Danum Valley is where the WWF field research centre is. ristine virgin rainforest! Some freaky stuff here. Now this is Borneo, this is true borneo rainforest. However 'selective logging programme here', so logging trucks with trees hundreds of years old leaving the compound all hours of the day. Not nice to see, but i guess it's a better fate for the rainforest than the Palm Oil plantations which litter the rest of sabah.

On arrival in Danum Valley we went straight on a trek and saw 4 wild orangs building nests in the trees. Also a Borneon Gibbon within an hour too, sat outside the lodge watching Borneon Gibbons feeding on a fig tree - romantic! Lodges at DV were very well appointed, the most luxurious we had come across during our 14 day tour. Very spacious, with his and her washbasins. No air conditioning though bizarrely. No glass windows, just moquito nets and it makes for a very relaxing sleep listening to the sound of the rainforest. Lots of honeymoon couples there. Went on a night safari and a "coffin trek" to see a 200 year old coffin and the human remains. Nice! Stop off at a waterfall on the way back. Lots of leeches in DV and those sexy leech socks once again. Leech socks can be puchased for 15 Ringitts, a few pounds. Saw lots of freaky insects, HUGE grasshoppers and moths bigger than bats. Weird white and green things and two tarantula species that had to be caught and taken back to the inner jungle. The food in Danum Valley is pretty good, live cooking at breakfast and a good selection. A comprehensive bar serving international spirits, beers, wines and cocktails can also be found.

Anyone looking at a tour of Borneo really should take in Danum Valley. As far as i'm aware Magic of the Orient are the only operator who can offer it as part of your Sabah tour.

If you're looking for the true Borneo experience rainforest experience then Danum Valley, Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Malau Basin (where they are currently contrsucting a 2km canopy walkway) need to be in with a shout. They're not as well publicised but they offer a better array of wildlife and true rainforest as apposed to small pockets of forest dwarfed by the surrounding palm oil plantations.