Arriving at Borneo Rainforest Lodge

The lodge is about 4 hours from Sukua by car. We switched cars and drivers about half way as we were handed off from one lodge to the other (and stopped at a pharmacy for Mike’s back and Chris’s belly).  Our driver for the second lodge was also a birder, and we briefly stooped a few times for birds and restroom breaks.  We got better views of the whispered tree swift.

Borneo rainforest lodge is inside the Danum River valley conservation area. Only 100 people are allowed in this area at a time.  It’s very remote (no cell phone data) but our room, a two story villa complete with butler and private guide is more elegant than Sukua.  However, the villa is a bit awkward with extra beds rather than a sitting room.  I see furniture rearranging in our future.  After one look at the buffet, we decided we’ll have private dining in our room from now on.

We went out for an afternoon trek with Cassy our guide. It wasn’t great for birding, we got brief distant and leaf blocked views of the the helmeted hornbill.  We did see a orangutan and a red leaf monkey though.