Island of Borneo (Kalimantan)
The attraction is related to the countries:IndonesiaIndonesia , MalaysiaBruneiThe island of Borneo or Kalimantan is located in Southeast Asia and is considered the third largest in the world. It occupies an area of 743.33 thousand km², which is larger than the area of the neighboring countries – Myanmar or Thailand. Almost the entire island is covered with jungle with a mountain range in the middle. Relatively few tourists come to Borneo – heavy climate, huge distances and scarcity of local communication have done their job. Those who are not afraid of hardship, real adventure awaits: the famous tribes of “headhunters”, wet jungle, pierced by riverbeds, and rehabilitation centers for orangutans.
Video: Borneo Island
Contents- Highlights
- Origin of the name
Climatic features - Nature of Borneo
- Beaches
- North Borneo. Sabah and Sarawak.
- West Borneo. Pontianak and vicinity
- South Borneo. Banjarmasin and surroundings
- Central Borneo. Tanjung Puting National Park
- East Borneo. Balikpapan, Samarinda and surroundings
- Transportation
- How to get there
Highlights
Origin of the name
The island is known by many names. In English and internationally, it is referred to as Borneo. The word came from the name of the Sultanate of Brunei, at which F. Magellan’s ships anchored, and then the expedition extended it to the entire island in the form of “Borneo”. It is also possible that the word was derived from the Sanskrit “Váruṇa” meaning “ocean” or from the mythological Varuna, the god of the ocean in Hinduism.
.Indonesian natives, for their part, call the island “Kalimantan”, and the word has several versions of origin. According to one, it comes from “Kalamanthana”, which means “island of searing weather” in Sanskrit. According to the most widespread theory, “Kalimantan” was transformed from the name of the local tribe of Clemanthans. There are other beautiful translations: “land of mangoes” and “diamond river.”
Climatic features
The island of Borneo lies in the equatorial climate belt and is warm and hot all year round. The average temperature ranges from +27°C to +32°C, with cooler temperatures only in the Kelabit mountain plateau region.
Borneo is humid because it gets a lot of rain. The flat parts of the island receive 2,000-3,000 mm of rainfall in a year, while the mountainous areas receive up to 5,000 mm. However, tropical downpours rarely annoy tourists. As a rule, they go at night, without affecting the program of excursions and beach recreation. The main monsoon period in Borneo begins in November and ends by the end of February. In the Malaysian state of Sabah, the rainy season lasts until mid-March. A second, shorter rainy season occurs in October-November.
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Nature of Borneo
The island is covered by many mountains, with an average height ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 meters. In the northeast of Borneo is the island’s highest peak, Kinabalu, rising to 4,095 meters.
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The beautiful warm climate contributes to the entire island’s abundance of lush tropical vegetation. Much of Borneo is covered in dense jungle, which is considered the oldest rainforest on the planet. In some places they are difficult to traverse and therefore unexplored. Biologists are convinced that in some parts of the island there are plants and animals not yet known to science. Their truth is confirmed every year by expeditions of scientists from different countries, which manage to discover more and more new species.
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In the forests of Borneo there are many unusual orchids, the world’s largest flowering plant – Arnold’s rafflesia, as well as predatory flowers – Nepenthes, whose menu includes insects and even small birds. In the jungle you can find orangutans, gibbons, endemic species of monkeys – nosache, as well as elephants, rhinos, leopards and giant flying foxes. In addition, Borneo is home to more than one and a half thousand species of birds, many snakes, crocodiles and tree frogs.
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Video: Wild Borneo
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All year round, the water temperature in the coastal waters stays between +25°C and +30°C. Almost all the beaches of Borneo is covered with fine white coral sand. The coast is protected from large waves by coral reefs and islands, and the shores are covered with lush tropical greenery. Hotels 4-5* have their own equipped beaches.
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Many travelers prefer to leave on boats and motorboats on neighboring islands and swim there. This often happens during the “red tide”. This is what Borneo calls the plankton breeding season, when the sea turns red. Bathing in such water can lead to toxic poisoning, so tourists choose safer beach vacations on the islands. As a rule, “red tides” occur from February to May and last for 1-2 weeks.
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North Borneo. Sabah and Sarawak.
The northern part of the island of Borneo belongs to Malaysia. It is divided into 2 states, Sabah and Sarawak.
>The state of Sabah
The second largest Malaysian state of Sabah is famous for its mountainous terrain, and much of its territory is covered by dense tropical jungle. The capital of Sabah is the city of Kota Kinabalu. In the very center of this city stands the Muslim shrine of Malaysia – a large golden-domed mosque, in which 5000 believers can pray at the same time. Not far from it there is a museum of the state. Here you can see samples of housing of local peoples, archaeological finds, a rich ethnographic collection and a luxurious botanical garden.
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There are many interesting markets open in the townships of Sabah, with artisans, food vendors and farmers. Goods are inexpensive and there is a wide range of goods to choose from.
A popular place for a beach vacation in Sabah is Tanjung Aru, where the clear azure sea harmonizes with the white sand. Near this beach stands a hotel of the same name. Travelers also like to visit the famous yacht club and Prince Philip Park.
