Featured image: early morning safari on the Kinabatangan river.
After reading Redmond O’Hanlon ‘s book “Into the heart of Borneo”, my next destination was decided. Jungles, rivers and mountains covered in dense Ditocarp rainforest where leeches and insectes crawl the forestfloors…
Early morning view from a mountaintop near Mount Kinabalu. Birdwatching is a pain, you have to get up around 5 am, but the reward is there! Binoculars are your best friend.
A trip to Borneo was on my bucket-list, no doubt I will soon return!. For 1 month I explored Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The first thing that strikes you upon arrival is the biodiversity. It is incredible! Despite the loss of habitat due to extensive logging and palmtree plantations galore, there are a lot of national parks and remote areas where the true explorer will get his kicks!
For sure!
The Rafflesia is the largest flower in the world and the symbol of Sabah, Borneo. Flowers measure up to 1 meter across. There are 55 species of Rafflesia, of which 9 are found in Borneo. Pictured here is the Rafflesia Keithii found near the village of Poring. Alongside their rarity, size and unusual appearance, it is the strange lifestyle of Rafflesias that make them so fascinating. The Rafflesia is a parasitic flower. The only visible part of the plant is a single flower that has no leaves, stems or roots.
Butterflies and moths belong to the same order of insects, called Lepidoptera. The name means ‘scaly wings’ as most butterflies and moths are covered with tiny overlapping scales. The scales not only protect and strengthen their wings, but also form attractive colours and patterns. Here are a few guidelines, as always in flora & fauna, there are a lot of exceptions to the rules…
Mount Kinabalu (4095m) is the highest mountain of the Malay Archipelago and a well known tourist attraction . The ascent is a 2 day/1 night ordeal and by no means an easy trek. The thoughest part is the gruelling descent, a true torture to the knees! After paying admission fees, overnight stays, guide fees, park fees, etc… You will have heavily contributed to the Malay economy. It’s expensive, really expensive.
As I wanted to spare my knees, save money and avoid crowdy mountains all in one go, I decided to explore the Kinabalu national park.
