an evening wildlife walk is a great way to see the way the jungle comes to life after dark. Follow your guide into the forest and see - among others - huge-eyed tarsiers and hairy tarantulas.

While you are here, travel to the heart of the park to learn about their carbon-offsetting programme. Help with reforestation efforts by planting endemic fruit trees and learn more about how the park is combatting deforestation and climate change.

On one of your three days here, take a motorised canoe to explore the smaller tributaries in the park. Make sure you take the chance to photograph the incredible birds, insects and (hopefully) primates you pass.

DAY 4 Dragons in Komodo

Another two flights will see you travel to Jakarta and then onto Komodo and your lodge. The Komodo National Park, slap bang in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago, was established in 1980 and consists of the volcanic islands - including the eponymous Komodo - that cover a total area of almost 550,000 acres. Thanks to the region's dry climate, sandy beaches and coral-rich waters, there are a significant number of species that can only be found here, a fact that has led to the Park being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On land, the most noteworthy endemic species, to tourists and evolutionary scientists alike, is the legendary Komodo dragon. There remain over 5,500 of these over-sized lizards in the wild. Measuring up to 10ft long and weighing over 150lbs, they are not animals to be messed with.

Beneath the waves, you can experience some of the best diving in the region; think manta rays, whale sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, over 260 species of coral and more than 1,000 species of fish. No wonder Komodo National Park has been granted a New Seven Wonders of Nature status.

The next three days will be spent on speedboats travelling between your hotel and the other islands in the National Park. First stop is Rinca Island, smaller than Komodo and mostly covered with savannah, it is easy to observe the dragons and other animals here, such as buffalo, monkeys and wild pigs. With a local expert guide, discover the island's hidden secrets on a trek through the undergrowth. Next up is Padar Island for another trek and more incredible scenery. Saving the best for last, jump off the boat and onto the largest and the most famous of the islands in the Komodo National Park; Komodo itself. It also has the largest community of Komodo dragons and many other animals such as wild horses, buffaloes and pigs. Spend time with a park ranger, who will explain about the iconic dragons and life on the island.

Seeing as you are on a boat and cruising around the national park it would be rude not to jump off your boat to dip beneath the waves for a spot of snorkelling. Or spend your time swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding, or enjoying a massage in the spa. It's the perfect finale to an epic adventure through the natural wonders of Borneo and Indonesia.