From Orangutans to the Borneo Pigmy Elephants – Borneo has some great wildlife to see.
5 HUGE Reasons Why NOT to Visit Borneo
(or maybe reasons TO Visit!)
After almost 35 years of providing spectacular adventures and itineraries to new and returning visitors of Borneo, I thought it would be a great idea as to why some people are missing should they be the wrong type of person to visit this beautiful area. Yes, it may seem strange to write a ‘why not..’ post but I have put this together having had messages from people from all walks of life, from all backgrounds and whom are looking for different things from their vacation or holiday.
We are, of course, very proud of our Borneo travel itineraries and what we offer to all people coming to visit us here. There are some people that may be looking for something else and some people that really will appreciate this great place, the amazing people and the fabulous wildlife. I am sure that if you are reading this then you are one of those people – and if so Borneo welcomes you. But just in case, please do read our 5 huge reasons why not to visit us here in Borneo:
1 – You are NOT after a Unique Borneo Adventure
This is number 1 for a very good reason. One of the greatest things we love, and hope you do too, is the fact that any visit to our beautiful Borneo is not just another ‘trip’ – it will be unique to you. We have people coming time and time again with us here are Borneo Travel, after that unique adventure that is so different from their previous visit. Borneo offers you so much more than just beaches to relax upon. It offers excitement, variety, diversity and more. Borneo can give you memories that really do last a lifetime – but more than that. We help you to create those memories that are unique to you and your travels. Our itineraries are made with you in mind but also taking into consideration the views and wishes of past travellers that have come before you and will, of course, return too. With our 35 years in this industry – we are still around for a reason!
2 – You are NOT Eco-Friendly
Here at Borneo Travel and in Borneo as a whole, we are proud of our ability to work in an eco-friendly way. We encourage and plead with any visitors to uphold our strong beliefs in the need to secure this habit, the wildlife and the ways in which we live – our culture – for generations to come. If this is something that you will find difficult to abide by then maybe Borneo is not for you? For many years there have been problems across the world with increased tourism that is not done so in an ethical or moral way – getting rid of jungle, habitats and more to make way for those tourists. We are different – or at least we try hard to be. So, join us in that mission and you’re welcomed with open arms! Many of our visitors do partake or at least engage in this philosophy which really does help us to maintain this beautiful land.
3 – You are NOT a Fan of Wildlife
Sorry but Borneo is full of wildlife, from the famous Orangutans to the Pygmy Elephants. Of course, we can’t guarantee you will see animals in the wild, but Borneo has some amazing ways to see the wildlife at its best – when it is truly wild. We also have some amazing sanctuaries that work hard to protect all the species, including the endangered ones. Borneo is home to some amazing animals which we love dearly and try our best to protect, hence another reason why the ‘eco-friendly’ part of our post and ethos is so important. We know that wildlife is not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ but we really want you to see what Borneo is all about, how the wildlife lives alongside the human population and how this can be an amazing part of your Borneo travel experiences and holiday/vacation.
4 – You JUST Want to Relax
Okay – so we admit that Borneo, of course, offers the ‘relaxing’ part of any itinerary – if that’s what you want! There are plenty of holiday companies out there that offer this too, the same standard trips that you can take time out and ‘relax’ to your hearts content……but what about adventure? How does cycling around islands, taking in wildlife, mountains….meeting the true locals or diving in the beautiful waters off the coast sound? Are you coming to do something you can do in any other part of the world or are you coming to Borneo to do something that you will want to talk about when back home? Something that will make you want to come back for more……adventure. There will always be time to read that book in between adventures…..maybe!
5 – You are NOT open to Cultural Experiences
This is last on our list as we know that not everyone is open to new experiences or socialising with the local population be we love to meet you! We love to share what it means to be living in this wonderful landscape, to be part of this amazing place you want to visit. The majority of people that have booked with Borneo Travel time and time again do so because they not only love visiting Borneo but they love the people too. Real people, sharing real experiences about their lives in Borneo. Real villagers that strive to live in what can be a difficult environment at times but that hold on to their cultural beliefs whilst being open to visitors and their beliefs and culture too. You will find us to be friendly and engaging, honest and hard-working – welcoming you with open arms and sharing what it is to live in Borneo.
So, I hope, after reading this small post, you can see why people come to Borneo and why some people are best suited to…let’s say alternative……holidays. We don’t promise you the earth…..but we do promise you that it’s a beautiful part of it. We have itineraries to suit all needs and can certainly talk to you about different ideas should you not be sure what you want or not see it on our website. You will find us to be open and friendly and more than just a travel company – we actually live and breathe Borneo and that’s what makes us different.