.One of the most famous places in Borneo is Kinabalu Mountain and National Park Reserve, located 85 km from the capital Sabah. The protected area covers 754 hectares and is about 1,500 meters above sea level – which is why it is slightly cooler than the coastal areas. Traveling through the vast reserve is an opportunity to see rare plants, animals and thermal springs.
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Many tourists try to make it to the orangutan sanctuary known far beyond the island of Borneo, which is located in Sepilok. Its staff for many years have been teaching the little apes, for various reasons left without parental care, to survive in the wild.
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Sarawak State
The heart of the northwestern island state of Sarawak is the city of Kuching, built near the coast, in the valley of the river of the same name. The name “Kuching” translates to “cat city”. There are many historical and architectural monuments here – colonial mansions, Fort Margaret, picturesque Chinese temples, ancient Christian churches and Muslim mosques. Along Jalan Gambir Street is the city promenade – a great place for promenades and souvenir shopping. In Kuching, the state and police museums are interesting to visit.
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Sarawak is attractive with great beaches, jungles and large caves. More than 50 hotels have been built for tourists in the state, ranging from simple gesthouses to 5-star hotels.
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Those who came to Sarawak should go on excursions to the reserves of Bako or Mulu. The latter is famous for the world’s largest cave. Its vaults rise to 100 meters, and the size of the underground cavity is 600 by 450 meters.
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There are several crocodile farms in Borneo and a marine reserve covering the territory of five picturesque coastal islands. Tourists interested in the distinctive culture of local peoples can visit specially created ethnographic villages.
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West Borneo. Pontianak and surroundings
In West Borneo, the main town is considered to be Pontianak, a former center for gold prospectors. It is now a major port located at the very equator. On the east bank of the Kapuas River is the Equatorial Monument. You can check the accuracy of its location by pouring water into a paper funnel. To the north of the monument it will swirl clockwise, a few meters to the south – counterclockwise. In addition to the iconic crossing of the Earth’s axis in the city, you can eat cheap fruit and explore the Negeri Museum of Local History (Jl. Ahmad Yani, Tues-Fri, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.) and the former Keraton Kadria sultan’s palace, made of wood. Pontianak has an airport with Malaysia Airlines flights to Kuching and local companies to Jakarta, Surabaya and east coast cities.
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The road heading north leads to the Malay city of Kuching. The Indonesian-Malaysian border crossing is through the only land crossing between the two countries. The areas east of Pontianak along the Kapuas River are interesting for their Dayak settlements.
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Actually, Dayaks are a collective image of two hundred tribes united by similar traditions and rituals. One of the most famous is initiation into manhood. A young man cannot marry until he brings the skull of a man he has killed. Only then is he considered initiated as a man. This is not a sign of cruelty or bloodthirstiness, it is a sacred ritual that is centuries old. In recent years, the government has outlawed the custom and severely punishes the guilty, but sometimes suspiciously fresh skulls appear on Dayak huts…
.Tribal men lead a hunting lifestyle and masterfully handle formidable weapons – pipe and poisoned arrows. To see such unusual and awe-inspiring children of nature is possible by hiring a boat at the city’s river dock in Pontianak. The Kapuas River is full of hot springs, waterfalls and caves that are easy to organize short treks through. The starting point is the village of Sanggau, where you can spend the night. Further downstream, the Dayak village of Sintang is a day’s walk away. Continuing eastward, the tourists arrive at Puttusibau, the last settlement on the route. The surrounding area is teeming with Dayak villages, visiting which one can even stay alive. The return journey is recommended by bus for a quicker journey and a change of scenery.
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The most intrepid can make a journey worthy of National Geografic by swimming to the upper Kapuas River, hiking a 4-day trek across the ridge to the Sungai Mahakam River and sailing up the east coast of Kalimantan to the town of Samarinda. This trek will require thorough equipment and medical training, but could be considered autobiographical.
.South Borneo. Banjarmasin and surroundings
This area of Borneo is literally permeated by hundreds of rivers flowing from the mountain range. The former capital of the local sultanate of Banjarmasin is known for its floating markets, where boats full of all sorts of goods act as stalls.
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The most famous of them are Pasar Lokbaytan and Pasar Queen north of the city center. As befits a sultanate, the orders in the city are strictly Islamic, so clothing should not be characterized by freethinking. Richly ornamented mosque Raya Sabilal Mukhtadin (Jl. Sudirman) with large copper domes and minarets is worthy of admiration and visit. The airport is located 26 km from the city and provides daily flights by Garuda and Merpati airlines to Jakarta, Surabaya and Balikpapan. “Pelni” ships call at the seaport and take passengers to Semarang and Surabaya.
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The area around Banjarmasine is in a permanent state of gold and diamond fever. Driving 45 kilometers out of town to the village of Chempaka, one can observe its victims spending entire days waist-deep in murky water with round vats in their hands. In the neighboring town of Martapura, stones are cut and sold much cheaper than in the West, but often without concern for quality.
