From Danum to the Kinabatangan River

 April 30

Today was largely a travel day, driving back to Lahad Datu (3 hours) and then 2 hours to the jetty for the boat transfer to our new lodge on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. Ironically the unpaved roads from Danum were significantly less bumpy that the “paved” roads after we left Lahad Datu.

We starting this morning’s bird walk  at 6:00 am (breakfast at 5:30) which included time on a set of hanging bridges up in the canopy, as well as another visit to the “blind”. We were rewarded with a new sunbird and terrific views of the Great Argus. Both of the trails we’d used yesterday showed evidence of elephants passing through overnight. 

On the drive back to Lahad Datu, about 70 km from the lodge, we saw evidence of elephants along the road. Then the shrubs along the side of the road started to wave energetically. Kevin saw a small gray trunk reach up to shake a branch, and then we got a good view of a bull (Pygmy) elephant through an opening in the roadside shrubs. All very exciting! We also saw a number of birds in the garden at our “leg stretch” break, including an endemic barbet.

The final leg of the journey was a 10-minute motor skiff ride to our new lodge. It consists of a set of cabins and a central building on the shores of the Kinabatangan River. 

Pictured: Pygmy Elephant, Brown Barbet (an endemic), male Great Argus (with his long tail feathers tucked away), Red-throated sunbird, Purple-naped Spiderhunter.