Featured News

Trekking into Sabah's Lost World

Known as the Lost-World of Sabah, the unique geological features of Maliau Basin is still a wonder as it uncovers its treasures to the world. This saucer shaped basin is located at the south-central region of Sabah, approximately 40km off the Kalimantan border. Covering an area of 590 sq km, Maliau Basin was designated as a Conservation Area in 1981 for research, education, and training purposes. The main forests are lower montane, heath, lowland and hill dipterocarp forest.

Over 1800 species types of flora have been identified, including 6 species of pitcher plants and 80 species of orchids. Wildlife sighting is not the highlight but 82 mammal species, 270 bird species and over 30 species of amphibians have so far been recorded in this conservation area. With these exclusive natural features, Maliau Basin is immensely a star attraction for the hard-core trekkers. Borneo Eco Tours' six-day tour brings you through varying terrains which requires some level of physical fitness, but nonetheless one with the best experience.

The overland journey from Kota Kinabalu takes approximately 6 hours to reach the Security Gate of Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA) via Keningau route. Our certified guides are specially trained for off the beaten track adventures. Accommodation would be at designated campsites while food is prepared by your assigned trekking guide. The highlight of this trip would be when you arrive at the heart of Maliau Basin, at the 7-tier waterfall before heading back to conclude the trekking tour.

Trekkers are advised to bring along leech socks, long pants trekking, sleeping bag at comfort zone 15°C or 23°C, rain cover or water tight proof bags, at least 2 - 2.5 little per day of drinking water bottle, swim wear, insect repellent, walking stick, head lamps (including extra bulb and batteries), personal toiletries, slipper or sandals and energy food. Mosquito-net will be provided for trekkers.

For more info, please click here

Limin Kapal – Coach Captain

Captain Limin is another man behind the wheel of our 44-seater coaches. Though he is still new, he displays positive working attitude and is a proactive staff that we should look up to. Captain Limin who hails from Ranau, a town near Kinabalu Park, attributed his work performance to 'sense of ownership'.

Captain Limin goes the extra mile to ensure the vehicle is clean and he always delivers more than what is assigned. Notable as a friendly family member of Borneo Eco Tours , Limin admits that he enjoys his work and among others, to meet people especially our guests from overseas. “My mission is to be dedicated in my work and that also aligns with my commitment to support my family”.

Limin agrees that reading books are among the shortest paths to reaching personal and company success. “Reading books or listening to people's experience expedites the learning process. The book reading scheme in Borneo Eco Tours does very much keep us in the momentum of perpetuating this good habit”.

Limin expresses his deepest gratitude to Borneo Eco Tours team members for the esprit de cop. “I believe such spirit must be upheld to deliver the best for our guests”, he added. .

Smooth Sole with Foot Spa at Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Extensive travelling on foot can leave the skin of your sole thick, dry and cracked. Travellers staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge can enjoy foot spa at reasonable price of RM 49.00 only.

The foot spa experience will start with a foot bath of salt, lemongrass and lime peels concoction that helps ease weary feet and neutralize odor. Skin softening gels will be applied and scrubbing of hard, dead skin cells off your feet will leave your feet with ‘baby's soft skin.

This service is based on booking upon arrival at the lodge, please contact info@beautyborneo.com for more information.

Family Delight at Kiansom Villa Offering a countryside lifestyle retreat, Kiansom Villa features 3-bedrooms for 6 person, self-catering kitchenette facilities and spacious yet intimate getaway. Self-catering accommodation such as Kiansom Villa allows greater freedom and flexibility in arranging your own activities, complemented with self-drive rental car service. At leisure, guests may do some workout with basic gym facilities at the clubhouse and a swimming pool is open for all villa residents. Family and other satellite TV channels are available if you prefer to stay indoor. For information and reservation, please contact info@kiansom.com

