At first look, Malaysia’s Borneo is not an obvious family holiday destination choice. However, it ticks all the right boxes; it is safe, comfortable, and it has a lot of interesting activities to engage in. For instance, there are remote waterways, tribal villages, and rainforests to explore. Additionally, it is easy to get around given the combination and plethora of short domestic flights, boat journeys, and 4X4 car rides available. On the accommodation front, hotels have all the practical facilities that a family would need. They are spacious and offer high-quality accommodation.
All thing considered, however, it is the variety of tempting activities and adventure that Borneo has to offer that makes it a perfect family holiday destination. Whether it is your little one’s hands pointing out at spotted proboscis monkey or your teens traversing jungle pathways and ropeways, there are plenty of activities to enjoy.
Exploring Sepilok’s Wildlife Sanctuaries
The thick rainforest covering Borneo does make road travel a hassle to some degree. If you are interested in hassle-free travel, the well-developed network of air travel makes things more possible. For instance, you can fly directly from Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu into Sandakan Airport, setting you up to explore Sabah, the eastern state of Sabah.
In Sepilok, typically a 30 minutes’ drive from Sandakan, you can get an introduction into Borneo’s wildlife as a sample of the real wilderness you will get in the rainforests. Sepilok has made a name for itself as the foremost orangutan sanctuary owing to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre is home to about rescued 70 orangutans in the rehabilitation process in readiness for release back into the wild. The centre’s success has spurred the development of the sun bear reserve and the rainforest discovery centre.
The facilities have a large nursery that takes care of the babies that were confiscated as pets and lost their parents. The nursery has a glass separating the orangutans from humans to prevent them from contracting human illnesses. Nonetheless, you can watch the fledgeling orangutans gleefully play and swing on rope and tyres.
You can go a step further by staying at the Sepilok Nature Resort in their well-sized chalet, ensuring you are a walking distance from the sanctuaries.
Spot Wildlife Along River Kinabatangan
After exploring all Sepilok has to offer, you can move into the jungle. For the best experience, consider staying along the Kinabatangan River in one of the riverside lodges. Typically, the lodges offer a two-night stay package that includes food and other scheduled activities. While being simple, the lodges are also comfortable. They offer spacious individual chalets. As for the actives, you can attend in small groups with the average attendance being 6-10 people. As such, you will most likely join just one other family.
You will boat from Sandakan to your lodge. If you arrive early and settle well ahead of nightfall, you can take a boat safari at dusk. As you float down one of Kinabatangan’s calm tributaries, the naturalist guides are always looking out for wildlife. It is highly likely that you will come across a proboscis monkey dangling from a tree. You might also get the chance to spot the rare hornbill. And you opt to stay at the Abai Jungle Lodge, your river safari will extend into night time, giving you the opportunity to view fireflies.
The next day you will wake up to a boat safari at dawn and experience another dusk boat safari. During dawn and dusk, animals are most active. Boat safaris are particularly best suited for families with young kids as they allow attends to enjoy the wildlife in a relaxing environment. For instance, the boats are low and near the waterline, allowing young kids to safely peer over the boats to see creepy-crawlies and monitor lizards that lie along the river banks. Additionally, with binoculars, kids get a chance to view birds and monkeys without any concerns.
Relaxing on Borneo’s Beaches
Once you are done exploring the inland treasures, you can head to the coast. You can catch a flight to Kota Kinabalu (located along Borneo’s north coast) from Lahad Datu. If you want to explore the ocean, remember to bring some Scubapro diving equipment.
Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, which is just a 20-minute drive from the airport is a good beach hotel to try out. The hotel is set next to a 1.8 miles (3km) private beach and it has plenty of amenities for you to enjoy. It has a children’s club, a horse-riding school, a putting green, a separate children’s swimming pool with slides, and much more. Additionally, the forest just behind the hotel is a protected reserve lined with walking trails for guided walks.
However, for families that have older kids, Gaya Island Resort is a much better option. Gaya is one of a few islands that form the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. The hotel is just a boat ride from Kota Kinabalu and it is set on its own bay and surrounded by a thick jungle. The wooden villas that make up the hotel make for a spectacular accommodation. Some of the popular activities to try out while on the island include snorkelling, especially on the coral gardens where you get to explore marine flora and fauna.
