Borneo Wildlife Discoverer

Traveler Reviews

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  Thomas

  April 13th, 2023
  4
  We started with a disappointment because the weather prevented us from going to Bako N.P. But by ghe end of the trip...
  We started with a disappointment because the weather prevented us from going to Bako N.P. But by ghe end of the trip we had a very ling list of wildlife sightings & experiences. Our guide was wonderful!Show more
  Traveled in March 2023
  

  Reply from: Exodus Adventure Travels

  Our local team will be thrilled to hear that your guide was wonderful! Thank you for taking the time to let us know you had a great adventure despite the weather on our Borneo Wildlife Discoverer tour. We always appreciate hearing back from our travellers. Hopefully, we will see you again for your next trip! -Exodus Travels

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  Sharon

  April 6th, 2023
  5
  Borneo was a fabulous trip. Our guide, Nostalia, was knowledgeable, organized, funny, intuitive about our (wonderful)...
  Borneo was a fabulous trip. Our guide, Nostalia, was knowledgeable, organized, funny, intuitive about our (wonderful) group and made every day and every excursion interesting and fun. I was very pleased by all the flora and fauna we saw, the hikes we took and the lodges we stayed in. Thank you!!!Show more
  Traveled in March 2023
  

  Reply from: Exodus Adventure Travels

  We are so happy to hear that you had a great time on our Borneo Wildlife Discoverer tour and we really appreciate you sharing your thoughts and providing us with feedback. We are thrilled that you found everyday interesting and fun. We know our local team will be happy to hear that Nostalia was a major part in that. Thanks so much for taking the time for this review and we can’t wait to have you booked onto another Exodus adventure! -Exodus Travels

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  Lloyd

  September 19th, 2022
  3
  Most hotels had plumbing problems
  Traveled in September 2022
  

  Reply from: Exodus Adventure Travels

  We would like to thank Lloyd for his review and hope that overall he had a great time in Borneo. We sincerely regret, however, that he found some hotels on this trip to have problems with plumbing, as although we recognise that standards of accommodation in some parts of the world can be lower than we are used to in the US, we would not want Exodus clients to have to deal with issues of this nature. At the beginning of each season, we use client and staff feedback to review each property used on this tour, and if any concerns are raised by clients throughout the year or identified by our staff who have also stayed at the properties, these will be addressed and dealt with accordingly. We cannot recall receiving similar feedback to this previously, and consequently we have shared this review with the product manager, and should similar concerns be raised, they will look in to making necessary changes. -Exodus Travels

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  Hugh Cullen

  October 22nd, 2013
  5
  An amazing travel experience with a new experience each day. A great trip. What was the most inspirational moment...
  An amazing travel experience with a new experience each day. A great trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing my first Oranutang in the wild. What did you think of your group leader? A fantastic leader who was 100% in control and ensured a faultless trip. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The trip in September was with the sun directly overhead and the temperatures and humidity were extream.Be prepared to be continously wet and change clothe 3 / 4 times each day.  Recommend long sleeve light cotton shirts etc.     Is there anything else you would like to add? Another great Exodus trip.Show more
  Traveled in September 2013
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  Roberta Rennie

  February 4th, 2012
  5
  I've been on some great Exodus trips, but this one was up there with the best! The wildlife, the country, the trip...
  I've been on some great Exodus trips, but this one was up there with the best! The wildlife, the country, the trip leader - all brilliant! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing wild Orangutans was probably unexpected - we had some great sightings. The sanctuary visits were wonderfull too. I also loved the boat trips along the Kinabatangan River - relaxing, but lots of wildlife to spot in passing. What did you think of your group leader? Lee was an excelllent leader - very knowledgeable (he would often spot animals/birds before the local experts). He was also caring and totally professional in dealing with a varied group. He made the trip a memorable experience. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take plenty of memory cards & a long lense if you're interested in getting good photos - there are endless opportunities!  We were quite lucky with the weather, but a decent light waterproof comes in handy, as do waterproof bags for cameras etc. Is there anything else you would like to add? I hope the tourism industry and the desire of visitors to see the rainforest in its original state, will somehow prevent any more incursion of the endless barren oil palm plantations. Borneo is such an amazing place to visit - and Exodus does it well!Show more
  Traveled in January 2012
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  Mechthild Bore-Wuesthof

  November 12th, 2009
  4
  I saw more wildlife then I had expected which was fantastic! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?...
  I saw more wildlife then I had expected which was fantastic! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? When in the morning at about 6 o'clock a wild male Orang Utan walked by my porch - at a distance of about 5 meters. This happened at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge - a great place to be! What did you think of your group leader? Lee was fantastic with a real passion for all kinds of wild animals and his home country! And he transferred this passion to most of us travellers. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I would recommend not to use a rucksack but some kind of trolley where you can easily access your stuff, because you never stay longer at one place than 3 nights. Also you should only bring clothes that are easily cleaned and dry fast; I carried with me two pairs of Jeans which I never used!  Show more
  Traveled in October 2009
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  Gillian Sweet

