Borneo Rainforest

[MondayTuesdayWednesday]

Hi Everyone,
Just looking for experiences of anyone who has travelled to the Danum Valley Rainforest in Borneo with children. I would be interested on any advice or tips you might have particularly in relation to the following areas:

-Mosquito repellent - what did you use for children?
-Clothing - what did both yourselves and your children wear when out and about in the jungle for walks and then for evening times for dinner at the lodge?
-Any other information you found useful?
-Any experience of leeches and how to deter them?

Thanks in advance.

No experience yet but just marking place because we're planning to go this summer. Have you looked at any lodges yet? What are your plans?

Yes we have booked a 5 night tour with 3 nights in the Sakau lodge on the river and 2 nights in the rainforest lodge in the Danum valley. Will spend time at the beach on either side of this. The 5 day tour is very full on so beach time is definitely a must especially with children. What are you thinking of doing?

Also marking place as we are planning a 2019 trip.

I have - went to Borneo Rainforest Lodge last year - it is AMAZING and well worth the expense. Once in a lifetime experience stuff

-Mosquito repellent - what did you use for children?
Jungle Formula for kids
-Clothing - what did both yourselves and your children wear when out and about in the jungle for walks and then for evening times for dinner at the lodge?
Bought DC Nosilife tops and trousers - we wore similar but not Nosilife. Casual type clothes in lodge
-Any other information you found useful?
It is humid and it does rain - take waterproof coat. BRL have umbrellas
-Any experience of leeches and how to deter them?
Was disappointed as no leeches stuck to us - no need for leech socks - just tuck trousers into long socks

Let me know if any further info needed - also went to Kinabantangan river - also highly recommended

Great info thanks swimster. I'll have a look at all that. I'm travelling with dd 16 so don't need to worry so much about splashing the deet around. Did you take malaria tablets?

We are going for 3.5 weeks. One week of post-GCSE relaxation on either bali or lombok, then a week of activities e.g. canoeing, trekking, temples, snorkelling etc. I fancy doing a cookery course. Not sure where yet. Then we'll head over to Borneo. I thought we'd go to the Malaysian side for variety although nothing is booked yet. Trying to persuade reluctant dd to do a multi-day trek.

We're very excited!

Thanks so much for the information Swimster especially re the nosilife clothing. I never knew such a thing existed! I have a few more questions if you don’t mind!

Did you take anti malaria tablets?

Did you wear clothes to cover arms and Legs completely at all times when in the Danum valley and at the river? Even in the evenings when you were at the lodge?

What time of year did you go and what was the weather like?

How would young kids fare with the jungle outings while staying in Danum? What age were your children?

Really appreciate your help! It’s good to be able to ask someone who has actually been there!

Happy to answer any questions!

Did you take anti malaria tablets?
Yes, just for the Danum valley and Kinabantangan - note that sand flies are more of a problem if you go to say the Rasa Ria - they are a real pest.

Did you wear clothes to cover arms and Legs completely at all times when in the Danum valley and at the river? Even in the evenings when you were at the lodge?
Think we sometimes wore T-shirts but can't recall wearing shorts, same types of clothes worn day and evening - the lodge communal areas are open to flies/bugs etc

What time of year did you go and what was the weather like?
July, it was warm, humid and sometimes rainy

How would young kids fare with the jungle outings while staying in Danum? What age were your children?
9-10. There was a 5 year old staying at the lodge who was paired up with our family - he had a few meltdowns and I think it is a bit young really as it spoils it for others. If your DC are of that age, maybe worth booking private guide. But our DC loved it and there is a good mix of activities. The Kinabantangan river is very easy as it is mostly just boat trips.

We travelled around Borneo two years ago with three children under 8. What an adventure!

Yes we had anti malaria medicine (malerone with no ill effects).
The rainforest is surprisingly damp- obviously this shouldn't be surprising at all! But literally every item of clothing we had was damp, and despite the warm temperatures nothing would dry. I advise taking a lot of socks, long light weight trousers and tops. We had to go shopping in sanderkan I think to get some cotton trousers. You can also get rubber shoes in sanderkan for a couple of pounds. These were very useful- our trainers were all wrecked very quickly. That said you may well have hiking boots which are the best option.

We did indeed experience leeches. The horror of stripping off my ds after a morning walking to find a leech stuck to his arse will certainly stay with me I believe a credit card scraped under them to break the suction is the best way to deal with it (not shrieking and yanking at it apparently).

We used jungle formula kids. I don't remember the mozzis being bad there tbh.

Here is a link to our blog covering Borneo. It was a great experience, enjoy.

5traveltheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/borneo-part-2.html?m=1

Jennifer your blog is fascinating. I've just lost the morning to it! What an amazing experience for your dc. You basically lived my dream! How have you all settled back into normal life? Any plans to repeat it?

Did you all have to start malaria tablets a few weeks beforehand? We fly out a week after dds gcses finish. I'm a bit worried about any side effects during exams.

Not sure I should tell her about the leeches!!

Also OP where did you book your 5 nights? It sounds great for us but maybe a bit above our budget. The two lodges look lovely though.

TheDonald - Malerone only needs to be started 3 days before I think.

Settling back in has been challenging tbh. The first few months back was really tough for us all. But totally worth it!

THanks for all the information swimster and Jennifer and I’ll have a good read of your blog! That’s so useful!

We booked through Borneo eco tours but there’s also another tour company called Borneo Nature Tours, who I think own the nature lodge. The nature lodge has some new villas too which look great.

I’m sure I’ll be back with some more questions and if I can help with any booking questions Donald let me know. The 5 day tour is very expensive but the jungle part of this trip is a once in a lifetime trip and we’ll do something less expensive for the next one!!

We went with Downbelow Adventures - we economised a bit on the Kinabantangan River lodge as all the lodges are on the same river (so you see the same things despite staying in different accommodation). We stayed 2 nights on the river which was adequate - equated to about 4 boat trips and one short jungle trek.

Borneo Rainforest lodge is different though as it pretty much is the only place to stay in Danum valley (apart from the research centre). It is lovely accommodation though.

Ditto to all the comments above! Just a few other tips in case helpful:

I didn't take malaria tablets when I went but it's probably a good idea especially with kids..

I stayed in the Danum Valley Field Centre Accommodation and it was great! Really fun atmosphere, lots of people around who were keen to chat and share about their travels, and clean and basic rooms.

Finally bring salt for the leeches! If you get any leeches on you (which isn't actually as gross as you initially think..) just sprinkle salt and the leech will fall off!

My worst bites were on my hands and fingers, as you automatically wipe/wash your hands after putting on the smelly repellent over everyone, and then it was me that got bitten!