Borneo is an island in South East Asia shared between three different countries; Malaysia,Indonesia,and the Sultanate of Brunei. It’s the third largest island in the world.

We travelled to the Malaysian part of Borneo, which is divided into two states Sabah and Sarawak.

We started our journey in Sandakan, in the state of Sabah, and after a short transfer, we stayed in a small resort in Sepilok. Right next door is the famous Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where rescued orangutans are cared for and gradually prepared for release back into the wild. It was an incredible experience to see the work being done there – I’d absolutely recommend a visit to anyone travelling in the area.

Whilst in Sandakan, we visited the Agnes Keith House, now part of the Sabah Museum. Agnes Keith, a survivor of a World War 2 POW camp, lived here. A gallery inside showcases her life, writings, and family history through a timeline from 1873 to 2004, along with various war artifacts. Across from the house is The English Tea House, where you can enjoy afternoon tea (or even shepherd’s pie) and play croquet on the lawn. During our visit, a friendly peacock was very interested in the scones and jam!

From there, we put on our leech socks and travelled south to a riverside resort on the Kinabatangan River. The area was rich in wildlife – we spotted wild orangutans, various species of macaque monkeys, proboscis monkeys, hornbills, and Chinese egrets. The abundance of animals made the experience unforgettable. During evening walks, we also encountered nocturnal creatures such as tarsiers and various species of bats.From here, we travelled to the Danum Valley Conservation Area. With a local guide, we walked through the forest in search of wild orangutans. We were lucky enough to spot a mother and her baby during our walk, along with plenty of other wildlife. On leaving, on the way to the nearest airport, our driver stopped after hearing over the radio that a herd of wild Bornean elephants, also known as the Borneo pygmy elephant, had been sighted nearby. We were incredibly fortunate to see an entire herd cross the road in front of us.

From there, we flew back over the mountains for some R&R in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. Here, we swapped wildlife for culture. We visited the Mari Mari Cultural Village, where visitors can learn about the traditional lifestyles of various Bornean ethnic communities. There are also plenty of local markets to explore—perfect for picking up gifts and souvenirs to take home. Alternatively, you can take a nostalgic trip on the North Borneo Steam Railway and enjoy Tiffin—a traditional lunch served in a tin box—a charming throwback to times gone by. Or just relax and enjoy the sunset.

Useful information: this is based on the area we travelled to, which was the Malaysian part of Borneo.

No visa required for UK citizens.

Currency: Malaysian Ringgit. We were able to purchase these in the UK.

If you are travelling to the Brunei part it’s the Brunei Dollar or if you are going to the Indonesia part it’s the Indonesian Rupia.

Language: Malay but English is widely used.

Useful Malay phrases:

Hello/Hi: Hai

Thank you: Terima kasih

Please: Sila / Tolong

I hope that you have found this little snapshot of Borneo interesting, if it’s somewhere that you think you would like to go, then get in touch with Helen and I’m sure she will be able to plan an amazing holiday for you.

By Nici