BORNEO NATURE TOUR, 20 March - 2 April 2025 - Bookings now open with a deposit of 25% to confirm your place.

**Includes several new important wildlife locations**

Join our exclusive annual small group nature tour to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, with NatureArt Lab in 2025. Experience the wildlife immersion, nature photography and nature journaling trip of a lifetime - especially designed for bird and nature lovers!

Internationally renowned for its animal and plant attractions, Sabah is famous for its amazing birdlife. There are over 600 species with around 59 endemic bird species on Borneo. Sabah is one of Malaysia's wildlife hotspots, encompassing mountain ranges, lowland rainforest, swamps and coastline. There are 10 species of giant hornbill, nine species of pitta (truly the jewels of the rainforest) and the amazing Bristlehead. Target species for our nature tour include the Bornean leafbird, Bulwer's Pheasant, Whitehead's Trogon, Barbets, Bulbuls, Whistlers, Kingfishers and many more.

Sabah’s unique vegetation features pitcher plants, giant Rafflesia flowers and sprays of ferns and colourful orchids sprouting from towering rainforest trees. Insect life is prolific and includes the spectacular Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing among hundreds of other butterfly species; the giant Moon Moth and thousands of fascinating beetles, praying mantids and katydids.

Our tour will focus on Sabah’s best bird and mammal viewing locations including: 

• UNESCO World Heritage Site - Kinabalu Park and Botanic Gardens
• Deramakot Forest Reserve, home to 75% of Sabah's mammals including some of the most elusive and endangered species such as the Clouded Leopard and Bornean Pygmy Elephant
• the Sepilok region with an opportunity to learn about crucial efforts to conserve orangutans, hear the inspirational story about rescuing sun bears from the edge of extinction, and visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre
• Kinabatangan River cruises and walks to see orangutans, hornbills and rare species including Storm's stork
• Danum Valley, one of Sabah's premier wildlife locations, with one of the world's oldest rainforests teeming with life.

Whether it’s birds, botany, entomology or mammals, this tour offers a spectacular program for nature photography and nature journaling inspired by nature.

Sabah has excellent infrastructure and accommodation, and is well set up to cater for wildlife tourism. English is widely spoken, the food is excellent and the wildlife superlative. Accommodation will be in comfortable high-end lodges on a twin share basis, transport in air-conditioned vehicles between destinations and on safe river craft at certain points.

Photographers will have opportunities for photo editing and mini-workshops throughout the tour, with support from award-winning nature photographer and scientist Dr Damien Esquerre. Nature journalers will enjoy regular journaling workshops and activities throughout the trip with Julia Landford. 

Partners and accompanying friends will enjoy all of the wildlife experiences!

Nature tour inclusions: 

• 14 days of unsurpassed nature and science immersion experiences, including opportunities to sight rare and elusive wildlife
• 13 nights comfortable accommodation (couples/twin share), including in the Mount Kinabalu World Heritage Park and at the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort
• Night safaris for nocturnal wildlife experiences
• Entry fees to all locations including World Heritage sites, Mount Kinabalu Botanic Gardens, bird hides, world-class rainforest centre, and wildlife rehabilitation centres
• All in-country transport
• All meals, and drinking water
• Expert local nature guides for all day walks, evening spotlight walks and early morning bird walks
• Photography mentoring and tuition with award-winning nature photographer 
• Entomology expertise with Alan Landford
• Nature journaling guidance and workshops with NatureArt Lab Director Julia Landford. 
• Opportunities to contribute to wildlife conservation

Exclusions: 

• Airfares are not included (international and internal fare from Lahad Datu - Kota Kinabalu); these can be arranged separately through our nominated travel agent at Jamison Travel, Canberra. 
  
• Tips for guides and drivers

Tour Details: 

• Dates: 20 March - 2 April 2025 (14 days/13 nights)
• Total cost: $11,600.00 with inclusions listed above
• A non-refundable Deposit (25% of total cost) is due on booking - $2,320.00
• Single supplements are available on request at $1,500.00 
• Travel with a certified Safety Management company
• Travel insurance is required by all participants - see details below
  

Fitness levels: 

• Most trails are short walks, downhill trails and our pace is slow and considered as we are spotting for wildlife at all times. Most trails are not challenging though there is some uneven terrain in the forests. Moderate levels of fitness are recommended for our tours. 

Our expert nature tour art and science team:

Travel with naturalists Julia and Alan Landford who have led many Australian expeditions including to Heron Island, Montague Island, Cape York and the Atherton Tablelands, Tasmania, Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands; international nature tours to Borneo, Costa Rica, The Galapagos Islands, Amazonian Ecuador and Peru.

Julia Landford is the team leader and Founding Director of NatureArt Lab and brings substantial experience with natural history, nature journaling and tour management.

Alan Landford has a scientific background in zoology, specialising in entomology from the Australian National University. He also has substantial wildlife experience from Australia and Papua New Guinea, and other regions.

Award-winning nature photographer: Dr Damien Esquerre

Dr. Damien Esquerré is a professional wildlife photographer and evolutionary biologist, currently employed as a permanent academic staff (lecturer and researcher) at the University of Wollongong. He was over 17 years of experience as a wildlife photographer (initially professionally trained by Chile’s top nature photographer), and has been teaching this course and an introduction for macro photography course for 6 years at NatureArt Lab, also joining as a wildlife photography instructor to tours in Borneo, Western Australia, Cape York, Costa Rica, Ecuador (Galapagos and Amazon) and Peru.

Damien won a finalist award at the Australasian Nature Photographer of the Year in 2023, and two of his photos are on display at the South Australian Museum. Damien's photographs have won multiple awards and have been published in number of books (including Damien’s authored book on the reptiles of Chile), magazines, calendars, websites and expos.

His main profession is a University biology researcher and lecturer, working to understand how biodiversity evolves, with a special interest in snakes, lizards and frogs and teaching evolution and ecology. The combination of Damien’s science, art and teaching experience means he knows how to make complex topics simple and accessible.

Nature Tour Cancellation policy:

Participants are required to take out comprehensive travel insurance against injury, illness, emergency medical evacuation, loss and damage to personal belongings, not being able to travel on a confirmed date of departure or tour cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

Any cancellations after the deposit is paid will incur loss of the full deposit, which helps to cover our costs for design and management of the tour program and early supplier costs incurred. 

For cancellations 120 to 60 days before departure 50% of the cost of the tour will be forfeited. If cancellation takes place 59 days or less before the start date 100% of the tour cost will be forfeited.

If NatureArt Lab has to cancel a nature tour due to undersubscription, you will receive a refund of all payments made for that tour.

Pre-Departure Briefing: 

• NatureArt Lab will host an information session for participants prior to departure.

Any questions:

• Please contact us at info@natureartlab.com.au  

NatureArt Lab Awards:

2022, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and National Finalist Award

2024, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Building Communities, ACT; and National Finalist Award

Images: Young Proboscis monkey, Danny McCreadie; Other images by Dr Damien Esquerre, Julia and Alan Landford