Guided Instructional Photo Safaris by Choo Tse Chien

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

Dusky Broadbills - these were observed communally nesting one year.

Rufous Collared Kingfisher (male) with centipede

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

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

DAY 4

(Breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

Morning check out from the Sepilok B&B at 0830hrs. We will take a leisurely 2 hour drive to Sukau, our basecamp for photo safari boat cruises on the Kinabatangan River. Upon arrival in Sukau, we will check in at the Barefoot Wildlife Lodge and have lunch. The 1st boat cruise will start at 1630hrs where we will head out to look for Bornean endemics. Return to the lodge for dinner. After dinner, we will again venture out for the night river safari in search of the nocturnal birdlife. Return to the lodge for overnight.

(Total : 1 afternoon cruise + 1 night safari cruise)


DAY 5

(Breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

Full days shall be spent on land and boat in pursuit of the specials around the area. Proboscis monkeys, hornbills, kingfishers, egrets, pig tailed or long tailed macaque and Borneo’s snakes can be photographed from the boat. There will be a good chance of seeing Borneo’s elephant and wild Orang utan. Return to lodge for dinner, rest at leisure.

(Total : 1 morning cruise + 1 afternoon cruise + 1 night safari cruise)


Please note that :

Morning river cruises are usually from 0630hrs to about 1100hrs

Afternoon river cruises are usually from 1600hrs to about 1830hrs

Night river cruises are usually from 2030hrs to about 2230hrs

Photography at the Bristlehead Tower of the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Center

Photograph by Cede Prudente.

DAY 6

(Breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

Full days shall be spent on land and boat in pursuit of the specials around the area. Proboscis monkeys, hornbills, kingfishers, egrets, pig tailed or long tailed macaque and Borneo’s snakes can be photographed from the boat. There will be a good chance of seeing Borneo’s elephant and wild Orang utan. Return to lodge for dinner, rest at leisure.

(Total : 1 morning cruise + 1 afternoon cruise)


DAY 7

(Only breakfast is included)

We will spend this last day on one last morning cruise before heading back to Sukau to pack and check out after lunch. We will then make the 2 hour drive back to Sandakan for airport drop off.

(Total : 1 morning cruise)

(please advice if you require a post night's stay in Sandakan so that we can try to arrange a booking for you OR your departure flight times so that we can time your arrival at Sandakan airport departures appropriately)



Inclusions : the following are included :

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

  1. -3 nights accommodation at Sepilok B&B 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 Sepilok RDC Entrance fees & camera permits.

  3. -3 nights accommodation at Sukau Barefoot Lodge based on twin sharing. The jungle chalets at the Barefoot Lodge are not air conditioned but there is a ceiling fan and attached shower & toilet.

  4. -8 (eight) photo safari river boat cruises as stated in the itinerary.

  5. -Daily Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary entrance fees & camera permits.

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

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

  8. -Personal bird photography guide for entire duration of tour (7 days).


Exclusions : the following are not included :

  1. -Transport to Sandakan, Sabah.

  2. -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 :

- 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 and at the Kinabatangan River 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.

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

All images and content Copyright © Choo Tse Chien. All Rights Reserved

Misty morning on one of the quieter tributaries of the Kinabatangan.

Setting sun on the Kinabatanagan River

Looking for wildlife on the Kinabatangan River

The Barefoot Wildlife Lodge at Sukau

Mummy and baby Proboscis Monkey leaping into the Kinabatangan River

Saltwater crocodiles are found at almost every river bend at the Kinabatangan

Big game such as this endemic Bornean Pygmy Elephant are seen along the riverbanks

Boat cruise for bird watching & photography on a quiet morning at the Kinabatangan.

Photograph by Cede Prudente.