Why Borneo is the next ‘Big Five’ safari destination

Elephants, clouded leopards, orangutans and slow lorises – Borneo is the next ‘Big Five’ safari destination you need to know about. 

The ‘Big 5’ in Africa, polar bears in Canada, gorillas in Uganda, giant tortoises in the Galapagos, brown bears and moose in Alaska, penguins and whales in Antarctica – these are the wildlife hotspots that most frequently top the bucket lists of animal lovers and wildlife photographers around the world. But there’s another place where intrepid travellers can journey in search of unique encounters, a place that’s often flown over and sailed by, given little thought by the average tourist: Borneo.

This rugged island in the Malay Archipelago is the third-largest island in the world, shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Here, white-sand beaches encircle dense and ancient rainforests that are home to pygmy elephants, clouded leopards, orangutans, sun bears and proboscis monkeys. This tropical destination is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth, comparable to Serengeti National Park, Galápagos Islands and Antarctica. This world-class wildlife haven is rarely marketed to leisure travellers, instead frequented by serious wildlife photographers, filmmakers and conservationists – but that doesn’t mean you can’t go. Many notable individuals have paid Borneo a visit, from Prince William and Princess Catherine to Queen Elizabeth II, Jane Goodall and Sir David Attenborough – all to witness the region’s unique biodiversity.

How to get to Borneo  

The quickest way to get to Borneo is to depart from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Darwin and transit via Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur International Airport or Jakarta’s Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, then connect to a direct flight into Borneo, landing at Kota Kinabalu International Airport or Sandakan Airport in Sabah; Malaysia Miri Airport or Malaysia Kuching International Airport in Sarawak.  

Seasonally, there is a more direct, faster route Australians can take. Royal Brunei Airlines operates direct flights from Melbourne to Bandar Seri Begawan in Borneo in around seven hours and 10 minutes. While this flight will get you onto the island of Borneo, you’ll land in the capital city of Brunei, with its mosques, museums, Ulu Temburong National Park and water village. But you will not have direct access to wildlife encounters or safari tours in Malaysian Borneo or Indonesian Borneo from here. For this, book another direct flight from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu or Kuching.  

Can you do a safari in Borneo?  

Yes, you can do both land and water-based safaris in Borneo, including wildlife spotting in the jungle or river safaris. River safaris are recommended for spotting proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, hornbills, crocodiles and occasionally orangutans. Night walks in Danum Valley Conservation Area can bring visitors face-to-face with tarsiers, slow lorises and squirrels. At Gunung Mulu National Park – accessible only by boat – you can witness the exodus of bats out of Deer Cave at dusk. You can dive with sharks or meet turtles at Sipadan Island, see sun bears at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre near Sepilok, and last but certainly not least, visit the orangutan sanctuaries.  

What is the Borneo ‘Big Five’?

1. Orangutan
2. Bornean pygmy elephant
3. Proboscis monkey
4. Rhinoceros hornbill
5. Estuarine crocodile

Animals you can see in Borneo

• Orangutans
• Bornean pygmy elephants
• Proboscis monkeys
• Clouded leopards
• Sun bears
• Hornbills
• Gibbons
• Tarsiers
• Slow lorises
• Binturongs
• Macaques
• Crocodiles
• Kingfishers
• Sea turtles
• Langurs

Who hosts safari and wildlife tours in Borneo?

• G Adventures x National Geographic Journeys host a Best of Borneo 12-day tour
• Luxury Escapes Tours offer a 9-day Borneo & Malaysia Highlights tour with orangutan experience
• Jacada Travel curates tailor-made Borneo tours for high-end travellers
• Black Tomato provides multiple tours through Borneo, including those that visit Bali and mainland Malaysia
• Abercrombie & Kent hosts wildlife and wilderness tours in Borneo ranging from 10 to 14 days

Luxury hotels and resorts in Borneo

Travellers seeking an elevated stay in Borneo can expect to find internationally respected brands, alongside local boutique properties, such as:

• Shangri-La
• Hilton Hotels & Resorts
• Marriott International
• Hyatt Hotels
• InterContinental

Where to stay in Borneo

Sabah (Malaysian Borneo)

Sabah is a Malaysian state in northern Borneo, known for being a nature and adventure haven. The main hub is Kota Kinabalu, famous for its waterfront dining, Gaya Street Sunday Market and floating City Mosque. Sabah is where you will find Mount Kinabalu, lush rainforests and biodiverse hotspots such as Danum Valley and the Kinabatangan River, and wildlife encounters with orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, hornbills and sun bears. Deramakot and Tabin Wildlife Reserves provide rare sightings of clouded leopards and marbled cats, while coastal gems such as Sipadan and Mabul Islands are world-renowned for diving and snorkelling. Sandakan is also found on the east coast of Sabah and is regarded as an eco-tourism hub. 

Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo)

Kuching is the capital of Sarawak, the largest Malaysian state in Borneo. The state is famous for its rainforests and wildlife, including Gunung Mulu National Park with massive caves and bat exoduses, Bako National Park for proboscis monkeys and jungle trails, and Semenggoh Wildlife Centre to see semi‑wild orangutans. Take a longtail boat tour of Batang Ai National Park to spot gibbons, langurs and hornbills, or the Kuching Wetlands and Talang Satang National Park for mangroves, crocodiles, birds and nesting sea turtles. Kuching is the main hub for exploring Sarawak.

Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei)

Located in northern Borneo, Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital city of Brunei, an independent Islamic sultanate with a unique blend of culture, wildlife and nature. The best things to do in the capital include visiting the stunning Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, seeing the world’s largest stilt village, Kampong Ayer, visiting the Royal Regalia Museum, strolling through local markets, and seeing monitor lizards at Tasek Lama Park. For nature lovers, Ulu Temburong National Park provides pristine rainforest, jungle treks and wildlife spotting.

Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo)

Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, offers exclusive rainforest and wildlife adventures for discerning travellers. Stay in luxury lodges along the Kapuas and Mahakam Rivers or in Tanjung Puting National Park, where private river safaris provide up-close encounters with orangutans, proboscis monkeys and hornbills. For a marine escape, upscale resorts in the Derawan Islands offer diving among coral reefs and rare tropical fish. With its combination of boutique lodges, guided jungle safaris and cultural experiences in Dayak villages, Kalimantan is ideal for travellers seeking both comfort and immersive wildlife adventure.

15 of the best safari experiences in Borneo

Brunei river safari

Board a morning or afternoon proboscis monkey river safari along the waterways and creeks of Brunei. Take in views of the city and mangroves, the biggest Malay water village, and spot birdlife such as kingfishers, egrets and herons.   

Brunei’s ‘Green Jewel’

Known as Brunei’s ‘Green Jewel’, Ulu Temburong National Park covers 50,000 hectares of land and can only be accessed via a 45-minute speedboat journey from Bandar Seri Begawan to the town of Bengar, followed by a one-hour walk and a short longboat ride. Walking trails and canopy boardwalks provide incredible views, while lucky visitors may even spot orangutans, gibbons, monkeys, birds, bats and reptiles. Join a guided tour for the best experience.  

 Kinabatangan River safari

From Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, join a guided Kinabatangan River safari, from which you can spot pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles and hornbills from the boat. Most guided sailings depart from villages along the river banks, such as Sukau, Bilit and Abai.  

Bat exodus in Sarawak

Witness the exodus of thousands of bats at Deer Cave in Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak. The sweeping formations are a strange and dramatic natural phenomenon best witnessed from the park’s viewing platform. Meander along the Garden of Eden Valley walk to see both the cave and the waterfall at the limestone valley further on, traversing underground rivers, cave tunnels and a secluded pool. 