.Travel agencies in Banjarmasin organize treks into the interior of Borneo to Dayak villages, but these are in far less demand than similar ones in the eastern part of the island. A 10-day trek can take you into the Pelaihari Martapura Nature Reserve, with its lakes, wet jungles and even some semblance of a wild savannah. The main reason tourists come to Banjarmasin and Borneo in general is to visit Tanjung Puting National Park and the orangutan rehabilitation centers located on its lands..Central Borneo. Tanjung Puting National Park
Strictly speaking, this area is considered part of central Borneo. It is connected to Banjarmasin by road via Palangkaraya, where there is a small local airport, to its terminus at the towns of Pangkalanbun and Kumai. Traveling by bus along this multi-hundred-kilometer route is quite difficult, so the most proper way to reach the National Park is by Merpati and DAS Air to the airport near Pangkalanbun. Due to the avalanche of popularity of the attraction, new flights (up to 5 per day) have been introduced from Pontianak, Banjarmasin, Jakarta, Semarang and Jogja.
.Upon arrival in Pangkalanbun, you need to check in and continue by shuttle bus to Kumai, the starting point of all treks. Alternatively, the weekly Pelni ferry from Surabaya and Semarang can be sailed to Kumai seaport.
The main street of this small town, Jl. N.M. Idris, is full of hotels and small gesthouses where you can hire a guide to go orangutan trekking. The best way is to rent a klotok motorboat for $35 per day for 1-4 people. Provisions and water should be stocked in Kumai, and the boat will serve as transportation, a floating hotel, and a restaurant.
.The surroundings along the Sungai River are quite scenic, and the first stop will be the Tanjung Harapan Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, where newly arrived juveniles and orphaned apes are kept. Here you can also stay overnight at the Sekonyer River Ecolodge ($40-50/DBL) and get information from the tourist office. Further downstream is the Pondok Tanggui Center, where you can face the monkeys and feed them bananas. Eye to eye, hand to hand, you can spend hours watching these unhurried intelligent animals, feeling an inexpressible sense of oneness with nature.
.But still the main and most interesting camp lies even further away and is called “Camp Leakey”. It was founded in 1971 by Birut Galdikas, who was known as “Professor”. He and his associates freed orangutans that had fallen into the hands of ape traffickers and animal abusers. At the same time, scientific research was carried out, now practically curtailed. Camp Leakey is good for those who are interested in seeing orangutans in their natural habitat during jungle walks. There are specially trained guides for this, and the fees are much less than at the similar Bohorok center in Sumatra.
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Even further upriver you can reach the habitat and study of the long-tailed proboscis monkeys. Hardly more entertaining than the monkeys themselves is the opportunity to observe the rich animal life along the riverbanks, from pythons to crocodiles. Treks of varying lengths and comfort levels with overnight stays in lodges or on boats are organized in all travel agencies in major cities in Borneo.
.East Borneo. Balikpapan, Samarinda and surrounding areas
This part of Kalimantan is the most developed. The oil deposits found and active logging attracted many settlers from Java and Madura. The largest city Balikpapan is a typical industrial center with a congested port and a complete lack of interesting places.
From a tourist point of view, its usefulness lies only in the presence of an airport with Silk Air flights to Singapore, Malaysia Airlines to Kota Kinabalu and local Garuda, Merpati and Bouraq to Pontianak, Banjarmasin, Tarakan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar and Makassar. Flight schedules and destinations change frequently, it is better to contact travel agencies and carrier representative offices for current information. Of course, the largest East Kalimantan seaport accepts Pelni ferries to Java and Sulawesi. The east coast is connected to the south of the island and its capital Banjarmasin by a fairly decent road, but public transportation is scarce and slow, and the distance is long (12 hours by bus from the Batu Ampar bus station).
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Once in Balikpapan, tourists immediately take a short 2-hour journey to Samarinda town, considered the provincial capital. Cabs are the most convenient and fastest but expensive way; alternatives are buses and passenger boats. An international airport is being built near Samarinda, and transit through Balikpapan will soon be unnecessary. The purpose of the trip is not the city itself, in which it is interesting to spend a maximum of half a day, but treks deep into the Dayak lands. These are organized by all Balikpapan and Samarinda travel agencies, such as Borneo Discovery Tours.”
.The journey to the land of “bounty hunters” starts at the provincial capital’s river pier and travels along the Sungai Mahakam River by motorized boats.
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Transportation
The major cities on the island of Borneo are connected by air. The main companies serving passengers on domestic airlines are Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines.
Railroad exists in the west of Borneo. It runs between the cities of Beaufort and Kota Kinabalu. The 134 kilometers of track can be traveled by air-conditioned express trains or regular trains that stop at each semi-station.
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The major cities of the Malaysian states are connected by a network of highways with express buses. Minibuses and cabs run within the cities and in the suburbs.
Boats linking coastal towns and villages are another popular mode of transportation, often chosen by locals and tourists alike. Inland Borneo, it is common to travel along the rivers in long boats or sampan boats.
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How to get there
The Malaysian state of Sarawak is home to two international airports, Kuching and Miri, with regular flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
.The state capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, can be reached from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brunei, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Jakarta.
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