SRL Renovation Update The renovation which started 1st January 2010 has pressed forward in full strength as a team of highly skilled builders were brought in from Kota Kinabalu, to join forces with the local Orang Sungai carpenters to expedite the upgrading of the international multi award-winning lodge. Besides enlarging all guest rooms by 60%, new features includes a separate sunroom with a tea lounge area overlooking the garden outside, an open conference room called the ‘Gomantong Hall', a new Gecko Bar and Lounge and a new Sukau Handicraft Shop which will enhance the holiday experience in the natural Borneo Rainforest surroundings. A particular interest for highlight is the K-Block material that is used widely for renovation. After extensive research on the surrounding climate and its effect on conventional building materials, the K-Block was chosen based on its superior qualities. It is easier to install than conventional wood-frame methods. With a positive ecological impact, this ‘Green' material provides the following: - • Significant energy savings • Reduced noise transmission • Improves indoor air quality (IAQ) • Will not support the growth of mold or mildew • Up to a four-hour Fire Resistive Rating • Minimizes construction wastes to three percent or less Apart from 2 additional hot water heating systems, new roofing will also be installed with a special insulator which will regulate heat from the sun. At present, roofing and flooring for Bilit Wing are progressing smoothly. Work will start on the Gomantong Hall and Gecko Bar and Lounge once room renovations are completed at the end of June. Two mock rooms have been completed for viewing. For more information on the update of the Sukau Rainforest Lodge, please contact us at info@sukau.com.

Look Who Dropped By?

5 Wild Vikings crew members from the famous Berserk Expeditions made a historic visit to Sukau in March 2010.
The crew aboard came to Sukau Rainforest Lodge on 28th March for dinner and stayed a few days in Kinabatangan before continuing their adventurous journey. Berserk Expeditions is a Norwegian adventurous crew that covers from the Pacific to Antarctica, West to Asia, Indian Ocean and Africa.

You may read their profile here

Taylor Family Returns to Borneo The Taylors are back again and a surprise birthday bash was organized for them, pot luck style at the Borneo Eco Tours office last week to celebrate Julie Taylor's birthday. Mrs. Taylor expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the special arrangement and her 11-day family visit to Sukau Rainforest Lodge will mark 12th times this year.

Let's Vote for Sukau Rainforest Lodge

The Sukau Rainforest Lodge is once again in the limelight for the annual World Travel Awards 2010. Just like in 2008 and 2009, the lodge is nominated in the Asia 's Leading Green Hotel category. Since its opening in 1995, the Sukau Rainforest Lodge has embraced a Green Policy in its operations to ensure the sustainability of the environment that it operates in.

One such policy which remains our selling point is the use of silent electric motors during our daily river cruises, and recently the utilization of the ‘Sukau River Mugs' to stop the wastage of plastic bottles.

The lodge is also actively involved in conservation and community projects in the Kinabatangan area dating back to 1995, mainly through its own inhouse non-profit organization Borneo Ecotourism Solutions & Technologies Society (BEST) (formerly known as SERDC) and WWF Malaysia. The ongoing tree planting project at the 65-acre Tenegang Kecil site, Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Programme (KWICORP) was initiated in 2000 to rehabilitate the degraded riverine forest.

Sukau Rainforest Lodge together with Borneo Eco Tours contribute RM50,000.00 a year to BEST Society for its projects. Read more about SRL's green policies and involvement in conservation and community projects here:

• SRL's green policies
• BEST Projects
  

Voting for the category of World's Leading Green Hotel is open until 17th September 2010.
To cast your vote, please click http://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote

 

BORNEO ECOTOURISM SOLUTIONS & TECHNOLOGIES ↑ Back to Top
www.bestsociety.org

Kimihang

Imagine a piece of ‘unpolished gem' at the northern shores of Borneo, with pristine white sandy beach, untouched mangrove forests with a turquoise blue river flowing right through it, night-river cruises to view the twinkling of thousands of fireflies, and where the traditional Rungus and Ubian community live primarily off nature's bounty. This place describes the perfect getaway for those that is weary of heart and soul, a special place almost equal to that of your own inner sanctum.

