Untamed Beauty: Danum Valley Conservation Area

It was a wonderful experience. [Below, I will describe in detail my experience using Borneo Rainforest Lodge] I walk for about 8 hours every day on a muddy, muddy path, there are leeches everywhere, and no matter how careful I am, they suck my blood, and no matter how many times I change my clothes, I'm drenched in mud after 10 minutes of walking in this otherworldly humidity... There are certainly some harsh parts, so it's not a place I can recommend to everyone. However, the moment I was able to overcome that experience and meet wild animals, especially orangutans... I can't put it into words. I was crying so hard. -------- [Best point] A real primeval forest that cannot be described in words. The plants, the wildlife, the fog, the heavy rain, the flooding of the rivers, the rainbows, the starry skies, everything is so moving and wonderful. ・Activities open to tourists as part of the unique environmental conservation efforts and lobbying activities of the Sabah state government, which is an independent and serious effort. I don't feel any sense of bias or deceitful justice that is common among international NGOs centered on developed countries. ・Although there are still many things I don't know, I have seen quite a lot of the front lines of environmental conservation and wild animal sanctuaries in Southeast Asia (although this is just a hobby). On top of that, I felt that this place had unique value. -------- [Good points] ・The quality of the guide is excellent. All of our employees are from Sabah, and our guides in particular have extremely difficult national qualifications. Of course, he is known for his knowledge, but he is also well-educated to respond to discussions, and he does not show any pretense of being bossy, on the contrary, he is not condescending, and he always treats you with both respect and intimacy. I received it. ``The Saba style of hospitality is to not make the customer feel like an outsider.'' I can't lift my head. (*We hired a private guide for an additional fee. It was a bit expensive, but it was worth it) ・The food is amazing I think it depends on your preference, but the quality is high, with a focus on Malay cuisine, but also fresh salads and continental menus. You won't have any trouble finding food during your stay. Rather, what you should be careful about is eating too much lol -------- [Points to be patient] -Environmental conservation is our absolute top priority. Hot water is provided by a solar water heater, and the shower temperature depends on the weather. Although there are electric water heaters, it takes quite a while to get hot water, so use them wisely! ・Clothes get very wet and dirty I would like to avoid using detergents as much as possible. Clothes and shoes always get dirty with sweat, moisture, and mud, but even after washing and drying them, they never dry. In fact, the humidity was so high that when I hung it outside to dry it, it even got even wetter (than when I wrung it out to dry). For shoes, there is a dedicated drying room (which uses the waste heat from the main lodge's outdoor air conditioner), so you can dry your shoes overnight. Laundry can be done for RM50 for a basket full of laundry, but it takes a full day as the staff travels to the city center to wash everything, including the towels and bedding in the guest rooms. In conclusion, if you want to always wear clean underwear and clothes, we recommend bringing three changes of clothes each day for the number of days you are staying. Soccer wear and sports tights made of quick-drying materials were very popular. (*Although I'm supposed to love nature, I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm a bit of a clean freak, so this was tough for me...) ・There is no radio wave There is no Wi-Fi access except in the lobby of the main lodge. There's no TV or signal. If you need an internet environment, you have no choice but to spend time in the lobby. They seem to be building a radio tower, so things may improve in the future, but let's enjoy a digital detox. (*However, depending on the purpose of your visit, I think there are many people who want to save a large amount of photos and videos in the cloud. This is difficult even in the lobby, so if you need it, you may want to bring a portable storage device. (No) -------- [Bad points] Although there are many wonderful staff members, some of the restaurant and guest room staff were disappointing. Those who don't understand English, those who lack the common sense of sharing information, those who lack basic civility, etc. It's a wonderful, clean, and luxurious facility that you won't believe is in the middle of the jungle, but the cost of staying there is quite expensive compared to developed countries. I would like to see the training of not only guides and manager-level staff, but also other staff, aim to be at an internationally recognized level. It was a bit difficult that we had to leave dinner early, so we didn't have time to sit down and chat and eat after participating in the evening activities. -------- [Required items] (*I will write this assuming that you are walking in the jungle in earnest, but I think it is almost essential even if you are not.) ・Clothing to prevent leeches Just don't show any skin at all! Long sleeves, long pants, high socks Long sleeves are tucked into long pants, and pants are tucked into socks. It is also a good idea to bring work gloves made of nitrile material (long sleeves should be tucked in). ・Insect repellent containing DEET It also helps prevent infectious diseases, so I want to make sure I don't neglect it. ・Shoes suitable for trekking Be sure to choose one based on the assumption that you will be walking through a swamp that is submerged up to your ankles. High cut recommended ·binoculars Choose something with good performance even if it costs a little more. There are some places where there is not enough light even during the day due to the dense trees. If you don't use a product with high luminous intensity, you will miss out on your precious encounters.

The purpose of visiting Danum Valley is to experience Borneo's primary rainforest and the wildlife it offers. This location definitely provides an insight into Borneo's flora and fauna. To experience the rainforest you require the services of a guide, our guide made the entire experience memorable for so many reasons. Whilst you will spend a lot of time walking in the rainforest, we saw so much interesting wildlife. The night walks and drives are also recommended as you will encounter those nocturnal animals you wouldn't see during the day. tourists we had never seen these animals. There is accommodation at Danum Valley Field Centre and would recommend the 4D/3N as one full day in the rainforest is simply not enough. The rooms and dining room facilities are adequate but for the price one would expect more. The food was basic but plentiful and vegetarian options are non existent really. You cannot buy drinks at the centre but you can buy beers from reception office. But once in a lifetime to see Orangutans in the wild together with so many birds and other animals. The highlight of our trip to Borneo.

Great destination! Enjoyed the open trail and peaceful outdoor atmosphere.

Great destination! Enjoyed the open trail and peaceful outdoor atmosphere.

Too expensive! Too expensive! Too expensive! Please don't get me wrong, the place is very nice, the vegetation is very lush and it's nice to spend a day walking in the wilderness. Unfortunately, it is not such a great experience to pay about $550 for a 3d2n safari... Additionally, if you think that there are a lot of animals in the middle of a 100 million-year-old jungle, you are wrong. The most you will see are monkeys and deer, and some insects. I would describe the living conditions as old... The air conditioning is only of the highest standard, and the place is very, very hot... The sad fact is that despite such a high price, the tour plan includes two additional paid attractions: lunch on the day of arrival (the price is prohibitive, it's cheaper to eat at Mariota in KK) and a night jeep ride through the jungle, where you can see the reflecting eyes of birds and deer … Personally, I advise against it, or I recommend finding an alternative to visiting the jungle. When it comes to viewing animals, I would recommend Sukau, with a bit of luck in 3d2n you will see all the big five of Borneo, for a 5 times lower price and better conditions.