Rhiniceros Hornbill by Liew Weng Keong

Borneo, the world’s third-largest island, is also one of its most  biodiverse wildlife havens. With over 50 island avian endemics found across pristine dipterocarp forests, montane cloudforests, riverine habitats, and mangrove swamps we’ll enjoy an amazing time on this small-group birding tour. We’ll see a stunning array of birds from mouthwatering families like pittas, trogons, kingfishers, hornbills, and broadbills, as well as a wide range of mammalian treasures. Our Borneo birding tour will take us to the important birdwatching sites of the Malaysian province of Sabah, which covers the northernmost part of this vast and amazing island, including time spent birding in five of its IBAs (Important Bird Areas identified by BirdLife International): the Crocker Range, Mount Kinabalu, Kabili-Sepilok, the Kinabatangan river floodplain, and the Danum Valley (where we will stay at the magnificent Borneo Rainforest Lodge).

Some of our targets include the famous “Whitehead’s trio” of Whitehead’s Trogon, Whitehead’s Broadbill, and Whitehead’s Spiderhunter, along with the monotypic Bornean Bristlehead, a big target for family listers and one of Borneo’s most sought endemics. We’ll also look for other mega-endemic birds such as Bornean Ground Cuckoo, Fruithunter, and Bornean Green Magpie, and for three glittering endemic pittas, the sublime trio of Blue- headed Pitta, Black-crowned Pitta, and Bornean Banded Pitta. And, finally, we’ll also keep an eye out for the near-mythical Giant Pitta.

On our radar will be all eight hornbill species that occur here, including the spectacular Helmeted Hornbill, which is now Critically Endangered, along with stunning Rhinoceros Hornbill. There will also be plenty of other endemic and Sundaic birds available during this tour, such as Storm’s Stork, (Bornean/Black-faced) Banded Kingfisher, and Bornean Forktail.

In addition to the incredible birds, we’ll also be focused on finding some spectacular mammals, such as the “old man of the forest,” the Bornean Orangutan, along with the unique-looking Proboscis Monkey, plus other delights including Malay Civet, Red Giant Flying Squirrel, Northern Grey Gibbon, and Asian Elephant. The reptiles will be represented by the Saltwater Crocodile, the largest member of the crocodilia order. For questions and registration contact Eric Schroeder at travelprogram@goldengateaudubon.org 

Cost: MYR 38,588 per person sharing, based on 6 – 8 participants (Approximately 8,950 USD)
Single Supplement: MYR 7,930

Complete description and itinerary can be viewed here. Please do not contact the vendor first.