Madagascar or Borneo ?

[2inthehand]

I’m trying to decide on my next holiday, and these two are my current picks. Going for wildlife, travelling around and then a couple days beach/snorkelling at the end. Likely to be Sept/Oct time.
Anyone any experience of either or both? Orang-utans vs lemurs?!
Have done several mainland African safaris so have already seen the big 5 etc. Experienced traveller, I am happy in all environments so heat/humidity/ rain doesn’t bother me.
Main interest is wildlife, also enjoy seeing birds, bugs, fauna.

I've not been to Madagascar, but Borneo made me terribly sad.

I was so looking forward to going, and whilst we saw some wonderful wildlife it was very much confined to nature reserves. Much of the local area was swallowed up by palm oil plantations

I have been to both! Borneo is a shock as the deforestation is catastrophic but nevertheless if you want to see orangutans in the wild then do! You can also go into Kalimantan and go to an island to dive or snorkel.

Madagascar was amazing. A proper adventure. Loved it and hope to go back but I was there in 2016. id go back to Madagascar over Borneo but equally enjoyed the trip but as pp said tinged with sadness.

Thanks to you both! Seems
like Madagascar 2, Borneo 0.
Mdlifemovers, any particular recommendations of areas to visit, it’s obviously a big island? Or equally, any parts of your trip that you’d say “don’t bother”?
Will be flying via Nairobi to Antananarivo, so will need to start and finish there.

@2inthehand We haven’t been to Madagascar but have seriously considered it. I have heard some of the lemurs are in a confined area too. I’m also aware some roads are very poor. It takes longer than you think to get anywhere. These are example itineraries with Wildlife Worldwide. They do several other itineraries for more specialised animal sightings and photography. The specialist wildlife companies have done a lot of the homework on itineraries for you.

I've done both as well, both amazing in their own way but if I had to choose - Madagascar. That said I've been to Borneo multiple times and Madagascar only once for 10 days which wasn't long enough to see everything. The truly 'wild' wildlife in Borneo can be elusive/hard to find, the sightings in Madagascar were much better. As others have said the deforestation in Borneo is sad but plenty of similar issues in Madagascar. I found beaches in Madagascar more beautiful but Borneo probably slightly better for diving if you're into that (for both, pay attention to safety standards as they can be extremely poor).

We have been to Borneo, but it's a huge island and we only saw replanted/reclaimed palm oil plantations on the Indonesian side, but that was just where we were. The wild orangutans were very elusive though and we saw 1. The fed population in reserves are plentiful and still beautiful to watch them come and feed and play. The proboscis and other monkeys, plus all the birdlife were fantastic.

I have been to both. Would return to Madagascar if I had to choose .When I was there English was not widley understood French was the major language for communication. I was in a small group with local guide travelling in a camper van throughout. Places we stayed very very basic hostel type accomadation as no hotels.

Madagascar nature was just out of control amazing. Poverty & the prostitution is v sad though

brush up on your french!

Oui!

Definitely looks like it will be Madagascar! My French isn’t bad, will be a good reason to get it up to speed.
Thanks all again.

I haven't been to Madagascar. I have been to Borneo, but 10+ years ago. The wildlife was amazing then. We stayed in jungle lodges for part of the holiday and saw monkeys, gibbons, wild orangutans, crocodiles, exotic birds, etc. We just missed some Pygmy elephants that were apparently nearby.

We did see awful deforestation but there was plenty of jungle areas left when we went.

We also went to sepilok and saw the sanctuary there, which was lovely.

Madagascar has long been on my travel bucket list, I often rue the decision not to go for our honeymoon as we were mid-30s when we married and naturally had kids fairly quickly afterwards so haven't had an opportunity to go. I have been to Borneo, on the Malaysian side only, climbed Kinabalu, went to an iban long house went to Sepilok and then had another 10 days in Kuching. It was 20 years ago and it was an Intrepid trip, I really don't remember the horrific deforestation, I do though recall a wealth of palm oil plantations. I'm going to add another vote for Madagascar anyway.

My son has just been to.Madagascar for around d 8 weeks and loved it

Been to Malaysian Borneo in June this year and saw plenty of wildlife in the wild - pygmy elephants on 3 trips, orangutan, crocodiles, probiscis monkeys, lots of other monkeys and birds as well as the Sepilok sanctuaries with sun bears and orangutans. Was a lot of palm oil plantations as well but knew that in advance and found it interesting to see the economic issues they were facing and hear about the history from someone who lived there half his life. Went to Agnes Newton Keith's house as well. We loved it and my daughter said she will go back in 5 years. Didn't do a beach there, think the best is by KK in Gaya Island. Would also love to go to Madagascar, husband was concerned about safety there though and didn't want to go there.

I think deforestation in Madagascar is pretty grim too 😓

Ohh it was so long ago.

Loved the Lemur Island (not called that)
Avenue de Baobabs
Tsingy
Isalo

and other areas but I’d have to go bakx and look.

We took a two week break to Reunion Island as well. It was a long trip.

We hired a driver and everything was cheap for us not high end. I was travelling with small children.

Good luck with the planning. So many fun memories there.

I haven’t been to Madagascar but it’s on my list of places I want to travel to.

I have been to Borneo though and yes, the deforestation made me sad. It is what it is though - it is there and it is happening.

I loved Borneo Rainforest Lodge - seeing wild orangutan was one of the highlights of my life. They are very elusive though so don’t count on it!

We also went to KL for a few days of city (hot, sweaty, a bit like a slightly dated Dubai), Kota Kinabalu (a flop by a nice pool in a spendy hotel - we stayed at the Shangri- La - for two nights of the trip) and then on to Borneo Rainforest Lodge. After that we went to Gaya Island which was a beautiful hotel with a nice beach (although again, you take the world as you find it and there is an illegal overwater village also on Gaya and lots of rubbish from there washes up on the beach - the hotel staff do clear it though!).

I loved the holiday but it was definitely a mix of emotions. The wild orangutan more than made the trip though!