Don’t Take Our Word For It...

Myself and three ladies spent 9 days with the Penan. Our trip was put together by Adventure Alternative Borneo who booked internal flights, arranged 4×4 jeeps , had long tail boats ready and of course had local Penan guides ready to look after us for the duration.

During our time we trekked from village to village and also travelled by long tail boat. It was an incredible experience that was totally authentic. We learnt about the Penans way of life by staying with them in their homes and also by camping out in hammocks in the jungle.

Throughout our whole time we were looked after incredibly well in which safety was always their number on priority. Our local guides were true gentleman who ensured that we always had a hot drink and food at the end of the trekking day, and were always on hand when it came to crossing rivers and climbing steep slopes.

The Penan are truly amazing people who will show you insight in their world that you won’t forget. We will be back in for more adventures in Borneo.”

A LOONG bumpy drive through oil palm plantations and then jungle brings you to an oasis in the heart of Deramakot Forest Reserve. The large, neatly landscaped forest headquarters offer rooms in clean, comfortable chalets (with A/C, hot and cold water and 24 h power), a large dining hall, and superb bird watching in the gardens.

We travelled in here with Adventure Alternative Borneo for a 2 night trip. It’s really the only way to get in here. They provided a driver with a BIG four-wheel drive who skilfully navigated the very muddy roads, a cook who prepared delicious meals for us, and a guide (Alcey) who was a great mammal-spotter, although not terribly personable or forthcoming with information except in direct answer to our questions.

We went out on early morning, afternoon and night 4WD safaris. Don’t expect comfort, sitting or standing in the bouncy tray of the vehicle, but do expect exciting wildlife encounters! Deramakot offers amazing mammal spotting opportunities, though jungle wildlife safaris can be a funny business. The first night, we saw very little at all. But then the second night, the forest seemed to be brimming with wildlife! All up, we saw 15 species of mammal: long-tailed macaque, Thomas’ flying squirrel, Prevost squirrel, giant red flying squirrel, colugo, small-toothed palm civet, Malay civet, common palm civet, gibbon, leopard cat, clouded leopard, slow loris, bearded pig, sambar deer and lesser mouse deer. We were incredibly lucky to see the clouded leopard during the daytime – an almost unheard-of encounter! There was plenty of evidence of elephants, but it was a week old and they had moved deeper into the forest, so unfortunately we didn’t see them. There are also plenty of birds- in one large fruiting tree, we saw about 60 rhinoceros hornbills at one time, and later 2 helmeted hornbills. The insect life, particularly around the dining room and chalets at night, is also fascinating.

If you’re looking for a unique experience and getting of the beaten track this is the thing for you. In 4 months of travelling this was definitely one of my highlights. Me and my brother spend 4 days in Sarawak jungle with the help of Adventure Alternative Borneo. Nick did a great job with putting together a perfect itinerary for us.

We stayed at a remote longhouse and in a jungle camp next to a beautiful waterfall. The locals were very friendly and happy and the food they cooked for us was amazing. We spent the days trekking in the jungle and going down the river by boat. We even went trekking to a waterfall that even the locals barely knew existed. As far as we know we were the first tourists there ever, that’s something you don’t get to do everyday! Our guide was also nice and very knowledgeable. An incredible experience!

Deramakot — You know that sense of wonder, intrigue and deep heartfelt dissonance that resonates within the final scene of Jurassic Park, set amongst the welcome center just before the T-Rex and Velociraptors turn it into a tattered relic? As the audience is left with that pit in their stomach question about how man’s domineering effect over the kingdom of nature might have gone too far? A week at Deramakot is likely as close as you’ll ever get to experiencing such a strong sense of wonder and such a wild, dissonant pulse as you set off from your lodging into exploring this selectively logged wild eden. A truly unique hope on the island of Borneo where intact rainforest is increasingly scarce as it’s lost in the rising tides of palm oil plantations overt destruction. The gentle balance of ecotourism within Deramakot is one of the most essential components of preserving this unique beacon of wildlife in Sabah. A truly remarkable and dense area of biodiversity; it’s unquestionably one of the world’s best locations to observe a huge swath of endangered species including: wild Orangutans, Clouded Leopard, Marbled cats, Asian leopard cats, Pittas, Colugos, Flying foxes, Slow loris, Binturong, Civets, and a whole host of other beautiful, elusive animals but on the brink of extinction.

