Getting to know Sabah ‘s nature and fauna was almost the only reason we had come to this province of Malaysia. First of all, we wanted to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, but also to try our luck and see these and other species of animals that live in the jungle in Borneo in complete freedom: proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, gibbons, langurs or crocodiles, among others.
Uncle Tan Wildlife and Adventures offers the chance to discover the jungle and its wildlife by staying at their camp and doing various activities such as boat rides on the Kinabatangan River and short treks in the area, always accompanied by young and enthusiastic guides.
The reviews we had read about Uncle Tan Camp were all very good, as this agency, with more than 20 years of work behind it, is recommended by guides, travelers and several travel blogs. According to the experience of the people and their staff, animal sightings are guaranteed.
Seven hours of bus travel through endless and ugly palm plantations is what it takes to get from Kota Kinabalu to the “base of operations” of Uncle Tan Camp in Sepilok. That’s where the adventure begins.
Despite the boring journey, on a bus where the air conditioning was turned off and tire punctures included, we were particularly excited to go camping and our motivation made it not take so long.
What does this excursion we were so excited about include? Well, the option we chose (3 days/2 nights) includes, for 455 MR per person:
Note: Although the transfer to the orangutan rehabilitation center from Base Camp is included, the entrance fee is not and must be paid separately upon arrival.
Exploring the jungle with Uncle Tan was certainly a pleasant experience. The staff is welcoming, the guides are almost all very young, cheerful and passionate, and they turn any activity into a party, always preceded, of course, by all the relevant explanations.
At Uncle Tan Camp there is a hut with whiteboards, posters and maps, from which we always tell you what we are going to do on our next trip, what animals we might see, what we need to catch and what the basic safety rules are.
There is no time to get bored during the three-day camping trip, but it is not necessary to make any great effort either, as most of the time is spent calmly cruising along the Kinabatangan River looking for animals.
We saw gibbons singing and jumping from tree to tree, several groups of proboscis monkeys, dozens of mischievous macaques, some silver langurs, a couple of crocodiles, owls and many hornbills. So you can imagine how much fun we had.
The pity was not seeing any orangutans, because although it is difficult to see them, it is not impossible, nor any group of pygmy elephants… that would have been perfect.
The night out was a real discovery, because we saw a lot of small animals in just one small area. As we got closer by boat we were able to see some.
As for the Uncle Tan camp and its amenities, it should be noted in advance that these are extremely simple rooms, so much so that they do not even have doors.
In addition, backpacks must be protected with padlocks and things that are susceptible to being stolen by macaques (the jungle mafia) must be kept in closed cubes provided there.
The bathroom is also worth mentioning… Located at the end of the wooden walkway that connects all the structures and rooms in the camp, the showers are huge containers that are filled with water from the river, and they lack any privacy, but hey, what can you do? We are in the jungle, you can’t ask for more.
The common areas are the dining room (where several trays are usually served for lunch and dinner, with a vegetarian option), the meeting room, a football field and some hammocks. And of course, cats that always keep you company wherever you are.
The entire camp is elevated and all the facilities are connected by wooden platforms, so when it rains you don’t have to walk through the mud.
The worst thing about camping is seeing with your own eyes how the palm plantations have taken over the jungle. Despite the protected areas, which are not that many, you only have to look up a little when you are sailing along the river to see that, just behind the first row of trees, the damn monocultures are already making an appearance.
Our advice? Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the Borneo jungle while you can (and educate yourself about the natural disaster that is the consumption of this irresponsibly and unsustainably produced oil).
How to get there from Kota Kinabalu?
Don’t forget to bring:
