Welcome to the Jungle!
Trip Start
Nov 01, 2007
1
68
81
Trip End
Jun 28, 2008
Sungai Kinabatangan,
Malaysia
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
From our starting point it takes about an hour by boat down the river to get to the camp. On the first day we saw some macaque monkeys, a few proboscis monkeys, egrets, a couple of hornbills, a White Bellied Fish Eagle, and for a second the eyes of a baby crocodile. That night we headed out in the boats for a night river trip - we saw some Blue Eared Kingfishers, a Buffy Fish Owl, and I can't remember what else - I will ask Malx.
The next morning, we were up very early for another boat trip where we saw a couple of orangutans (black blobs in a tree is what we really saw) some more macaques and proboscis monkeys, egrets, a monitor lizard, and starlings, hornbills, a buzzard and another fish eagle.
After breakfast, we then headed into the jungle on foot. Which was fun, but a but hard going in bits - its still sort of the rainy season here, which means there is mud - and lots of it. We were wading through swamps WELL over my knees and through sticky mud up to the tops of my welly boots. Amazingly, no one fell over or lost a boot. Quite a few leeches were spotted, but everyone managed to get them off before they really got hold. (YUCK!!) We didn't really see that much as it was already quite hot, but we did see Borneo's smalled frog (12mm) and some interesting armoured millipedes. We saw one female millipede that if you rub her back she produces a scent (to attract a male) that smells just like marzipan (almond). It was amazing!
After lunch, we all hung out for the afternoon playing cards and just relaxing. There are not really many animals to see in the heat of the day, which suited us fine I think! The food at the camp was amazing - that afternoon the guides were out fishing and caught over 11kg of prawns for our dinner! Some of the prawns were as big as langoustines! Malx was certainly very happy that night - we had grilled prawns, turmeric prawns, sweet and sour prawns, etc. etc. There were only about 20 people to eat all the prawns as well, but we managed. It was a tough job though!
Before dinner we had another trip out in the boats - this time we got some really good views of Proboscis monkeys. They certainly are an ugly monkey. The local name for them is 'Dutchman' as the Dutch were the first white people to explore Borneo. The locals thought the monkeys looked like Dutch people - light brown hair, potbellies and big noses. Not necessarily the most flattering thing to be compared too! We also saw a silver leaf monkey, more macaques, egrets, eagles, hornbills, and monitor lizards.
After dinner we headed out for a night jungle walk. This I was a little leery of - we were off to find creepy crawlies in the muck. Back into our wellies and wet clothes from earlier and away we go! We saw some frogs, which made me happy, as well we saw scorpions, huntsman spiders, a Borneo River Python, (I think - I didn't get that close!! It was swimming in the water I would've had to wade in to see it. Malx did of course!) and a couple of kingfishers. Kingfishers can't see well at all at night, so as long as you don't shake the branch they are sitting on, you can get within a couple of inches of them. It was really interesting! They really are beautiful. We also got to hold some of the frogs - they were really lovely and their front 'hands'?? are really sticky.
The next morning there was the option of another early morning boat trip - Malcolm went, but I had a bit of a sore neck from looking up all the time so I just stayed behind and read. I think they saw mostly the same things again, but they did get to see a crocodile for a couple of seconds.
There was just then time for one more game of football for the boys and a bit of breakfast before heading home. All in all, it was a really good time! The staff were amazing, especially Lan the manager of the camp. They were heaps of fun, and very knowledgeable. If any other traveler happens to be reading this - its well worth going!
After three days in the sweaty, mucky jungle I am REALLY looking forward to a shower though!
Next stop, Semporna for some diving and snorkelling.
Love,
K & M
Comments
Lucky couple!
I just got your three last messages all at once today so have had some fun. Soooo envy you all the close encunters of the wildlife. Even the swamp and the muddy jungle walk. It all sounds fantastic!
Love, Mum x