Field standards
Responsible wildlife watching
Sabah protects some of the oldest rainforest on Earth. This guide explains responsible watching standards for guides and guests in the forest and on the reef.
Field standards
Standards and rules
Every Danum Valley visit requires a permit arranged with your stay. Travel and health insurance is advised for any visit to Danum Valley, and cover that includes emergency evacuation is sensible in a place this remote. Whether you stay at Borneo Rainforest Lodge or the Danum Valley Study Centre , the guides work to high standards.
Good field craft means reading the environment accurately. It spans from the sudden milky-brown water that signals a river surge to the barometric drops that bring insectivorous birds down to the understory before a storm. These skills ensure you see the forest naturally and safely. Distance protects primates from human illness, while red light reduces disturbance to nocturnal animals.
Where to stay
Sabah lodges and river camps
If the night drives and the ethical approaches to wildlife are what you are coming for, tell the team which animals matter most to you. They will build the days around your interests.
Danum Valley Study Centre
Explore the primary rainforest from a working research station that hosts visiting scientists and birders.
Tabin Wildlife Resort
Take guided night drives on the secondary forest edge to look for western tarsiers.
Kinabatangan River
Explore the floodplain on daily river boat safaris to look for wild elephants.
Disease prevention
Plan your ethical trip
Tell the team which animals matter most to you. They will build the days around your interests and suggest places with strong ethical field craft.