Sabah Wildlife Guide

Sighting expectations

Canopies, rivers and trail grids

Spotting wildlife in Borneo is an active pursuit. The forest is thick and the animals are naturally dispersed. A successful safari relies on understanding the environment and setting honest expectations.

The team describes sightings positively based on decades of field logs. Some species are resident and seen on most stays. Others take luck or exceptional timing.

The animals people come for

These are the flagship species of Sabah. Each anchors a specific habitat. The Bornean orangutan lives in both primary reserves and logged secondary forests where strangler figs remain.

Reliable resident sightings

The red leaf monkey is resident and seen on most stays in Danum Valley. Bornean gibbons are heard every dawn and seen on most stays.

Where to look

Danum Valley

Unlogged lowland forest and primary trail grids.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge

Primary rainforest trail grids.

Kinabatangan River

Scan the mudbanks from a small boat.