Borneo Family Wildlife Adventure

Customer Reviews

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  Gareth Cook

  · June 21st, 2011
  A completely amazing trip, our first with Exodus. We were overwhelmed by the level of care and dedication shown by our guide and the wonderful friendliness of the people of Borneo who seem to have a special fondness for the British. As for the wildlife encounters - simply unforgettable.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Rounding a bend in the Kinabatangan river to come across a whole herd of pygmy elephants, including mothers with their calves and all within a few feet from our boats.Seeing a cat leopard's eyes suddenly gazing back at us on the night safari.Watching a whole troop of maroon langurs jumping through the trees on our way to the Gomatong caves.Snorkelling on the first day on the islands just off the coast from Kota Kinabalu. On entering the water I was so stunned by the variety and sheer numbers of fish on the reef that I had to stand up and pinch myself before going back in.Listening to the jungle waking up in Kinabatangan and Sepilok.Being accompanied by HUGE monitor lizards as you made your way to the dining hall on Pulau Tiga  What did you think of your group leader?Alex was a joy, so caring and compassionate. Nothing was too much trouble, including having to climb over the wall of the longhouse to get into our sons' room when they locked themselves out! His knowledge of the wildlife was extensive and he was also very funny, keeping us entertained on the long bus transfers with local stories and singing! We had read a lot of reviews from Exodus customers praising their guides and Alex is one of the main reasons we will certainly be travelling with them againDo you have any advice for potential travellers?Don't skip any of the river cruises or the night safaris on the Kinabatangan, it is a magical place and the wildlife encounters will stay with you forever.Pack plenty of mosquito repellant, you will need it. The new Mozzie zapper (available in all high street chemists) is a brilliant invention, take one, we were the only people in our group to have one and by the end of the trip, everyone had borrowed it. Take advice from your guide on where to eat in Kota Kinabalu, we did and had a fantastic seafood meal at the night fish market.  Is there anything else you would like to add?Borneo is changing very quickly, on the flight from KK to Sandakan the endless acres of what only a few years ago was ancient rainforest and is now palm plantations was truly depressing. GO NOW!
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  Trip date: June 2011
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  Caroline Crossley

  · May 2nd, 2011
  A beautiful island with friendly people and incredible wildlife - but the trip maybe didn't make the most of this....What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Boating on the Kinabatangan River and watching a troupe of macaque monkeys jumping off the trees to swim to the other side, right on front of us!What did you think of your group leader?Mark, our group leader was super - very informative, organised, always cheerful and helpful :o)Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Borneo is very humid - enjoy what results from the climate! I wish I'd taken a small umbrella rather than a waterproof as it really pours sometimes and a waterproof jacket felt too muggy - a brolly would have also doubled up as a sunshade on occasions. Talk to the local people - Borneo is one of the friendliest places I have ever visited, and I got so much from those conversations.  Is there anything else you would like to add?Overall, I loved visiting Borneo, and we had a great guide, the group was enjoyable company and we saw some wonderful things. However I did feel that the itinerary was a bit 'thin' in places, we were left to have rest days more than necessary and could have taken advantage much more of what Borneo has to offer.Day 2 and 3 Arrive Kota Kinabalu plus free day; optional visit to nearby adventure park with go-karting and a ropes course, or wildlife park - we really didn't the need almost two days rest time after sitting on a plane - I feel we could have visited islands off KK or gone to the Mari Mari cultural village as an introduction to the culture of Sabah at this point...Day 4 Morning fly to Sandakan. Visit Rainforest Discovery Centre and Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary. Both. these were interesting places with great plants and wildlife to find out aboutDay 5 and 6 To Kinabatangan River; afternoon river cruise. Dawn wildlife cruise, jungle walk to Oxbow lake with tree planting, optional night safari. I loved it here and would happily have spent more time, maybe going further south to Danum. This was the area that I felt an 'Orangutans and Jungles' holiday was about and it was over too quickly for me.Day 7 and 8 Drive to tea plantation for 2 nights in a traditional longhouse; visit Gomantong Caves en route, home to over a million swiftlets. A fun day of jungle walks, swimming in the river and a tour of the tea factory. Flooding meant we couldn't do jungle walks or river swimming, and the tea factory tour was for less than an hour, so again we had a lot of time doing very little. There were other tours available with walks around the plantation and WW2 history which I wish Exodus had booked for us instead.... We had a go at batik painting for half an hour which was fun and interesting, but the blowpipe lessons were just a room at the tea factory with two blowpipes, four darts and a bit of paper on the wall. It did keep the kids entertained for a while but it wasn't the cultural activity I had hoped for!! Our group decided to take ourselves off to Poring Hot Springs, which was actually a great day out - a walk up to a waterfall where we could splash about, and a small waterpark which the kids loved. There's also a butterfly farm and a high level walkway there, and I feel the itinerary would have benefited from including visit here.Day 9 Drive to Kota Kinabalu via Mari Mari cultural village and visit aquarium - the village was really interesting, a living museum effectively and the lunch provided excellent. The aquarium was dreadful - run down, tanks were so covered in algae we could hardly see the contents. Very dispiriting.Day 10 An adventurous day of whitewater rafting and indoor rock climbing. Rafting brilliant, plenty of climbing walls back in the UK.... There are river cruises on the River Kiulu nearby with more opportunities to see proboscis monkeys, and I would have much preferred to do this than explore the aquarium or climbing wall.Day 11-13 Morning transfer to Pulau Tiga. Free day to relax and explore the beautiful beaches. Free day to unwind on the beach and enjoy optional excursions such as snorkelling, kayaking or the mud volcano. Morning at the beach, afternoon return to Kota Kinabalu. Quiet and restful, and I think would have been more appreciated if we hadn't had so many quiet and restful days leading up to this part of the holiday!! This was the first time on the trip I was disappointed by the accommodation, and paid for a room upgrade. I am happy in basic facilities, but our first room here had bare electrical wires and the bathroom smelt of sewage.... Other bungalows (not in use!) had collapsed roofs but the upgraded room was much nicer. The beach was well maintained, we could hire snorkelling equipment and a kayak was great fun. Lots of hammocks to chill out in - and some very cool monitor lizards to watch!All in all - a super place to visit, but I think Exodus could have been smarter with the itinerary to make the most of everything Borneo has to offer.
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  Trip date: May 2011
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  Catherine Taylor

