2-DAY TURTLE ISLAND, PROBOSCIS MONKEYS AND ORANG-UTANS
TOUR:
View three spectacular species native to Borneo - the Turtle, the Proboscis Monkey
and the Orang-Utan. You'll visit Selingan Turlte Islands Park, Labuk Bay Probsoscis
Monkey Sancutary and Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre.
LEVEL: Moderate. No experience needed
LOCATION: Depart from Sandakan (but flights can be arranged cheaply
from Kota Kinabalu, the journey takes approximately 45 minutes by air.
DURATION: 2 days / 1 night
PRICE: £385
This excursion must be booked and paid for at least 3 months in advance in order
to secure the necessary permits.
Selingan Turtle Islands Park lies 40 kilometres north of Sandakan
and comprises of three small islands. It's one of the best destinations in Malaysia
for its unique marine wildlife and also is also the only breeding ground for
Green turtles in South East Asia. Most evenings scores of turtles crawl
onto the soft sand that fringes the islands to lay their eggs.
Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is located at the centre of
the mangrove forests of Semawang. Here you'll get the chance to see Borneo's indigenous
proboscis monkeys up close and personal!
Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre is the world's oldest,
biggest and most established orang-utan rehabilitation centre in the world. It covers
more than 4,500 hectares of unspoilt jungle that has been designated as a forest
reserve and sanctuary for the beautiful Orang-Utan.
ITINERARY: Day 1: Begins with a boat transfer at 9.30am to the Selingan Turtle Islands
Park (approx 45 minutes to 1 hour. On arrival you'll check into your accommodation.
After lunch you'll enjoy the beach and fantastic snorkelling in this marine paradise.
After dinner, the rangers will patrol the beach for turtles coming ashore to lay
eggs - a nightly occurrence on turtle island! When the time is right, you'll go
with the rangers to observe an adult female laying its eggs. This is a spectacular
sight, as the females are typically 1 - 2 metres in length and go into a trance
like state to lay their eggs. When the eggs have been laid the rangers will transfer
them to the safety of the hatchery, away from predators. This gives the eggs the
highest chance of success. At the hatchery, eggs are buried nightly and as such,
hatchlings occur most nights too. You will help with the release of the baby turtles
into the sea, giving each one a head start into the ocean! Who knows, maybe your
turtle will be back to lay eggs on the beach one day... by the power of nature,
all turtles find their way back to the beach they were hatched on to lay their own
eggs.
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
ITINERARY Day 2 : breakfast, then you'll depart for the mainland and an hour's travel
to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary where you'll get a close up encounter
of these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. You'll depart around 12.30pm
for the world famous Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, where you'll have
lunch on arrival. You'll then proceed to the feeding platform for the 3pm feeding
of the primates. The aim of the centre is to release Orang-Utan's back into the
wild and the feeding is a truly moving sight. You'll then get the chance to watch
a short, informative video show about the primates and the Rehabilitation centre
before departing for Sandakan. If you'd like to fly back to Kota Kinabalu you'll
be transferred to the airport.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
The price includes all land and boat transfers, accommodation and meals (stated
in
the itinerary), all entrance fees and permits and an English speaking guide. Please
note that the prices do not include the fee payable at Labuk Bay Sanctuary and Sepilok
Orang-Utan Centre for taking photos. We cannot guarantee the sightings of turtles,
due to unpredictable wildlife behaviour and weather conditions. However, it is well
known as a nightly occurrence on Turtle Island so we hope that you will not be disappointed.
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