  October 4th, 2007
  5
  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Turtles at dawn! River travelWildlife sounds (6 o'clock...
  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Turtles at dawn! River travelWildlife sounds (6 o'clock cicada) What did you think of your group leader? We were lucky enough to have two.  Both were excellent. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Clear advice from Exodus as to varying luggage allowances and the possibility of paying excess baggage charges on the smaller inter-connecting airlines Is there anything else you would like to add? My husband hitting a mangrove snake on the head with a rolled umbrella, as it headed towards me on our verandahShow more
  Traveled in September 2007
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  Doreen Watson

  October 4th, 2007
  4
  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing on different occasions two wild orang-utans..really...
  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing on different occasions two wild orang-utans..really special!Watching Bornean  Gibbons swinging about and feeding in the tree tops near our chalet in the Danum Valley.The night time cruise on the river with a local guide who knew what to look for and where to find most of them.Watching a turtle laying eggs on Turtle Island. What did you think of your group leader? Our leader was great in the jungle and took us to see the Raffleasia in bloom but he tried on occasions to be over-friendly which made me feel uncomfortable. Also he would gather the group together to complain of the behaviour of one of the group..not acceptable in my opinion. He should have spoken individually. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Plenty of sun block and insecticide!!!!! Is there anything else you would like to add? Yes I would like to thank you for allowing the holiday to go ahead with only 5 clients. The holiday was superb in that it gave me a complete overview of life in Borneo for the rich and for the village folk. I will never forget the homestay and the friendliness of the village people.Show more
  Traveled in September 2007
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  John Gilman

  March 25th, 2013
  3
  A good trip which could have been spectacular. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were a...
  A good trip which could have been spectacular. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were a number of moments on this trip. The time spent at Kinabatangan, Danum Valley and Mulu NP were the highlights for me. The variety of wildlife and the settings were fantastic, despite the heat and humidity!! I have taken away a lot of memories from this trip especially from the river journeys at Kanabatangan (seeing pygmy elephants, hornbills, proboscus monkeys and Orang Utans at close quarters etc.) and the cave systems at Mulu NP - awesome. There were too many birds, lizards, primates etc to mention. They've been covered in previous reviews anyway. The walking is easy if your relatively fit. What did you think of your group leader? Zahari tried his best to get us all involved but 16 people on this type of "adventure" is too many to deal with comfortably. He was very well organised in the logistics of buses, planes, 4 wheel drives etc. and as a restauranteur. He was a good bird spotter and is passionate about his region, Sabah and it's people.Zahari is a really nice guy and I'd like to do another trip with him when he wasn't so stressed out !!! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for the heat and humidity!!! We were lucky in that we had little rain over the holiday but the conditions are sapping and three showers a day are almost compulsary. Pack light and don't bring things like jeans as they will not dry in the humidity. There's ample opportunities to get your laundry done at ridiculously low prices outside the hotel. Is there anything else you would like to add? This was a great trip set in astonishing rainforest for most of the time. The towns KK and Kuching were also interesting with some fantastic food at cheap prices. We had a few gripes with accommodation (KK hotel not the best, not enough rooms for the group at Mulu NP!!) and no confirmed flights on the way home so not up to the usual Exodus high standards I'm afraid. I would recommend this trip for the wildlife but in my opinion the maximum group size of sixteen is too many to get the full experience. Show more
  Traveled in February 2013
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  Tracy Leighton

  September 1st, 2012
  5
  This trip fulfilled an abition to see a variety of primates, but especially the Orangutan, in their natural habitat....
  This trip fulfilled an abition to see a variety of primates, but especially the Orangutan, in their natural habitat. It was amazing. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Although the trip notes advise that you may not see anything you always hope that your trip will be the exception. I think on this occasion it was - we were lucky to see several wild orangutans as well as those in the sanctuary. We also saw gibbons, macques, red and silver leaf monkeys. Not to mention a range of insects, bugs, birds, civet cats, pygmy elephants and so much more. A memorable moment was when we watched a mother orangutan watching over her young as it explored how to travel through the trees. She would let it go ahead and when it was stuck she would come in and help by swaying the trees so it could reach into the next branch. What did you think of your group leader? Our group leader, Zahari, was just brilliant. He worked so hard to ensure that each and everyone of us in the group had an amazing experience. He was knowledgable about his country and the wildlife. He obviously got a lot of joy out of seeing the wildlife too even though he has been there many times before. Our trip would not have been as special without Zahari's energy, guidance and support. Thank you. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Leech socks - a must even in the dry season (can be brought there through the guide)Waterproof/poncho - it helps to keep bag/camera dry as well as yourselfBe prepared to get very hot and sweaty - have good walking shoes as trekking through the rainforest is uneven.The first half of the trip is quite strenous but be prepared to give everything a go. Optional trips, camera fees, street/restaurant food, souvenirs, drinking etc cost me about £360.00 for the 20 days. Is there anything else you would like to add? It really was an amazing experience - you can not guarantee what you will see BUT even the smallest bug creates excitement when seen in its natural habitat (and donating blood to a leech is part of the souvenir process)!Show more
  Traveled in August 2012