Malaysia and Borneo

Peninsular Malaysia is home to some 660 species of resident birds. A large proportion of these is unique to the area's lush tropical rainforest. Our tour begins with three nights in the cool highlands at Fraser's Hill where migrants from the north augment the local avifauna. The rest of the tour will be spent in Malaysia's largest National Park, magnificent Taman Negara, a remote untouched wilderness, without any roads. We'll spend four full days exploring its riches and should encounter many of Malaysia's most special birds.

Borneo, the world's third largest island, conjures up images of remote mountains covered in forest, populated by strange and unique birds and, of course, lowland forests inhabited by Orang-utans. We'll spend four days at the spectacular Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley, which offers some of the best lowland forest birding in Borneo. Then we'll visit the Kinabatang River where we should see the strange, endemic Proboscis Monkey. Finally, we'll spend three days in Kinabalu National Park. At 13,455 feet, spectacular Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea and is home to many of Borneo's endemics.

Monday 24 February to Monday 17 March 2003
Monday 23 February to Monday 15 March 2004

with Jon Dunn and Mano Tharmalingam as leaders.

Malaysia and Borneo bird list
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Malaysia only (London to London)

Monday 24 February to Friday 7 March 2003
Monday 23 February to Friday 5 March 2004

Borneo only (London to London)

Thursday 6 March to Monday 17 March 2003
Thursday 4 March to Monday 15 March 2004

Day 1: The tour starts in London with an overnight flight to Kuala Lumpur.

Day 2: Morning arrival in Kuala Lumpur. We'll spend the afternoon leisurely birdwatching on the Old Gombak Road where spiderhunters, Crimson-breasted and Orange-breasted Flowerpeckers and migrants, perhaps including Sooty Flycatcher and Tiger Shrike, will provide our introduction to Malaysian birds. Night in Kuala Lumpur.

Day 3: The mangroves at Kuala Selangor are inhabited by a number of special birds such as Black Baza, Chestnut-bellied Malkoha, Mangrove Pitta, Mangrove Whistler, and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher. We'll spend the morning here before driving to Fraser's Hill where we'll spend three nights.

Days 4-5: Fraser's Hill is a wonderful montane region, cool by comparison with Kuala Lumpur, and full of birds. We can expect a rich mix of residents, including Fire-tufted Barbet, Black-and-crimson Oriole, Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush, and several winter visitors from the north, including Mugimaki Flycatcher and with luck the striking Siberian Thrush. Nights at Fraser's Hill.

Day 6: We'll depart from Fraser's Hill this morning, driving east to Jeranut and Kuala Tembeling and then travelling by boat up the Tembeling River to the headquarters of Taman Negara at Kuala Tahan. As we cruise up the river, we'll see riparian species such as Black-capped Kingfisher and Straw-headed Bulbul, and possibly raptors and hornbills crossing the river or along its banks. We should arrive at our destination before dusk. Night in Taman Negara.

Days 7-10: Taman Negara, located in the centre of peninsular Malaysia, covers 1,677 square miles of pristine forest and contains virtually all of the bird species found in inland Malaysia. Indeed, about 360 species have been identified in the park to date. We'll spend these four days working the many miles of trails into the surrounding lowland rainforest. Birds we hope to see include Crested Fireback, Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot, three malkohas, two treeswifts, Red-naped, Diard's and Scarlet-rumped Trogons, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Black and Rhinoceros Hornbills, Brown Barbet, a dozen woodpeckers possibly including White-bellied and Great Slaty, Black-and-yellow, Black-and-red and Green Broadbills, up to 15 bulbuls, Sultan Tit, and many, many more. We'll also hope to hunt down rare and elusive species such as Masked Finfoot, Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant, Gould's Frogmouth, Helmeted Hornbill, Blue-banded Kingfisher, Crested Jay, and Garnet Pitta. An added attraction is the opportunity to see a variety of rainforest plants and animals during our walks. Nights in Taman Negara.

Day 11: Today we'll return to Kuala Lumpur. Time permitting, we'll make some stops en route. Night in Kuala Lumpur. Those departing the Malaysia-only section will catch an overnight flight to London, where the tour ends on Day 12. Those joining the Borneo-only section will catch an overnight flight from London to Kuala Lumpur, and join the rest of the group on Day 12.

Day 12: This morning we'll fly from Kuala Lumpur to Lahad Datu, via Kota Kinabalu. We'll drive on a logging road to the comfortable and marvellously situated Borneo Rainforest Lodge, arriving in the early evening. Night at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley.

