Overview:
Brief History:
During the early 1870s, the east coast of Sabah was under control of the Sultan of Sulu, who also ruled what is now the southern Philippines. The first European settlement in the area was founded by William Clarke Cowie, a Scottish gun smuggler from Glasgow, who received permission from the Sultan of Sulu to establish a small trading base. Cowie called his settlement Sandakan, which in Tausug (Sulu) means "the place that was pawned", but it soon came to be known as "Kampung German" (or German village) after the large number of Germans who also set up posts there. The settlement was part of the lease Austro- Hungarian consul Baron von Overbeck acquired from the Sultan of Sulu in 1878. After the lease was purchased by von Overbeck's British partner Alfred Dent, Kampong German was accidentally razed to the ground on 15 June 1879. The new British Resident, William Burges Pryer, decided not to rebuild the village but to move to Buli Sim Sim on 21 June 1879. He named his new settlement Elopura, which means Beautiful City. A few years later, the name was changed back to Sandakan. The name Elopura still refers to a region of Sandakan.
The Japanese occupation of Sandakan during World War II began on 19 January 1942 and lasted until a brigade of the Australian 9th Division liberated it on 19 October 1945. The Japanese administration restored the name Elopura for the town. One of the many atrocities of World War II was the Sandakan Death Marches, when Japanese soldiers decided to move about 2,500 Allied prisoners of war in Sandakan 260 km (160 miles) inland to the town of Ranau, only six of them survived the war.
Pick-up time: 1345hrs from city centre / 1300hrs from outside city
Day 01 Arrive / Kota Kinabalu (D)
AM arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, greet and transfer to your hotel. 13.45 meet at hotel lobby and depart from Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort on a two hour overland drive to southwest Sabah. Arrive at Garama River Lodge and transfer to the mangrove swamps forest filled with distinctive beauty.
Welcome drink will be served with choices of hot or cold beverages. Enjoy the rural scene before boarding boat for river cruise, which will take you through the intricate mangrove system that contributes to the beauty of the Garama River. Search for the endemic proboscis monkeys as they settle for the evening along the river, feeding on young leaves, shoots and fruits. Cruise further on a lookout for more wildlife such as macaque monkeys, rare silver Langur, domesticated water buffaloes and the many varieties of birds. Return to the jetty in the evening and witness a Mother Nature show of fireflies, lighting up certain trees along the river. After a traditional dinner on the jetty, return to your hotel.
Things to bring: Sun block lotion, insect repellent, extra clothing, towel, camera, sunglasses, waterproof bag and
binoculars (optional)
Day 02 Kota Kinabalu / Kinabalu Park / Kota Kinabalu (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel and depart 0800hrs to Kinabalu Park passing scenic countryside, rice fields and native villages over the ridges of mountains. Arrive Poring hot spring (500m a.s.l) and explore the tropical rainforest as you follow one of the many trails that lead up to the canopy walkway, 42m above forest floor. Then dip into the natural hot spring pool which is believed to have therapeutic benefits for skin care. After lunch at a local restaurant, return to the mountain to visit Kinabalu Park (1550m a.s.l). Enjoy the cool atmosphere and learn some of the conservation policies that have made Kinabalu Park Malaysia's no 1 World Heritage Site. Return to hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight at selected hotel Things to bring while on tour: Camera, hat/cap, raincoat, good walking shoes, sun block lotion and insect repellent
Day 03 Kota Kinabalu / Marine Park / Kota Kinabalu (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel. 0830hrs meet at hotel lobby and transfer to jetty for boat ride to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. The park consists of five coral islands and is situated a mere 15 minutes off Kota Kinabalu. Proceed to Sapi Island for the rest of the day; spend your day in the sun having fun on the white sandy beaches. Swim, sunbathe, snorkel or just a stroll along the sand. The island has a gentle slope with hard coral gardens, a sandy bottom and sporadic coral blocks. Ideally for observing macro marine life either during the day or at night with shallow, calm sea at depths varying between 15m and 20m. Enjoy a hearty buffet BBQ lunch on the beach of Manukan Island before returning to the mainland 1600hrs and then to your hotel. Overnight at selected hotel
Day 04 Kota Kinabalu / Sandakan / Sepilok / Sukau (B, L, D)
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to airport for your flight (suggested flight MH2042 ETD0730) departure to Sandakan. On arrival, greet and transfer to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (the world's largest rehabilitation centre). Proceed to mini theatre for a 21 min documentary show on the rehabilitation programme before entering the tropical rainforest on a wooden plank walk to view feeding of the orangutans by the Park Rangers. Continue your overland journey to Sukau (110km) passing through oil palm plantations and settlers' villages. After lunch at the lodge, you are free to explore the surrounding lodge before proceeding for the two hour river cruise at 1600hrs in search for wildlife including the endemic proboscis monkeys along the Kinabatangan River (the longest river in Sabah)
Day 05 Ox Bow / Sandakan (B, L)
Begin your early morning river cruise to ox bow lake in the misty Kinabatangan River in search for more wildlife including wild orangutan, wild boar and the endemic pygmy Borneo elephant (seasonal). Return to lodge for breakfast, check out and retrace your journey to Sandakan for city tour visiting places of interest around the city including WWII POW's Camp, Buddhist Temple, Sim Sim water village and bustling Central Market among others. Tour ends in Sandakan and transfer to airport or hotel SANDAKAN is the second-largest city in Sabah, on the north-eastern coast of Borneo. It is located on the east coast of the island and it is the administrative centre of Sandakan Division and was the former capital of British North Borneo. Sandakan is known as the gateway for ecotourism destinations in Sabah, such as the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Turtle Islands Park, Kinabatangan River and Gomantong Caves.