Within such a dense pocket of biodiversity, the uniquely disturbed–pristine ecosystem of Deramakot that has been subsectioned by the exhaustively managed forest and logging roads enables an almost Planet Earth level of navigation and observation as you explore its terrain. That’s not to say that any of the wildlife is expected to be seen, just that it provides a wealth of opportunity to the patient and calm observer that has expert guides taking you along for the ride. Without our guide Mike and driver Lang of Adventure Alternative Borneo, we’d have returned home seeing little more than a shadow of the flora and fauna we could only have dreamt of experiencing. Their dedication and enduring drive enabled us to have multiple incredibly close observational encounters with Sabah’s wildlife. I highly recommend booking this expert crew to guide your visit through Deramakot, Sabah and Borneo. They were able to cater exactly to our interest, skill and fitness levels and deliver well beyond our expectations. Tread lightly, but book a visit soon to what is likely (other than Danum Valley) one of the last vestiges of semi-intact biodiverse ecosystems within the entirety of the Sundaland.

A week at Deramakot is likely as close as you’ll ever get to experiencing such a strong sense of wonder and such a wild, dissonant pulse as you set off from your lodging into exploring this selectively logged wild eden. A truly unique hope on the island of Borneo where intact rainforest is increasingly scarce as it’s lost in the rising tides of palm oil plantations overt destruction. The gentle balance of ecotourism within Deramakot is one of the most essential components of preserving this unique beacon of wildlife in Sabah. A truly remarkable and dense area of biodiversity; it’s unquestionably one of the world’s best locations to observe a huge swath of endangered species including: wild Orangutans, Clouded Leopard, Marbled cats, Asian leopard cats, Pittas, Colugos, Flying foxes, Slow loris, Binturong, Civets, and a whole host of other beautiful, elusive animals but on the brink of extinction.

Without our guide Mike and driver Lang of Adventure Alternative Borneo, we’d have returned home seeing little more than a shadow of the flora and fauna we could only have dreamt of experiencing. Their dedication and enduring drive enabled us to have multiple incredibly close observational encounters with Sabah’s wildlife. I highly recommend booking this expert crew to guide your visit through Deramakot, Sabah and Borneo. They were able to cater exactly to our interest, skill and fitness levels and deliver well beyond our expectations. Tread lightly, but book a visit soon to what is likely (other than Danum Valley) one of the last vestiges of semi-intact biodiverse ecosystems within the entirety of the Sundaland ” – February 2017.

I’ve now spent two trips (total of 7 nights) at Deramakot Forest Reserve with Adventure Alternative Borneo and their excellent guide and driver. It is my favorite lowland location in Sabah. The mammal opportunities here are superb–orangutans, flying squirrels (we were even fortunate enough to see a pygmy flying squirrel!) and civets galore, leopard cats, colugos, proboscis monkeys if you cruise the river, waking up to hear gibbon whooping… we were even lucky enough to watch a CLOUDED LEOPARD during the day as it slowly crossed the road in front of us! Birding is good here too, with the species you’d expect at Danum. The accommodation here is comfortable and the food is good; Adventure Alternative takes care of everything for you. Activities include night drives, boat trips on the Kinabatangan, and hikes; the itinerary is flexible dependent on your desires. Very highly recommend booking this trip with Adventure Alternative–you won’t regret it.

This trip was so good it made me write my first-ever review. It is among the best experiences I’ve ever had traveling. The mix between desolate jungle, thrilling adventures and cultural experiences offers a unique look at the many treasures this great island has to offer.

The guide was extremely knowledgeable and very nice. I now consider him my friend. The food was another highlight of the trip. Prepared by locals, it is both delicious and abundant. The itinerary says to bring snacks but ours just sat at the bottom of our backpack throughout.

In the video, the climb up the pinnacle looks almost too exciting. This is also the case in real life. While doing it, I was in disbelief that they let you do it and afterwards I was euphoric. Amazing scenes. I did, importantly, feel safe all the way through. A night down by the waterfall is the perfect way to unwind and take in the jungle. I highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for an authenticBorneo experience. Five stars!

I have been to most of famous conservation areas or forest reserves of Sabah, incl. Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon, Tabin, Kinabatangan, etc., but Deramakot is the best place ever for mammal watching safari, especially night safari for wild cats. I spent 1 week in Deramakot, and saw 1 very rare marbled cat, many leopard cats, 2 Binturongs, 3 slow loris, 1 malayan porcupine, 4 kinds of civets, 3 orangutans, 3 bornean pygmy elephants, 1 juvenile reticulated python, 1 cobra and 1 beautiful bird called blue-banded pitta. And my camera traps also captured 1 clouded leopard, 1 banded linsang, 1 western tarsier, some bearded pigs. I have never seen so many high profile wildlife in any other conservation area or forest reserve in Borneo! I really had great time with Adventure Alternative Borneo at Deramakot. Fore sure I will go back there in future.