Come and travel to Borneo and see for yourself what it’s all about!
Borneo Holidays – More than just Orangutans!
Holidays to and around beautiful Borneo can offer a life changing experience for all that partake in the rich history and diversity of this amazing island, situated In Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago.
The Boneo orangutans are, of course, a major part of the islands all tourists itineraries and holidays “must do” list but there is so much more to see, do and explore.
So what can a Borneo holiday offer?
Any holiday in Borneo is going to be special and here at Borneo Travel we want to show you what else you could enjoy.
- You could take-in the views via a wonderful cycling experience, explore the island in your own time with one of the many cycling tours we offer around Borneo – See HERE for more on this.
- You could enjoy a diving excursion through one of the many locations we can facilitate, including Sipadan, Kapalai Island and Lankayan Island – See HERE for more on these amazing diving experiences.
- You could go trekking along the padi fields of Borneo or through the jungle, exploring the flora and fauna and, of course, glimpse an orangutan too! Take a look HERE for more about our trekking opportunities.
Okay – so we said that Borneo holidays are more than ‘just orangutans’ but let’s face it, they are an extremely important part of the rich and diverse nature of Borneo and, unfortunately, a species that is under threat. That’s why our eco-tourism conservation policy and Orangutan Quest Trip are fully supportive of ever
y measure that is in place to conserve and protect this wonderful, beautiful species. You can take a look at what the International Animal Rescue team is doing to protect these species right HERE as well as our own Wildlife Tour information HERE.
So have we whetted your appetite for that Borneo dream holiday? If so, why not get in contact with us using this link CONTACT and start to make that Borneo holiday a reality!
Indonesia’s President announces a palm oil freeze in effort to curb deforestation.
At the end of April, President Joko Widodo announced a moratorium on new licences for oil palm plantations and mining permits.
The Minister of the Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, and Acehnese leaders, Malik Mahmud Al Haytar (Wali Nanggroe Aceh, or Guardian of Aceh) and Zaini Abdullah (Governor of Aceh), went on to publicly support the move, declaring a moratorium on the expansion of palm oil and mining in the Leuser Ecosystem.
As well as putting a stop to the expansion of plantations, the government is also to undertake a review of existing licenses. This could mean that in areas where companies have secured permits, but have not yet begun operations, forests could be saved from the bulldozers.
Leuser is the only place in the world where orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinos coexist, and represents a vital stronghold for all these critically endangered species, so the freeze on development within the ecosystem is fantastic news.
Since the announcement, Indonesia’s ministry of forestry has rejected oil palm plantation permit applications from 61 companies, sparing 851,000 hectares from conversion. The national moratorium on the expansion of oil palm and mining concessions is off to a great start!
On our Borneo trekking tours it is possible to see orangutans living freely in their natural environment. This is a rare opportunity due to the disastrous effects that palm plantations have had on the habitats of these beautiful creatures.
The Tanjung Puting National Park, which covers territory the size of Bali, is home to an amazing array of wildlife including it’s world famous orang utans. The park is also home to monkeys, birds and other wildlife, not to mention the pristine vegetation of the jungle itself. This is a world famous natural treasure which attracts a growing number of international visitors each year whilst on their Borneo trekking holidays.
Tanjung Puting is located in Central Kalimantan. The area was originally declared as a game reserve in 1935 and became a national park in 1982. The park sits on a peninsula that juts out into the Java sea. The sheer size of the park means that it has diverse habitat zones. This diversity means the park is home to a great variety of inhabitants, both flora and fauna.
The incredible jungle surrounds make this an amazing place to visit if you’re after a truly outdoor adventure. It is an oasis of pure clean air, a clear night sky as well as a home to the gentle people of the jungle – the orang utans.
The orang utans are undoubtedly the best known inhabitants of the park, made famous through the work of the Orangutan Research and Conservation Program based at the Camp Leakey research station. Camp Leakey is an orangutan preserve and the site of the longest continuous study of any wild animal in the history of science. With around three quarters of the world’s orang utan’s population living on Borneo, this park is the ideal place to see these incredible creatures in the wild.
Because the vegetation of Tanjung Puting supports a large population of animals this park is one of the most important areas in Southeast Asia for the preservation of primates, birds, reptiles and fish.
To reach the Tanjung Puting National Park take a flight to the Iskandar Airport at Pangkalan Bun from Jakarta or other main Indonesian cities.
For more detailed information on the park please call us.