The Danum Valley Conservation Area is significant at 438 square kilometres. It is a relatively undisturbed lowland dipterocarp forest in Sabah, Malaysia. The diversity of this area is extensive and exhibits tropical flora and fauna, including the rare Bornean orangutans, gibbons, mousedeer, clouded leopards and over 270 bird species.
The area holds unique status in that before it became a conservation area, there were no human settlements within the region, meaning that hunting, logging, and other human interference were non-existent, making the area almost unique. It is managed by Yayasan Sabah for conservation, research, education, and habitat restoration training purposes. There have been proposals to nominate the site as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Find out more about Danum Valley Conservation Area in our blog post where we explore the magical area of Sabah.
When people journey to Danum Valley, their primary reason for visiting is to see and witness the amazing flora, fauna and wildlife. There then is the host of activities offered to make the most of your visit, including jungle treks, river swimming, bird watching, night jungle tours and excursions to nearby logging sites and timber mills. Take a look at the top 5 things we think you’ll enjoy most in Danum Valley.
Yes, you can visit the Danum Valley Field Center, but it is better to arrange a such trip through a licensed tour operator such as Borneo Dream. Contacting them directly can be tricky, and bookings/reservations can be lost, so leave it to the professionals. Read more about our Danum Valley Field Center 3 or 4 day trip.
Pure and simple you should come back amazed by this ancient rainforest and its flora, fauna, and wildlife. You will be in true Sir David Attenborough country. The diversity of this place is vast and exhibits tropical flora and fauna, including the rare Bornean orangutans, gibbons, mousedeer, clouded leopards and over 270 bird species. Take it all in on our 4-day Danum Valley tour.
You will be with amazing wildlife as depicted on many great TV and film documentaries. This area really hit the screens when Sir David Attenborough started visiting here and broadcasting his shows and documentaries worldwide and was watched and enjoyed by millions of people.
Things to see on your amazing visit to Danum Valley are tropical flora and fauna, including such species as the rare Bornean orangutans, gibbons, mousedeer, clouded leopards and over 270 bird species. You can even go on night treks to see the nocturnal life of the rainforest. Experience the beauty of the jungle on our 5-day Rainforest Lodge stay.
Danum Valley
Visit Danum Valley Conservation Area
Visiting Danum Valley is often of the top things to do when visiting Borneo. And it’s easy to understand why. Danum Valley Conservation Area, or Danum Valley for short, is 438 square kilometres of relatively untouched, mostly primary, lowland dipterocarp forest located in southern Sabah. The area has been recognised as one of the world’s most complex ecosystems and has been classified as a Class I protected rainforest.
Danum Valley is bowl-shaped, generally hilly but not mountainous. Its highest point is Mount Danum standing at 1093 meters in height. In places, the forest canopy reaches over 70 meters in height. Danum Valley is rich in Sabah’s unique flora and fauna. It is home to over 15,000 plant species, >90% is the primary rainforest. The sheer diversity of wildlife and plant life found in Danum Valley is mind-blowing. Astonishingly, a new species of plant is found by scientists here every week. Think about it – wow!
The lowland tropical rainforest is home to many, many birds and mammals. The forest in Danum Valley serves as a home for endangered wildlife species such as orangutans, clouded leopards, Bornean pygmy elephants, proboscis monkey, gibbons, sun bears, mousedeer and over 270 bird species, including Hornbills, kingfishers and flycatchers. During a visit to Danum Valley, trekking into the rainforest is the main way to go in search of wildlife. But remember, Danum Valley is a living jungle (not a zoo), and while one trek might bring many wildlife sightings, another trek can be sparse.
Danum Valley – Ancient, Pristine Rainforest on your Doorstep
Getting to Danum Valley is fairly easy. Find your way to Lahad Datu in southern Sabah (most fly from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu). It is then just over a two-hour drive to one of the accommodation options in Danum Valley. There are two options for staying in Danum Valley – stay in luxury at Borneo Rainforest Lodge for a 3D2N, 4D3N or 5D4N stay. Or, go for a more basic option with Danum Valley Field Centre (a working Research facility). During your visit to Danum Valley, you can do as much or as little as you want. Join an early morning trek in search of wildlife, join a canopy walk, visit an ancient burial site, visit a waterfall or just sit back and listen to the sights & sounds of the rainforest. Experience ancient, undisturbed rainforests and have the chance to see some pretty amazing wildlife – Danum Valley, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