  · September 9th, 2008
  The family adventure to Borneo provided us with a collection of unique experiences from start to finish. This is a good all round trip providing a great mix of wildlife, culture, education and adventure as well as a number of once in a lifetime experiences. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Standing in the dark watching and listening to the nocturnal wildlife of the jungle was amazing. I decided to visit the insect viewing point of the walkway connected to our jungle lodge. The jungle was very loud, like an orchestra some people say. I stood there not knowing what to do for a moment as a bat decided to fly repetativly around my head. The area seemed crowded with animals although I couldn't see them, it was a priviledge to have been in that environment. Another inspirational moment that stands out was watching a baby turtle making it's way to the sea as the sun came up on turtle island. This was truly beautiful and we felt very lucky to have witnessed this.What did you think of your group leader?The group leader was very efficient and great with the children, spending hours showing and teaching them different aspects of the Malaysian culture and survival skills in the jungle. Our group was very well looked after throughout the trip. The group leader seemed to be familular with the local people throughout our trip always getting us the best food, seats and service that he could.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Yes, take plenty of insect repelent and lightweight long sleave tops and trousers.Is there anything else you would like to add?This trip is a great experience!
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  Trip date: September 2008
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  Deirdre Cheek

  · October 4th, 2007
  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The whole trip was superb, but the two moments that stand out in my mind werethe magical atmosphere when we set off on our 6.30am river safari through the rainforest and saw the sun rise through the mist whilst listening to the birds and animals calling each otherthe sight of hundreds of baby turtles pushing their way up out of the sand under which their eggs had hatched, and scuttling down to the sea. What did you think of your group leader?Absolutely superb.  One of the nicest guys I have ever met - extremely knowledgeable about everything we saw, interesting in the way he explained the culture, wildlife etc of the country, very patient in the way he bothered to spend time with the children (eg he took my 11 year old son out snorkelling for hours!) and very efficient in the way he ensured everything and everyone was in the right place at the right time.  Nothing was too much trouble for him. Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take plenty of strong insect repellant! And an extra layer for the night in jungle camp (it got surprisingly cold at night).Is there anything else you would like to add?Holiday of a lifetime - my family will always remember it.  Suitable for all ages - we had a range of children from 7 to 16 and all enjoyed it as much as we did.  Just the right balance between travel, exploration, and rest/relaxation.
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  Trip date: October 2007
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  Tracey Joyce