Deramakot is a forest reserve which is still being logged, but in a sustainable way. I still didn’t like seeing all the logging activity and huge trunks waiting to be shipped out, but I understand this is the best way of continuing logging. There are good chances to see a wide variety of mammals – lots of palm civets, Malay civet, orangutan – and a better than normal (though still very small!) chance of seeing clouded leopard, sun bear – and perhaps an otter civet.

The accommodation was surprisingly good – air-conditioned rooms with ensuite bathrooms. There was no furniture in the rooms beside the beds, but I pillaged the communal sitting room in the building for a chair and table. The forest reserve staff can apparently provide meals, but I went with Adventure Alternative Borneo, and they provided vehicle, driver, guide and cook so we were very well looked after. They did a great job and I would highly recommend them.

I spend 8 days, and most importantly nights, at Deramakot Forest Reserve. It is one of the best safaris I have been on because I saw almost every mammal I wanted and I experienced so much. I had Mike as a guide, Lang as a driver and Addie as cook (even a great spotter during the night drives) and everything was top notch. The food was just amazing with both local and more european cuisine. I feel almost sorry for the team because I pushed them really hard mostly in the night because I wanted to photograph clouded leopard. Most of the nights we stopped spotting at around 2 and I saw everything from Sun Bear, Binturong, Banded Palm Civet, Bornean Gibbons, and Bornean Orang Utans and so many other animals and birds that I can´t even mention them here. The only thing that I didn’t see was clouded leopard even if we saw clear evidence that they we around. If I am going back again? As soon as I get more money and I off again

Spent a couple of days and nights doing safaris’ with the team from Alternative Adventures Borneo. What can I say apart from “Simply incredible”. Up until then we normally holidayed on resorts and this time decided to do something different and so glad we did ! We definitely wouldn’t have seen as much magnificent wildlife while we were there if it hadn’t of been for our brilliant guide and spotter Mike. Quite amazing what this guy can see day or night in the rainforest. We were lucky to see Civet cats, Leopard cats, Flying Foxes, Porkupines, Wild Boar, Sumatran Cobra, the almost impossible to spot Tarsier(Which Mike spotted at night somehow !) Gibbons, Proboscis monkeys, short and ringtail Macaques playing by the riverside when we were on our beautiful river cruise and to top it all off we saw ten Orangutans in one day ! The record was eleven in one day ! Couldn’t believe we saw two fully mature males which is quite rare to see especially when one walked across the road in front of us and disappeared into the rainforest. Many thanks to Tom, Mike and the lovely Stella (Our great cook and spotter.) Looking forward to returning next year.

Orou Sapulot was a wonderful and life changing experience!! from the first moment you meet Virgil and his dad they take so good care of you. Once you arrive at the stay in the middle of the forest it is a breathtaking place. Everything is made to fit in with the nature surrounding you and you feel in connection with nature. You sleep in a kind of a wooden bed with a sheet, which is comfortable but the best is that you get to fall sleep with all the noises from the animals and nature around you. First night is harder to fall sleep but then you get use to it!! And the food! its incredible. Super super tasty and every dish is typical from the region! the trips planed for the day, which include the trip to the cave and the hiking trip are really wonderful, I specially enjoyed the hike because once you are there you feel really fulfilled and the views are breathtaking. The second night you sleep at a hut next to a small waterfall and a lagoon which is magical. The free time that you have in the stay is also great, Virgil is an incredible conversationalist and we enjoyed great talks after dinner or played cards with the other guests and the guides. All the people working at Orou Sapulot are amazing, the guides are really fun and helpful and Virgil and his dad are very kind. I recommend Orou Sapulot 100% and i feel like is one of this secret places that it is not that easy to find anymore. We will defiantly come back!

Do not miss this opportunity to meet locals, and get a close encounter with the jungle. It was beyond our expectations and the last thing we booked – we are extremely glad we found Orut Sapulot. Virgil and his father Richard are caring hosts, and will gladly share their culture and knowledge with you. The local guides were very helpful even if they were a bit shy and only knew a little English. There was always one guide who spoke more English and body language gets you far. There was showers with water from a spring (cold but that is fine when its 35C outside), water toilets and they provided soap and shampoo.

Highlights: Swimming in a jungle river Bathing in a waterfall Climbing Batu Punggul Exploring caves Excellent freshly made food Local interaction

i.e everything! In other words, just go.