Lahad Datu to Danum Valley – Borneo Rainforest Lodge - March 12th

We were picked up in Lahad Datu about 8:45 AM and made a short stop at the Borneo Ecotours office to sign waiver forms.  We were on the road in a Ford 4-wheel truck with our driver (Juni) by 9:15 AM and then headed to our lodge.  We were on a paved road for about 30 minutes and then the Danum Valley Access Road which is a very rutted dirt road.  Original built by logging companies we passed through secondary forest (previously logged) for about 2 hours and 4 km before our lodge, we passed into the primary forest.  

They have a forest restoration project for the previously logged areas and have planted over 2 million trees in the secondary forest since 1992. 

After reaching the lodge, we met our guide (Donny), had lunch, and then went to our room.  It was spectacular…very large with a deck and a small plunge pool outside (see picture above).  There was a large field in front of the deck, and we had a view of the river.  

At 3:30 PM we had an introductory slide show about the green practices of the lodge.  They are the only lodge in this primary forest, and they are associated with an orangutan research project and thus allowed to operate there.  It is considered a luxury lodge and can accommodate 60 guests.  The guide told us that they are building another small lodge about 200 meters away to accommodate 20 high-end guests that don’t want to mix with others…although the drive to get there will humble them…no helicopters allowed.

Orangutan
After our intro talk, we walked a short way down to the river to view the orangutan hanging out in the trees eating the figs.  This is their favorite food.  Unfortunately, my good camera was not working as it should and my pictures are less than optimal. But we had fun watching them.  The males are generally on their own and the females will be with the children. (find link about orangutans).  After watching for a while, we headed on a short nature walk on a boardwalk trail.  This is the only trail that guests are allowed to walk on alone.


Blue-Throated Bee-Eater
We had free time until dinner at 7 PM so we headed back to our room, sat on the deck, and watched the Blue-Throated Bee-Eaters hunt in the grass.

At 8:30 PM we met up with our guide for the night safari in electric carts.  We went back along the road for a couple of kilometers.  We saw a tiger tarantula, a Crested Serpent-Eagle and heard lots of birds.  

Tiger Tarantula


I think the most striking thing for me was the constant sounds of cicadas, frogs and birds that just fill the air…it was never quiet.


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