Days 13-15: The largest remaining lowland rainforest in all of Sabah is found in the Danum Valley. Our lodge is located in the heart of this ideal habitat and there is excellent birding right on the grounds. Much of the rest of the region can be reached via a fine network of trails. We'll look for Great Argus, Chestnut-necklaced Partridge, Wallace's Hawk-Eagle, Buffy Fish-Owl, Brown Wood-Owl, up to three species of pittas, Striped and Fluffy-backed Tit-Babblers, Black-and-yellow, Banded and Green Broadbills, Chestnut-naped Forktail, Rufous-chested Flycatcher, many woodpeckers, nearly all of Borneo's hornbills, as well as endemics such as the spectacular Bornean Bristlehead, White-crowned Shama, Pygmy White-eye, Bornean and Black-throated Wren-Babblers, Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker, and the extremely rare Bornean Ground-Cuckoo. The region is also rich in mammals and we may see wild Orang-utan, Bornean Gibbon, Red Leaf Monkey, Malayan Flying Fox, several species of civet cats, flying squirrels and possibly Asian Elephant. Nights at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge.

Day 16: After a final morning in the Danum Valley we'll drive to Sukau with stops en route to scan the treetops for birds such as Dollarbird, Hill Myna, Long-tailed Parrot, and especially the endemic and local White-fronted Falconet. Shortly after our arrival we'll take a cruise along the Kinabatangan River to look for Oriental Pied, Black and Rhinoceros Hornbills, Stork-billed and Blue-eared Kingfishers, Black-and-red Broadbill, White-chested Babbler, and Bat Hawk, as well as Proboscis Monkey. Night at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Day 17: The Kinabatangan River is just outside our jungle lodge and the area is especially rich in birds. We may see Oriental Darter, the rare Storm's Stork, Lesser and Gray-headed Fish-Eagles, Jerdon's Baza, Malaysian, Bornean and Sunda Blue Flycatchers, Rufous-tailed Tailorbird, Red-throated, Gold-whiskered and Blue-eared Barbets, and Bushy-crested, Wreathed, Wrinkled and Black Hornbills. We'll also visit the famous swiftlet caves at Gomantong to look for Edible-nest, Black-nest and Mossy-nest Swiftlets on their nests. Night at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Day 18: We'll leave early for the Sepilok Forest Reserve and the Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, arriving in time for the mid-morning feeding of the Orang-utans. We'll then catch an afternoon flight to Kota Kinabalu where we'll check the mudflats at a small tidal wetland near the airport - in recent years we've found both Great and Lesser Sandplovers, Pacific Golden Plover, Gray-tailed Tattler, and Red-necked Stint here. A small group of up to 10 wintering (and globally threatened) Chinese Egrets has been present here on each of our tours and we'll hope for their return again this year. We'll continue to Kinabalu Park, arriving in time for some evening birding. Night in Kinabalu Park.

Days 19-20: Kinabalu Park is a wilderness area that surrounds Mount Kinabalu, at 13,455 feet the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Created in 1962, the park provides easy access to the montane avifauna of Borneo, once denied to all but the most enterprising and ardent naturalists. We'll spend our days mostly around the park's headquarters at 5,300 feet, working the excellent system of trails. We should find Sunda Bush-Warbler, Gray-throated Babbler, White-crowned Forktail, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Ashy and Hair-crested Drongos, Short-tailed Magpie, Mountain Leaf-Warbler, Sunda Cuckoo-shrike, Temminck's Sunbird, and Grey-chinned Minivet among many others. We'll also have a chance to see some of Kinabalu's real specialities such as Mountain Serpent-Eagle, Red-breasted and Crimson-headed Partridges, the Whitehead's trio (Broadbill, Spiderhunter and Trogon), Bornean Whistler, Black-sided Flowerpecker, Fruithunter, Mountain Blackeye, Mountain Wren-Babbler, Bornean Stubtail and the skulking Kinabalu Friendly Warbler. Kinabalu is famous also for its plant life and we'll see many orchids, pitcher plants, and rhododendrons. Nights in Kinabalu Park.

Day 21: After a final morning in Kinabalu National Park, we'll fly back to Kuala Lumpur and connect with an overnight flight to London where the tour concludes on Day 22.

Malaysia and Borneo
Cost £4860

Single Room Supplement £490

Malaysia only
Cost £2360

Single Room Supplement £210

Borneo only
Cost £3090

Single Room Supplement £280

Single rooms may not be available at all the lodges. All prices refer to 2003.

Maximum group size: 16 participants and 2 leaders.

The ground arrangements for this tour are organised by our American associates WINGS.

Malaysia and Borneo bird list
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