small note from me and Nicholas: we know some of the postings we did here in our blog can give some info to the others. sure, can be taken as additional info. but mind you to do some small etiquette with permission before make a link. this accident is somewhat we didn’t want to be happened again!

this danum valley visits had been made about 2 years ago. Nicholas did this journal whilst i’m away to kota kinabalu. and also appears in the thorn tree of lonely planet.

here the info:

Malaysia Airlines operates 4 flights per day to Lahad Datu – 117 Malaysian Ringgit o/w.

In order to visit Danum Valley Field Centre you must have a booking, this can be done on the internet at maliaubasin.

I made the mistake of showing up at the conservation office in Lahad Datu (Fajar Plaza 2 minutes walk from the airport) without a booking. Fortunately for me due to my charm and politeness (and Bahasa Malay! ) they helped me put together a letter which they faxed to the office in Kota Kinabalu basically saying I was doing some kind of research relating to conservation.

I then had to wait for the office in KK to confirm that my application had been accepted. (The reply from the office in KK was yes but said I couldn’t take photos! But later at DVFC they said it was OK)

Be warned that doing it this way (turning up without prebooking) is maybe not a good idea as the $150 per night Borneo Rainforest lodge operates out of the same building (upstairs) and if they think you are a tourist (or are rude and arrogant) that’s where you’ll be diverted to.

I’d heard from scientists that quite often people who simply show up get turned away. Well, I’m not quite sure the reason because the literature I have and on the website says they welcome tourists with an interest in nature at the Danum Valley Field Centre.

Following is a summary of the costs (you are charged according to your visitor category – I was ‘E’):

Entry Permit – 30RM (I think Borneo Rainforest lodge tourists get charged 200RM!!!!).

Transport charges (Lahad Datu to DVFC return) – 80RM. A Minibus operates Mon/Wed/Fri.

Accomodation (dormitory & has a kitchen) – 55RM per night.

Food:
Breakfast – 15RM per meal.
Lunch – 12RM per meal.
Dinner – 25RM per meal.

Night Drive – 110RM.

Forest Guide – 5RM per hour.

Heres what I saw each day during my visit:-

Monday afternoon: Mouse Deer x1, RhinoHornbill x3, Fruitbat x1, Fireback Pheasant x1, Bearded Pig x1

Tuesday: Hornbill (3 types) x9, Woodpeckers x2, Red Leaf Monkey x1, Gibbon (Calling), Bearded Pig x1

Wednesday: Agile Gibbon x1, Eagle x3, Hornbill x5, Gibbon (Calling), Peacock (Calling), Bearded Pig x2, Fireback Pheasant x3, Female Bulwers Pheasant x1, Buffy Fish Owl x1

Thursday: Rhino Hornbill x2, Bird (Little Spiderhunter) x1, Large Squirrel x1, Bearded Pig x1, Fireback Pheasant x2, Black River Frogs? x6

Friday: Black Hornbill x1, Male Great Argus Pheasant x1, Rhino Hornbill x3, Flying Lizard x2, Gibbon (Calling), Barking deer (Calling), Red Leaf Monkey x3, Large Squirrel x1, King Fisher x1, Bird (Little Spiderhunter) x1, Buffy Fish Owl x1, Bearded Pig x1

Nightdrive: Palm Civet x1, Malay Civet x1, Leopard Cat x1, Flying Squirrel x3, Slow Loris x1, Sambar Deer x10

Saturday: Bearded Pig x3, Grey Macaque x2, Palm Civet x1, Rhino Hornbill x3, Flying Squirrel x1, Woodpecker x4, Black Hornbill x1, Gibbon (Calling)
Elephants – I found & followed their dung in the forest even heard them once but never saw them! Barking Deer x1

Sunday: Sambar Deer x1, Hornbill x14 (sitting 2/3hrs 50m up in the tower W6)!!, Pigtail Macaque x4, Gibbon (Calling)

Nightwalk: Black Whiptail Scorpians x2, Pitta x1, Chamelion? x1

Monday: Crested Serpant Eagle x2, Pigtail Macaque x1, Red Leaf Monkey x2

The above was based on getting up every morning at 6am and walking the trails all day till dusk. Guides are supposed to be compulsory on anything other than the nature trail but no-one seemed interested or bothered that I went on my own (the trails are excellent & well marked).

Some tips:
BRING BINOCULARS!!!!
Autan (Insect repellent) – guaranteed – the tiger leeches are awaiting your arrival!!
Light waterproof jacket.
Compact umbrella (it’s ok the trails are quite wide in most places).
Refill Waterbottle.
High power Torch.

Summary:
The Forest in Danum Valley is absolutely stunning – huge huge dipterocarp trees. I could be very happy to stay there for a couple of months walking the trails and would never be bored because you never know what you’ll see. Everytime is different.

The Coffin trail is also quite interesting. They found some coffins (made from Belian wood) and burial jars dating back to 1210. Nice to see they haven’t ended up in a museum collection and are still there.

Well, I didn’t see a single orangutan but some teachers on a 2 day visit did on the saturday (a large male in the nature trail forest behind the resthouse). I’m told in August all the trees there are fruiting and typically you’ll see everything from the balcony of the resthouse. So alot is down to timing with the fruiting of the trees.

I was very happy with my Danum experience and would definitely go back there (August would be nice – fruit season). The difference with this place compared to the National Parks in Indo is that in Danum they have some kind of law inforcement and in the conservation area the forest is absolutely beautiful – huge huge trees.

Other thing is that there have not been any indigenous communities living in that area which is probably why you see so many sambar deer (they are so vulnerable to hunting and freeze when you shine a high powered lamp).

All in all my trip to DVFC cost me around £170 for 7/8 days inc return flights from KK.