The intensity and passion when the animal looks up at you cannot be captured in a thousand photographs
The passionate animal lover knows how fascinating and fulfilling it is to watch a beast from the jungle from close quarters and in its natural habitat, happy and peaceful. Be it an adult animal or a young one, wildlife-sightings are once-in-a-lifetime experiences—the intensity and passion of that one moment when the animal looks up or turns around to gaze at you cannot be captured in a thousand photographs.
The passionate animal lover knows how fascinating and fulfilling it is to watch a beast from the jungle from close quarters and in its natural habitat, happy and peaceful. Be it an adult animal or a young one, wildlife-sightings are once-in-a-lifetime experiences—the intensity and passion of that one moment when the animal looks up or turns around to gaze at you cannot be captured in a thousand photographs.
A holiday in Sabah provides such a rare opportunity. At the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, orphaned and injured orangutans are cared for and nursed back to health and happiness before being set free. You can watch a feeding session or two, but reserve your biggest aww for the outdoor nursery where the babies are taught the life skills they will need to survive in the wild. The learning curve is steep! The babies tumble and fall on top of each other as they try to learn how to swing; some prefer to walk to get around, much to the irritation of their trainers.
Although we are Nature’s beings, it is a pity that most of us have lost that divine connection. Blame it on our hectic lives, the grind of the rat race, or the multitude of roles that we are expect to excel in, but it is (sadly) true that to us “connection” means a like on Facebook or a retweet. A holiday to Borneo Malaysia blasts through the veils that we held and hailed as our reality and recreates that lost connection with Nature. A holiday in Sabah takes you close to members of the animal and avian kingdoms and lets you watch them in their natural habitat. These are priceless moments of closeness that bonds you eternally to Mother Nature.
Sabah, the Land Below the Wind, is sheltered from the wet-wet-wet monsoons and the devastating typhoons so characteristic of this region because of its strategic geographic location. There are no freezing winters here. These make Sabah an all-seasons destination.
The average temperature does not vary much throughout the year; the only noticeable difference in the weather is that you either have rains or you don’t. So don’t look up the weather reports when you plan a Borneo Malaysia holiday. You are going to be in Mother Nature’s sanctuary; go by the natural rhythms. If you want to go on a Sabah holiday for the wildlife, go when the turtles lay eggs or the orangutans are most likely to make an appearance.
Turtles lay eggs throughout the year. But you may want to plan a turtle-watching holiday to Sabah between July and October when the seas are calmer. This ensures you can also take part in and enjoy the variety of water sports safely even without the skills of a pro. This stretch of time also coincides with the conventional dry season in Sabah, which means you can be in the midst of Nature without getting drenched.
The conventional wet season in Sabah is from October to March. But you don’t need to shy away from a holiday to Borneo in Malaysia just because it is raining. Rains bathe a parched land and breathe new life into it. The forests seems more verdant and suddenly, there seems to be many more hues of greens in Nature. It is cooler and more comfortable now. The pitter-patter of the rains on the roof, its tap on the leaves of the trees, and the steady drumming on the window panes that lulls you into a trance. The sound sculpture of rain in the primeval forest landscapes of Sabah is a magical experience.
If you want to spot wildlife without the burden of ponchos and umbrellas, plan a Sabah holiday during the dry season. The temperatures do not reach scorching heights here, so it is comfortable being outdoors—exploring the virgin forests, cruising down the waterways, and diving to meet the denizens of the deep. July is also the festival season in Sabah. The streets are taken over by colorful processions, and the air is filled with laughter and lilting music.
You are guaranteed orangutan sightings at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre throughout the year. But the months from May to September brings these furry creatures out in droves. This is the fruiting season, and orangutans leave their dens on the high tree-tops and graze closer to the ground. The fruiting season also coincides with the dry season in Sabah. It is a great time to hike and explore the depths of the forests when the trails are heady with the scent of tropical fruits.