Canopy walks in Danum Valley

Danum Valley Conservation Area is an enormous and ancient rainforest where wild orangutans, pygmy elephants and the elusive clouded leopard can be spotted. Located around a three-hour drive from Lahad Datu, the award-winning Borneo Rainforest Lodge is an excellent all-inclusive accommodation option for those seeking to explore the area. Explore the 360-metre Tree Top Canopy Walk, join a jungle trek or a night safari drive to maximise your chances of seeing a gibbon, slow loris or rare birds.  

Seaside safari in Bako National Park

Tucked away where the ocean meets the forest, Bako National Park in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, boasts jungle trails and pristine shores where visitors can encounter bearded pigs, macaques, proboscis monkeys and monitor lizards. The area comprises the Kuching Mangrove Forest, dipterocarp forest, sandstone cliffs and dramatic sea stacks. It’s possible to day-trip to this area from Kuching in around an hour, and the national park is accessed via a short boat trip. 

Night safaris in Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Tabin Wildlife Reserve is considered the premier destination for encountering endangered wildlife such as the pygmy elephant, orangutans, sun bears and the rarely-spotted clouded leopard and tarsiers. Book a multi-day tour with guided, open-top safari drives, night safaris and jungle walks. Deramakot Forest Reserve offers a very similar experience.  

Orangutan sanctuaries

Preserving the dwindling number of orangutans is extremely important in Borneo. Come face-to-face with these endangered primates at ethical sanctuaries such as Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah, and Semenggoh Nature Reserve in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, and the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre in Samboja Lestari in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.  

Tribe visits in Batang Ai National Park

The dipterocarp rainforests of Batang Ai National Park shelter the highest density of wild orangutans in central Borneo, and is home to the Iban tribe. Gibbons, langurs and hornbills also roam this region, which is crisscrossed by trails and waterways. The only way to go on safari in this remote and rugged area is by guided boat tour.  

Sun bear sanctuaries

The Bornean sun bear is the world’s smallest bear species, standing just 70cm tall. These little cuties are currently listed as vulnerable to extinction due to deforestation and illegal hunting. Fewer than 10,000 are estimated to remain in the wild. However, you can visit rescue and release sanctuaries in Borneo such as the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo and the BOS Foundation Sun Bear Sanctuary in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.  

Remote river retreats

Rimba Orangutan Eco Lodge in Sekonyer Village is accessible only via klotok river boat, perched on the edge of Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo. Safari tours and wildlife walks in this region provide guests an opportunity to see orangutans, proboscis monkeys and tarsiers in the wild, as well as owls, slow loris, tarantulas and even (in rare cases) the clouded leopard. 

Sea safaris around the Derawan Islands

If snorkelling and scuba diving are at the top of your holiday to-do list, the Derawan Islands should be on your itinerary. Coral reefs, manta rays, whale sharks, turtles and jelly fish inhabit these Indonesian waters. 

Birdwatching in the swamplands

Visitors seeking an opportunity to go birdwatching in search of rare and interesting avian species should plan a tour through Sebangau National Park in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. There are more than 150 species nesting within this peat swamp forest, including rhinoceros hornbills and Storm’s stork. Early morning or sunset traditional klotok boat trips on the backwater rivers are best.  

Sea turtle safaris in Sabah

Watch nesting mothers and hatchlings scurry towards the ocean at Selingan Turtle Island, located within Sabah’s Turtle Islands National Park near Sandakan. It’s one of the few places on earth where sea turtles land all year round to lay eggs, including Green and Hawksbill species. Visitors cannot travel to these islands independently and must join a guided tour or stay through Sabah Parks or authorised agents.  

Scuba diving in Sipadan

Sipadan Island offers one of the world’s most extraordinary marine safari experiences, where visitors explore underwater ecosystems filled with wildlife. See dramatic 600-metre vertical reef walls at sites such as Barracuda Point (famous for swirling tornadoes of barracuda) or venture through Turtle Cavern. Snorkellers can observe shallow reefs and sea turtles directly from the beach, including green and hawksbill turtles. Reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish, massive schools of jacks and occasional hammerhead sharks frequent the area. Visits are strictly limited to about 120 permits per day to protect the fragile ecosystem, and must be arranged via accredited dive operators.