Borneo Wildlife Discoverer

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 10 reviews.

John Gilman

BORNEO WILDLIFE DISCOVERER

Written March 2013
A good trip which could have been spectacular.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were a number of moments on this trip. The time spent at Kinabatangan, Danum Valley and Mulu NP were the highlights for me. The variety of wildlife and the settings were fantastic, despite the heat and humidity!! I have taken away a lot of memories from this trip especially from the river journeys at Kanabatangan (seeing pygmy elephants, hornbills, proboscus monkeys and Orang Utans at close quarters etc.) and the cave systems at Mulu NP - awesome. There were too many birds, lizards, primates etc to mention. They've been covered in previous reviews anyway. The walking is easy if your relatively fit.
What did you think of your group leader?
Zahari tried his best to get us all involved but 16 people on this type of "adventure" is too many to deal with comfortably. He was very well organised in the logistics of buses, planes, 4 wheel drives etc. and as a restauranteur. He was a good bird spotter and is passionate about his region, Sabah and it's people.
Zahari is a really nice guy and I'd like to do another trip with him when he wasn't so stressed out !!!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for the heat and humidity!!! We were lucky in that we had little rain over the holiday but the conditions are sapping and three showers a day are almost compulsary. Pack light and don't bring things like jeans as they will not dry in the humidity. There's ample opportunities to get your laundry done at ridiculously low prices outside the hotel.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was a great trip set in astonishing rainforest for most of the time. The towns KK and Kuching were also interesting with some fantastic food at cheap prices. We had a few gripes with accommodation (KK hotel not the best, not enough rooms for the group at Mulu NP!!) and no confirmed flights on the way home so not up to the usual Exodus high standards I'm afraid. I would recommend this trip for the wildlife but in my opinion the maximum group size of sixteen is too many to get the full experience.
Marie Williamson

BORNEO WILDLIFE DISCOVERER

Written August 2012
An amazing experience. We came so close to wildlife it was awesome.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
We took an extended river cruise down river, as our guide had been told of a herd of pygmy elephants quite a long way away. Just when we were begining to think we wouldn't see any, we found them. At first we could only hear them & see the tops of their backs over the grasses. Then one stopped to feed and kindly ate & cleared the way so we could see him clearly. A huge creature stood right in front of us. We were so close it was absolutely amazing.
The wild orang-utans were also an amazing sight. We saw a mum & baby near the entrance to Gamatong cave. Then we saw a few more in the trees along Kinabatangan River from a distance. But when we were at Danum Valley we came so close it was unbelievable. The first day there, we were stood watching a mum and baby feeding from a very close distance for quite a long time. And then on the morning trek the day we were leaving we came even closer to a young male. We watched him eating fruit, hanging upside down, spitting out the seeds & watching us. Awesome!!
We went on this trip not expecting but hoping to see as much as possible. They are wild animals after all. But in the first 2 weeks it just seemed to get better and better.
Our list of sightings: Rafflesia flowering, flying squirrel, scorpions, western tarsier, proboscis monkeys, long & short tailed macaques, red leaf & silver leaf monkeys, monitor lizards, orang-utans (11 wild + the ones at the sanctuaries), crocodiles, pygmy elephants, samber deer, mouse deer, civets, gibbon, pit vipers, red bellied viper, turrantulas, marbled cat, bat exodus (at deer cave), flying lemur, Irrawady dolphins. Plus lots of different insects and beautiful birds.
What did you think of your group leader?
Zahari was brilliant. He couldn't have done more for any of us. He was a brilliant spotter and showed us lots of things we wouldn't possibly have seen had he not been there. He is passionate about birds/animals, his country & it's people and he could tell us facts about most of the things he showed us. He was happy to be seeing all the amazing things himself and even happier to be sharing these things with us.
Thank you Zahari.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Our first week was dry but we still encountered leeches. Quite a lot actually!! Leech socks are a must. We bought ours whilst we were there for about £6 and I'm glad we did. When the rain did start I was glad we took ponchos. Great cover for our backpacks and cameras as well as ourselves.
There were a few single travellers on our trip, but we all got on great and ate (& drank) together most nights. We were in a group so if you wanted company it was there, or if you decided to be alone sometimes you could be.
The long walk through the jungle on day 5 was a 9(ish) km walk. It took us just less than 6 hours. The trip is definately a moderate activity level as it includes quite a bit of walking, mostly on uneven surfaces up and down hills in very hot, humid weather.
We did the optional trips, paid camera fees, ate street food and at restaurants, bought souveniers and drank lots of beer all for about £350 each for the 3 weeks.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I'd been looking at this trip for over a year. Even though I really wanted to go, it was the cost that was stopping me. Then I decided to just go for it and I'm glad I did. It was a once in a lifetime, amazing experience. (You may have noticed I've used the word amazing quite a lot in my review!!)
Tracy Leighton

