Orangutans

For many visitors, orangutans are the highlight of any trip to Borneo.

Seeing these intelligent great apes swinging through the rainforest is an unforgettable experience. While wild sightings are never guaranteed, there are several places where your chances are excellent.

Best places to see orangutans:

• Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
• Kinabatangan River
• Danum Valley Conservation Area
• Tabin Wildlife Reserve
• Deramakot Forest Reserve

Although rehabilitation centres provide close encounters, seeing orangutans in the wild is a completely different experience. Watching one move silently through the forest canopy reminds you just how closely related they are to us.

Proboscis Monkeys

Found only on Borneo, proboscis monkeys are among the island’s most recognisable animals.

With their oversized noses, pot bellies and unusual appearance, they often become a favourite among visitors.

The Kinabatangan River offers some of the easiest sightings, where large groups regularly gather along the riverbanks during the late afternoon.

I was fortunate enough to photograph several groups during my trip, including mothers carrying young infants through the trees.

Bornean Pygmy Elephants

The Bornean pygmy elephant is the smallest elephant subspecies in the world.

These elephants are found mainly in Sabah and are most commonly seen around the Kinabatangan River region.

Unlike African elephants, they tend to be calmer and often emerge from the forest to feed along riverbanks.

Sightings are never guaranteed, but they are among the most sought-after wildlife experiences in Borneo.

Hornbills

Hornbills are often called the symbol of Borneo.

Several species can be found across the island, including:

• Rhinoceros Hornbill
• Oriental Pied Hornbill
• Black Hornbill
• Wrinkled Hornbill
• Helmeted Hornbill

The distinctive wingbeats of large hornbills can often be heard before the birds are seen.

One of my favourite wildlife moments in Borneo was watching a pair of hornbills glide across the river at sunrise.

Crocodiles

Saltwater crocodiles inhabit many of Borneo’s rivers and estuaries.

The Kinabatangan River is particularly well known for crocodile sightings, especially during evening river cruises.

While they are fascinating animals to observe, they should be treated with respect. Always follow local safety advice when near rivers.

Gibbons

Gibbons are often heard before they are seen.

Their haunting morning calls echo through the rainforest and are one of the defining sounds of Borneo’s wilderness.

The agile primates spend most of their lives in the forest canopy, making photography challenging but rewarding.

Sun Bears

The Malayan sun bear is the world’s smallest bear species.

Wild sightings are rare due to their secretive nature, but visitors can learn more about them at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok.

Other Wildlife to Look Out For

Borneo’s wildlife extends far beyond its headline species.

Keep an eye out for:

• Long-tailed macaques
• Pig-tailed macaques
• Flying squirrels
• Slow lorises
• Civets
• Monitor lizards
• Kingfishers
• Trogons
• Pittas
• Owls
• Tree frogs
• Pit vipers

Even a short jungle walk can reveal an astonishing variety of species.