River Safaris

Up at a very misty 6 a.m for the first of two river safaris today, the early one enabling us to see a range of birds, including the kingfisher, pied hornbills and crested serpent eagle seen here.

Having moved upstream to a different lodge after breakfast and spent the day lounging on the sun terrace by the river we enjoyed a dusk cruise where we we were lucky to spend an hour watching a herd of about 40 Borneo Pygmy elephants, pushing and shoving each other for the best position on the riverbank mudbath and swimming in the river. There are only about 1500 left in the wild apparently; this herd had been in the area for a few days and were likely to move on at any time, possibly not returning for another 2 or 3 months.

It was fantastic to see them at such close quarters and we had to keep reminding ourselves that we were not actually at a zoo! Go large for the best view.

Added a rather imperious monitor lizard to my Borneo blipfolio