  · August 26th, 2013
  Wow...what an adventure!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?On the river canoe trip, watching the elephants crossing the river and struggling to get up the muddy bank on the far side. This was a rare event and we watched for ages as the baby struggled up the  bank with the help of the adult herd. Truly amazing! Spending the night in the jungle camp was an experience. No electricity, and only a roof and a mossie net to protect us from the thunder storm is something I'll never forget.  The boat trip back from the island in rough seas, I was dreading, but absolutely loved it...thrilling!!What did you think of your group leader?She was excellent. Very patient and understanding of our needs. She was ready to spring into action at any point and did so with a smile on her face the whole time!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?This is an adventurous holiday and can be quite challenging at times.you need to be prepared for basic accommodation, which is described in the brochure and web site as such, but "showers" were often a barrel of rainwater and a scoop, and toileting was somewhat of an adventure..especially when you find a frog in the toilet! It really makes you appreciate the comforts of life, though, like toilet paper and hot running water! There are a lot of "beasties", most of which love to bite or sting so take some antihistemines just in case! I'd advise breaking up the jouney there with a stopover as the time difference can be difficult. We had a great time in out homestay, the house was clean and comfortable and we played with the children for hours ( learn some good hand clapping games!), so not speaking the language wasnt a problem.  Other families were not so lucky though, so our group had a mixed response to this aspect of the trip. You just need to go with the flow on this part.   We booked the trip so that we could visit Sepilok, but I was disappointed that there were so few orangutans to see and they were quite far away...its so much better to see them in the wild!Is there anything else you would like to add?If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, then Borneo is for you. I am so pleased we had this adventure, it challenged me several times, but looking back on it now I realise how lucky I am to have been there to experience it.
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  Trip date: August 2013
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  Teresa Harrison

  · January 19th, 2012
  A truly amazing trip with the best of guides! This was our first family adventure and there were a few tears - both of fright (the creepy crawlies) and joy - the volcanic springs on the desert island. But most definitely held together not with string, but with the care and attention you would expect from an Exodus Guide - don't lose him!!!!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Seeing the sunrise over the taj mahal - whoops - previous trip! Probably seeing an Orang Utan in the wild - we were very priveleged!What did you think of your group leader?He was amazing! Have I said that before?? He was friendly, funny, kept the group together and dealt with any little problems with ease. Oh yes and great karaoke voice!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Don't go to the mud volcanoes at late afternoon. The mozzies love white flesh covered in mud!Is there anything else you would like to add?More trips like these please!
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Gareth Cook

  · June 21st, 2011
  A completely amazing trip, our first with Exodus. We were overwhelmed by the level of care and dedication shown by our guide and the wonderful friendliness of the people of Borneo who seem to have a special fondness for the British. As for the wildlife encounters - simply unforgettable.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Rounding a bend in the Kinabatangan river to come across a whole herd of pygmy elephants, including mothers with their calves and all within a few feet from our boats.Seeing a cat leopard's eyes suddenly gazing back at us on the night safari.Watching a whole troop of maroon langurs jumping through the trees on our way to the Gomatong caves.Snorkelling on the first day on the islands just off the coast from Kota Kinabalu. On entering the water I was so stunned by the variety and sheer numbers of fish on the reef that I had to stand up and pinch myself before going back in.Listening to the jungle waking up in Kinabatangan and Sepilok.Being accompanied by HUGE monitor lizards as you made your way to the dining hall on Pulau Tiga
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  Trip date: June 2011
• A

