A must do for all wildlife enthusiasts! The Deramakot Forest Reserve is home to a remarkable amount of biodiversity with an impressive 75% of Sabah’s mammal species found within the reserve. All five species of Bornean cat – Sunda Clouded Leopard, Bornean Bay Cat, Leopard Cat, Marbled Cat and Flat Headed Cat – are found in Deramakot as well as 8 species of hornbills, orangutans, gibbons, pygmy elephants and more! Entry into Deramakot Forest Reserve is via a 4 wheel drive accessible gravel road from the small town of Telupid, located between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. Despite its remote location, Deramakot Forest Reserve offers basic but comfortable forest park-style chalet accommodation furnished with twin or double beds, air-conditioning and an attached bathroom with heated shower.
Activities
Whilst most visitors will come to Deramakot for 2 or 3 nights, some will stay for a week or longer in search of the perfect photo of a clouded leopard. Your arrival day includes a 2 hour night safari to get to know the area’s incredible wildlife, and each subsequent full day includes 7 hours of 4×4 wildlife safaris as well as the chance to explore the trails surrounding the accommodation on foot. Safaris run on a small group basis, sharing a guide with up to 8 people. Typical days include a 4×4 dawn drive to experience the sights and sounds of the rainforest in the morning, time to rest or take a nature walk on the trails, an afternoon 4×4 drive for more wildlife sighting possibilities, and a final night drive in search of wild cats, slow loris, flying squirrels and more.
Additional Information
What to bring: binoculars, insect repellent, long sleeve shirts & long pants, leech socks, raincoat, sun hat, comfortable trekking shoes, torch light, water bottle & personal toiletries. Deramakot Forest Reserve is a mixed-dipterocarp forest spanning over 55,000 hectares in the interior of Borneo and is one of the island’s best wildlife destinations. Whilst wildlife thrives in the reserve, sustainable logging is still permitted, and Deramakot Forest Reserve was the first tropical forest in the world to be awarded a “well-managed” status by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 1997. Conservation and reduced impact logging continue to co-exist in harmony in Deramakot with continuous assessment and approval by the FSC.