BORNEO WILDLIFE DISCOVERER

Written August 2012
This trip fulfilled an abition to see a variety of primates, but especially the Orangutan, in their natural habitat. It was amazing.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Although the trip notes advise that you may not see anything you always hope that your trip will be the exception. I think on this occasion it was - we were lucky to see several wild orangutans as well as those in the sanctuary. We also saw gibbons, macques, red and silver leaf monkeys. Not to mention a range of insects, bugs, birds, civet cats, pygmy elephants and so much more. A memorable moment was when we watched a mother orangutan watching over her young as it explored how to travel through the trees. She would let it go ahead and when it was stuck she would come in and help by swaying the trees so it could reach into the next branch.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader, Zahari, was just brilliant. He worked so hard to ensure that each and everyone of us in the group had an amazing experience. He was knowledgable about his country and the wildlife. He obviously got a lot of joy out of seeing the wildlife too even though he has been there many times before. Our trip would not have been as special without Zahari's energy, guidance and support. Thank you.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Leech socks - a must even in the dry season (can be brought there through the guide)
Waterproof/poncho - it helps to keep bag/camera dry as well as yourself
Be prepared to get very hot and sweaty - have good walking shoes as trekking through the rainforest is uneven.
The first half of the trip is quite strenous but be prepared to give everything a go.
Optional trips, camera fees, street/restaurant food, souvenirs, drinking etc cost me about £360.00 for the 20 days.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It really was an amazing experience - you can not guarantee what you will see BUT even the smallest bug creates excitement when seen in its natural habitat (and donating blood to a leech is part of the souvenir process)!
keith stevens

BORNEO WILDLIFE DISCOVERER

Written May 2011
One of the best holidays I have ever had, our rep Mr Lee Teck Seng was just the best rep and friend to us all. He made every person feel individual and important
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
To see a wild orangutan in the forest were they should be
and a sighting of a wild Cloud Leopard with Cub
What did you think of your group leader?
Just wonderful he really made our trip
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Just do it
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The people are so friendly
Roberta Rennie

BORNEO WILDLIFE DISCOVERER

Written April 2011
I've been on some great Exodus trips, but this one was up there with the best! The wildlife, the country, the trip leader - all brilliant!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing wild Orangutans was probably unexpected - we had some great sightings. The sanctuary visits were wonderfull too. I also loved the boat trips along the Kinabatangan River - relaxing, but lots of wildlife to spot in passing.
What did you think of your group leader?
Lee was an excelllent leader - very knowledgeable (he would often spot animals/birds before the local experts). He was also caring and totally professional in dealing with a varied group. He made the trip a memorable experience.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take plenty of memory cards & a long lense if you're interested in getting good photos - there are endless opportunities! We were quite lucky with the weather, but a decent light waterproof comes in handy, as do waterproof bags for cameras etc.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I hope the tourism industry and the desire of visitors to see the rainforest in its original state, will somehow prevent any more incursion of the endless barren oil palm plantations. Borneo is such an amazing place to visit - and Exodus does it well!
Mechthild Bore-Wuesthof

BORNEO WILDLIFE DISCOVERER

Written November 2009
I saw more wildlife then I had expected which was fantastic!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
When in the morning at about 6 o'clock a wild male Orang Utan walked by my porch - at a distance of about 5 meters. This happened at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge - a great place to be!
What did you think of your group leader?
Lee was fantastic with a real passion for all kinds of wild animals and his home country! And he transferred this passion to most of us travellers.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I would recommend not to use a rucksack but some kind of trolley where you can easily access your stuff, because you never stay longer at one place than 3 nights. Also you should only bring clothes that are easily cleaned and dry fast; I carried with me two pairs of Jeans which I never used!
Donald Macdonald

BORNEO DISCOVERER

Written January 2008
Throughout the holiday we awoke both feeling that the experiences of the previous day could not be surpassed. We were wrong!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were many including the experience of watching Orangs in the wild at Danum valley and the village stay and the night in the rainforest.
What did you think of your group leader?
Chris was friendly and had a very obvious love and knowledge of his country which enhanced our enjoyment a great deal.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Keep your ears and eyes working all the time because there is always something to experience in this wonderful place.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It was difficult to leave!