Here we are back in Borneo again. As promised during the last trip, the troops decided that we would return back to Uncle Tan's little stretch of jungle heaven the following year. Some gratitude to AirAsia as well for having such wonderful specials this year for people flying over to Sabah. Truly, now “Everyone Can Fly”.
The aim of the trip was to see Borneo's Pygmy Elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis), as we had no opportunity to see them last year due to our timing. Apparently, the best time to see them is when they make the annual migration across the Kinabatangan flood plains between the months of March and April, and August and September. So after much anticipation for a year, here we were boarding an AirAsia flight borne for Sandakan, a quiet eastern city of the Malaysian state of Sabah.
I would like to have been able to admit that having being to this part of pristine rain forest had made it easier to prepare for it. Oh, how we were wrong. I guess, that is just the beauty of such an ecosystem, and that it changes every season subject to Mother Nature’s tender whim and fancies. Unlike our last trip which took place a little later last year and hence drier, this trip was to say the least, a lot more muddier.
After all, we should have expected the conditions. It is a floodplain after all, which is a nicer way to call pseudo swamp. During the rains, the area is in under no less than 5 feet of water. What was nice this year was that it did not rain in the time we were there, but be prepared to walk in mud that will let you sink down to your knees!
But the river safaris are always something to look forward to. Having the rains slowly return to the area has attracted a lot more wildlife back to the area and we were able to see the larger denizens of the area such as Estuarine Crocodiles, Orangutans and Bearded Pigs. Pardon me for not being as excited as most would be, but we were also told that we were lucky to witness rare birds as well. We saw Storm’s storks (Ciconia stormi), White-crowned Hornbills (Berenicornis comatus) and ample species of Kingfishers on the night safaris.
Unfortunately, we were sadly disappointed. Elephant tracks were sighted, but there were no elephants to be seen. Unlike the African savannah, even a large animal like an elephant can disappear into the thick foliage of a rainforest. Just our luck, but I guess the more of a reason to return next year, crossing our fingers and hoping to see the majestic animal.
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