Guided Instructional Photo Safaris by Choo Tse Chien

Optional Extra - There will be an additional MYR 300.00 per person on the optional daytrip with a boat ride on the the Kinabatangan River. This includes private transport to Sukau and back (to Sepilok B&B), lunch and 3 hour private boat ride to see wildlife on the banks of the Kinabatangan River and it’s tributaries.


- Validity from immediate to 31st October 2011 only

  1. -Prices are based on twin sharing of rooms

  2. -Single supplement charges will apply if you wish for a single room.

  3. -Prices are valid for a fixed validity period and subject to revision whenever possible to allow for savings from off-peak periods and new promotions by the hotel.

  4. -Trip is subject to a minimum of only 1 confirmed place.


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Notes

This is only a sample itinerary, and the routes and timing may change according to local weather & environmental conditions, but the content of the trip will remain essentially the same as stated above.


This program is well structured for the bird photographer with ample time allocated to allow for getting a better photograph and there will be regular feeding stations where the photographer will be able to get near to the birds without much difficulty.


The guiding for all my Guided Nature Photo Safaris are not outsourced. Be assured that I, myself will be personally leading each and every one of the tours offered on this website.


This is a Instructional Guided Photo Safari.

Have no concerns if you are a beginner bird photographer as there will be full on-hand instructions & tips on site on actual shooting techniques so that you can learn to take great pictures on the fly. I will be there to guide you on proper camera metering, WB and exposure settings, proper handling techniques for your setup and also advice on the compositional and creative aspects of bird photography. Tips on techniques & tools used in post capture image editing will also be available after hours.


The peak hours for bird activity at the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Center is from 0600hrs to 1100hrs and again from 1530hrs to 1800hrs.


All trips are available all year round, but prices may be adjusted for peak periods (school & public holidays).


Advance booking is required for adequate forward planning. Kindly allow minimum two months prior to departure date.


Personal Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase relevant & adequate travel insurance to cover your entire stay in Malaysia that includes this trip. Be assured that there is no high risk activity offered in this itinerary that is not covered by a standard travel insurance policy.


We can purchase travel insurance for you if you are not covered at an additional charge of MYR 70.00 per person.


Payment & Deposit

- Payment of 50% is required upon confirmation of booking (confirmation is subject to availability of rooms)

- The balance of the payment must be made 14 days prior to the date of commencement of trip.

- We reserve the right to cancel the booking should the payment not received by the deadline given.


Payment can be made by fund transfer to any of the following bank accounts :

- Maybank (MBB) Account Number  : 107152135075

- CIMB Bank Account Number : 07140006886059

(note - all under account holder name ”CHOO TSE CHIEN”)


For convenience, payments and booking deposits can also be accepted in your local home currency using Paypal. Please request for conversion to your local currency for this.


Contact

Please contact me at tsechien@me.com or by calling +60124748354 (if in Malaysia, just dial 0124748354) if you are interested in getting a place on this this trip.

Itinerary :


DAY 1

(Only lunch & dinner is included)

Pick up Sandakan Airport and proceed to drive to the Rainforest Discovery Center.

Arrive at the Sepilok Bed & Breakfast to check into air conditioned jungle chalet

We will start birding as soon as everybody has settled in at the B&B and make the most of the day until last light.


DAY 2

(Breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

0600 to 1800hrs : Full day birding & photography at the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Center

Starting early in the morning at 0600hrs, we will head to one of the towers and canopy walkways to see birds of the middle storey and canopy. You will see a wide variety of birds such as broadbills, woodpeckers, barbets, sunbirds and spiderhunters. Hornbills can also be seen coming in to feed on fruiting trees


After the canopy gets quiet, we will moving on to the quieter jungle shaded trails where we will have a chance to see & photograph some more of the elusive skulking species such as the forest kingfishers, pittas and babblers. There are a lot of well marked trails criss crossing the expanse of the RDC and we will try each of these trails for their speciality birds.


In the mid to late afternoon, we will again head up to the canopy to see the sought after Bornean endemic, the Bornean Bristlehead.


DAY 3

(Breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

0600 to 1800hrs : Full day birding & photography at the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Center

Optional Extra - a daytrip with a boat ride on the the Kinabatangan River can be arranged with prior notice. This includes private transport to Sukau and back (to Sepilok B&B), lunch and 3 hour private boat ride to see wildlife on the banks of the Kinabatangan River and it’s tributaries.

This will be an additional MYR 300.00 per person.


DAY 4

(Only breakfast is included)

Half day birding until about 1100 to 1200hrs

Check out from the Sepilok B&B at 1200hrs and transfer to Sandakan Airport for departure.


Inclusions : the following are included :

- Pick up and drop off anywhere in Sandakan / Sandakan Airport

  1. -3 nights accommodation as indicated in itinerary based on twin sharing. The jungle chalets at the Sepilok B&B all have air conditioning and attached shower & toilet. Free WiFi access is available at the main check in desk & dining areas.

  2. -Daily RDC Entrance fees & camera permits

- All transportation costs by private car (including fuel and associated costs)

- Includes all meals (B/L/D) daily as indicated in the itinerary

  1. -Personal bird photography guide for entire duration of tour (4 days)


Exclusions : the following are not included :

  1. -Transport to Sandakan, Sabah.

  2. -Optional day trip to the Kinabatangan River with photo safari & river cruise on Day 3.

  3. -Personal travel insurance.

- Any orders on alcohol.

- Additional meals and snacks.

- Additional activities not specifically listed in above itinerary.

- Other incidentals - telephone calls, laundry, paid wifi internet access, room minibar charges.



Prices :

High up on the canopy at the Bristlehead Tower and canopy walkway.

The canopy walkway affords both the bird watcher and photographer unparalled access to the middle storey & high canopy bird species

Bornean Brown Barbet - regularly appear at the canopay walkway in a flock of 3-5 birds.

Black & Red Broadbills - can be called out from the understorey during the mating season.

Black & Yellow Broadbill - are present at the canopy throughout the year and are very vocal.

Dusky Broadbills - these were observed communally nesting one year.

Grey & Buff Woodpecker (male) - often appear in a male/female pair looking for food.

Banded Broadbill.

Raffles Malkoha - normally elusive, these can be seen more easily at the canopy.

White Bellied Woodpecker - a large resident of the RDC, the noise this bird makes is unmistakable.

Buff Necked Woodpecker - also likely to appear as a pair.

Another feature of the Sepilok RDC that provides suitable habitat for species which live closer to the forest under-storey and floor (such as forest kingfishers, trogons, pittas, babblers and some flycatchers and spiderhunters) are the presence of many shallow freshwater streams.


This is seen in the Kingfisher and Woodpecker Trails where much of the trail runs parallel to a shallow freshwater jungle stream. These are rich hunting grounds for Rufous Collared Kingfishers, Oriental Dwarf Kingfishers and ground dwelling Pittas. The soft muddy banks are suitable nesting sites for the kingfishers too and low overhanging branches across these shallow streams are favourite perches for many a kingfisher looking for small fish and shrimp.

Rufous Collared Kingfisher (male) with centipede, photographed during a 2010 nesting season along the Kingfisher Trail.

Rufous Collared Kingfisher (female) - a bit harder to see compared to the male but is a regular of RDC.

Ruddy Kingfisher - an unusual migrant wintering in RDC in Oct 2010. This bird prefers the more swampy areas where food is abundant.

Oriental Dwarf Kingfishers - often heard and seen whizzing past as a flash of red and orange

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As a gauge, MYR 3.00 is equivalent to roughly USD 1.00