  Caroline Crossley

  · May 2nd, 2011
  A beautiful island with friendly people and incredible wildlife - but the trip maybe didn't make the most of this....What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Boating on the Kinabatangan River and watching a troupe of macaque monkeys jumping off the trees to swim to the other side, right on front of us!What did you think of your group leader?Mark, our group leader was super - very informative, organised, always cheerful and helpful :o)Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Borneo is very humid - enjoy what results from the climate! I wish I'd taken a small umbrella rather than a waterproof as it really pours sometimes and a waterproof jacket felt too muggy - a brolly would have also doubled up as a sunshade on occasions. Talk to the local people - Borneo is one of the friendliest places I have ever visited, and I got so much from those conversations. Is there anything else you would like to add?Overall, I loved visiting Borneo, and we had a great guide, the group was enjoyable company and we saw some wonderful things. However I did feel that the itinerary was a bit 'thin' in places, we were left to have rest days more than necessary and could have taken advantage much more of what Borneo has to offer.Day 2 and 3 Arrive Kota Kinabalu plus free day; optional visit to nearby adventure park with go-karting and a ropes course, or wildlife park - we really didn't the need almost two days rest time after sitting on a plane - I feel we could have visited islands off KK or gone to the Mari Mari cultural village as an introduction to the culture of Sabah at this point...Day 4 Morning fly to Sandakan. Visit Rainforest Discovery Centre and Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary. Both. these were interesting places with great plants and wildlife to find out aboutDay 5 and 6 To Kinabatangan River; afternoon river cruise. Dawn wildlife cruise, jungle walk to Oxbow lake with tree planting, optional night safari. I loved it here and would happily have spent more time, maybe going further south to Danum. This was the area that I felt an 'Orangutans and Jungles' holiday was about and it was over too quickly for me.Day 7 and 8 Drive to tea plantation for 2 nights in a traditional longhouse; visit Gomantong Caves en route, home to over a million swiftlets. A fun day of jungle walks, swimming in the river and a tour of the tea factory. Flooding meant we couldn't do jungle walks or river swimming, and the tea factory tour was for less than an hour, so again we had a lot of time doing very little. There were other tours available with walks around the plantation and WW2 history which I wish Exodus had booked for us instead.... We had a go at batik painting for half an hour which was fun and interesting, but the blowpipe lessons were just a room at the tea factory with two blowpipes, four darts and a bit of paper on the wall. It did keep the kids entertained for a while but it wasn't the cultural activity I had hoped for!! Our group decided to take ourselves off to Poring Hot Springs, which was actually a great day out - a walk up to a waterfall where we could splash about, and a small waterpark which the kids loved. There's also a butterfly farm and a high level walkway there, and I feel the itinerary would have benefited from including visit here.Day 9 Drive to Kota Kinabalu via Mari Mari cultural village and visit aquarium - the village was really interesting, a living museum effectively and the lunch provided excellent. The aquarium was dreadful - run down, tanks were so covered in algae we could hardly see the contents. Very dispiriting.Day 10 An adventurous day of whitewater rafting and indoor rock climbing. Rafting brilliant, plenty of climbing walls back in the UK.... There are river cruises on the River Kiulu nearby with more opportunities to see proboscis monkeys, and I would have much preferred to do this than explore the aquarium or climbing wall.Day 11-13 Morning transfer to Pulau Tiga. Free day to relax and explore the beautiful beaches. Free day to unwind on the beach and enjoy optional excursions such as snorkelling, kayaking or the mud volcano. Morning at the beach, afternoon return to Kota Kinabalu. Quiet and restful, and I think would have been more appreciated if we hadn't had so many quiet and restful days leading up to this part of the holiday!! This was the first time on the trip I was disappointed by the accommodation, and paid for a room upgrade. I am happy in basic facilities, but our first room here had bare electrical wires and the bathroom smelt of sewage.... Other bungalows (not in use!) had collapsed roofs but the upgraded room was much nicer. The beach was well maintained, we could hire snorkelling equipment and a kayak was great fun. Lots of hammocks to chill out in - and some very cool monitor lizards to watch!All in all - a super place to visit, but I think Exodus could have been smarter with the itinerary to make the most of everything Borneo has to offer.
  Show more
  Trip date: May 2011
• A

  Catherine Taylor

  · September 9th, 2008
  The family adventure to Borneo provided us with a collection of unique experiences from start to finish. This is a good all round trip providing a great mix of wildlife, culture, education and adventure as well as a number of once in a lifetime experiences. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Standing in the dark watching and listening to the nocturnal wildlife of the jungle was amazing. I decided to visit the insect viewing point of the walkway connected to our jungle lodge. The jungle was very loud, like an orchestra some people say. I stood there not knowing what to do for a moment as a bat decided to fly repetativly around my head. The area seemed crowded with animals although I couldn't see them, it was a priviledge to have been in that environment. Another inspirational moment that stands out was watching a baby turtle making it's way to the sea as the sun came up on turtle island. This was truly beautiful and we felt very lucky to have witnessed this.What did you think of your group leader?The group leader was very efficient and great with the children, spending hours showing and teaching them different aspects of the Malaysian culture and survival skills in the jungle. Our group was very well looked after throughout the trip. The group leader seemed to be familular with the local people throughout our trip always getting us the best food, seats and service that he could.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Yes, take plenty of insect repelent and lightweight long sleave tops and trousers.Is there anything else you would like to add?This trip is a great experience!
  Show more
  Trip date: September 2008
• A

  Deirdre Cheek

  · October 4th, 2007
  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The whole trip was superb, but the two moments that stand out in my mind werethe magical
  Trip date: October 2007