Danum Valley - 5:30AM

Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley Conservation Area, view from the balcony of our chalet at 5:30 AM while getting ready for our morning walk.

Sambar Deer - Danum Valley - Borneo

Sambar deers are nocturnal animals. While males usually live alone, females are found in herds with their youngs.

Western Tarsier - Danum Valley - Borneo

Immediately upon arrival, we were allocated a guide and advised to wear our leech socks for a first walk as an orangutan had been spotted in the vicinity. While we were able to observe the animal, it was too high in the tree and the light was not appropriate for a picture.

Back to the lodge for an excellent buffet dinner, we were told that one of the naturalists had found a rare Western tarsier. Should we want to see it before or after the night drive into the forest? As it was, we climbed on the back of the truck for our night drive and stopped close to the location where the tarsier was. We jumped out to see the animal, took a few shots using a torch light as sole light and continued our first night tour. Later in the night, we came back and I was allowed one picture with the flash. I could not mess this one up as I knew that the previous shoots with the torch light were not great. I set the camera on manual, 1/60, f/5.6, ISO400, spot metering on the eyes, 180mm with the 70-180 micro and flash mounted on camera on TTL -0.7EV. With more time, I might have done something better but the naturalist that had been keeping watch by the animal for most part of the evening was looking forward to his dinner.

The locals name the tarsier "ghost monkey". They recount stories to explain that the animal is part bat (ear & nose), part rat (the tail) and part frog (the legs). It can be found at night with the reflection of the torch light on the eyes. To protect themselves during full moon, the tarsiers can move a thin skin over their eyes to reduce the reflection of the light. The animal must then be spotted on the first pass of the light as they will hide their eyes immediately afterwards.

Danum Valley - Borneo

After a 90 km drive from Lahad Datu on a bumpy gravel road / old log road, we reached the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, a resort located in the secluded Danum Valley.

Gomantong Caves - Sabah - Malaysia

The ceiling of the limestone cave reaches 90m high with natural chimneys through which the bats exit in a large swirling group at sunset.

Gomantong Caves - Sabah - Malaysia

The floor of the cave is covered by a thick layer of bat guano, living ground to millions of insects some crawling up onto the slippery pathways and hand rails...

Gomantong Caves - Sabah - Malaysia

The Gomantong Caves are the largest cave system in Sabah. They are located approx. 110km from Sandakan and are home to over millions of swiftlets and bats. The swiftlets' nests are harvested and sold as bird nests internationally.