Description: The Danum Valley Conservation Area, like Maliau
Basin, both in Sabah, an be regarded as the Lost World of Borneo
given its almost undisturbed tropical rainforest and abundance of
biodiversity. This article gives an insight into the conservation of
the Danum Valley and offers some tips on how visitors can reach
there on a unique Nature Tour that is beyond compare.
Located
in the district of Lahad Datu in the south east of Sabah, the Danum
Valley Conservation Area is a natural paradise of lush tropical
lowland rainforest habitat with an incredible diversity of plant and
animal life, a perfect destination for a Nature Tour.
The conservation Area consists of 43,800 hectares of protected
virgin forest rich in Sabah’s unique flora and fauna. It has been
acknowledged to have one of the world’s most complex ecosystems.
The conservation of the Danum Valley began in 1996 by the State
government of Sabah. The Danum Valley Field Centre was established
on the same year as a tropical rainforest research and environmental
education station. Today, the Field Centre has undertaken many
important tropical rainforest and conservation research papers and
findings.
Some of the wildlife attractions at Danum include 275 species of
birds including all eight species of hornbills native to Borneo, 110
species of mammals such as Asian elephants, Orang Utan, civets,
clouded leopards, five species of deer, and a full house of Borneo
rarities ranging from the Sumatran rhinoceros to Bulwar’s peasant.
To get to Danum Valley, You can take an early morning flight from
Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu, and transfer by road for about 2 hours to your
accommodation (i.e., Borneo Rainforest Lodge). Scheduled transfer to
the Borneo Rainforest Lodge is at 9.30am.
Alternatively, you might want to stay overnight at Lahad Datu
(recommended hotels are Executive Hotel and Grace Hotel), a small
town about 407km or 6 hours by road from Kota Kinabalu.
Proper gear is important when visiting Danum Valley. You must make
sure that you bring insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts, raincoat,
hat, swimming gear, trekking boots, flash light, binoculars, camera
and video as well as a water bottle. It is also advisable to take
anti-malaria pills in advance before reaching Danum Valley.
To experience the best of the “Lost World”, it is recommended that
you have at least a 3-day/2-night stay. This is because unlike the
jungles of Nepal or the African Savannah, the attractions of the
Borneo rainforest are more subtle, and much harder to spot.
Sometimes, you would have to be patience to have a glimpse of the
rare but prominent wildlife species. Transferring out of the Borneo
Rainforest Lodge is scheduled at 1.30pm, and if your onward journey
takes you back to Kota Kinabalu, there are flights connecting you
back to the Capital City.
For more info on Danum Valley nature tour, please visit the URLs below:
http://www.e-borneo.com/travel/tours/eb-ld01.shtml
http://www.e-borneo.com/travel/tours/eb-ld02.shtml
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About the Author:
e-borneo.com is one of the leading Borneo-based
Borneo Travel and
Trip Advisor
web sites, which also serves as a Borneo travel gateway and tour
intermediary for the best and cost-effective custom/full-package
vacation deals to Malaysia Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) and Brunei
Darussalam. Check out some of
Sabah
Tourism packages or visit our sister site
Borneo
Tropical Vacation for more information on Sabah.
Copyright © 2007
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