BEST Society will work with the UN SGP GEF Grant (United Nations Small Grants Programme Global Environment Facility) to develop ecotourism for the benefits of the local community in Kimihang for year 2010 to 2012.

The two year project will be officially launched with a cheque handing ceremony by the Minister of Tourism on the 6th May 2010, between BEST Society Chairman, Mr. Albert Teo and Mr. Muthusamy Suppiah, the National Coordinator for GEF SGP Malaysia at Kimihang Beach. 

Name: Marilyn & Mike Burge
Date of travel: 10th February 2010
Places visited: Semporna, Kinabalu Park and Danum Valley

Dear Fiona,

Our trip with your company was from February 10th to 28th 2010, as we had made our own arrangements for the first part of our holiday. Had we completed a questionnaire with our opinions of the trip it would be very boring to read as everything was excellent! We were so pleased to have spoken to and received help and advicefrom Mizal at the British Birdwatching Fair in August last year. The reason to visit Sabah at this time was to visit our daughter who is working on Pom Pom Island near Semporna. We arranged this with the resort, we were collected at Tawau Airport and taken in the resort minibus to Semporna.

After a short break at the office on the Quay we went to the boat for the 45 minute trip to the island. The villas were large, clean and very comfortable, similar standard to the Hill View cabins at Kinabalu Park and the Danum refurbished rooms, but with the sea as a plunge pool! Food was excellent and the staff friendly and helpful. When we left they arranged a taxi to take us to the Hotel at Lahad Datu, it took about two and a half hours.

The arrangements you made for the next part of the trip went very smoothly. We were collected on time from the hotel and taken to the Danum office to sign in and then travelled to the resort with Wang Kong Intal. He was an excellent bird guide, very knowledgeable and patient if the bird wasn't seen by us both! The refurbished Main Building opened on the day we arrived. It is much improved from our previous visit in 2003, as were the rooms. The only 'problem' with the transfer to Lahad Datu was Orangutans crossing the road! We arrived in good time and soon were in KK, being met by Osman (who was also accompanied our Naturetrek trip in 2003) and Danny.

The Hyatt Hotel was ideal for the one night stay, we enjoyed the Chinese New Year celebrations!At Poring Osman was able to take us to some quiet areas for birdwatching. Kinabalu Park had improved since our last visit, especially as it was too dry for leeches! Osman and Danny were great company and found us some good birds which we had not seen before. Our climb to Laban Rata was more strenuous than we had expected, but our Mountain Guide Ronnie was patient and helpful, pointing out the interesting plants and birds which took our attention away from our aching legs! Obviously the accommodation here was more basic, but it would have been nice to have water in the bathrooms, and a door too! We understand steps are being taken to increase water availability at the resthouse. The sunrise the next morning made the effort of the climb worthwhile, and we descended slowly to the comfortable Hill View room.

The Rasa Ria provided a different holiday experience, it was nice to relax in the luxurious surroundings before returning to cold UK. The transfer was excellent, as always the driver arrived in good time for the journey to the airport, even at 04.00!

Thank you again for excellent arrangements and also pass on our thanks to Wang Kong, Osman, Danny and all the others in your company who helped make our visit so enjoyable. We have no hesitation in recommending Borneo Eco Tours to anyone wishing to see the amazing wildlife of Sabah!

Best Wishes

Marilyn and Mike Burge, UK

Value for money
Our tours represent true value for money. Click here to read more.

Do you enjoy reading Borneo eZone? Tell us what you think by forwarding your comments and feedbacks to marketing@borneoecotours.com. Terima kasih!

Click here to unsubscribe.

Borneo Eco Tours Sdn Bhd (226853-W) KKKP 2277
Lot 1, Pusat Perindustrian, Kolombong Jaya, Mile 5.5, Jalan Kolombong, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Contact Number: 60-88-438300     Fax Number: 60-88-438307
Email: info@borneoecotours.com     Home Page: www.borneoecotours.com