Birds.Nature.Legacy.

12 Days Borneo (Sabah) Expedition: Nature and Wildlife Highlights

What a journey! I recently returned from a 12-day expedition across Sabah (April 25 – May 6, 2026), and the “Land Below the Wind” truly lived up to its reputation. I met up with Khandan and our eager group—Bruce, Moira, Mike, and Diane—in Kota Kinabalu, ready to tackle everything from coastal paddy fields to the misty heights of Mount Kinabalu and the deep river systems of the Kinabatangan.

The “Whitehead’s Trio” and Highland Rarities

After a fantastic warm-up in the Kota Kinabalu paddy fields—where we were greeted by dozens of Wandering Whistling-Ducks and a White-bellied Sea-Eagle with its prey—we headed straight for the highlands. The bird hides provided front-row seats to Borneo’s montane gems. We watched in awe as the Bornean Banded Pitta, Black-throated Wren-Babbler, and both Red-breasted and Crimson-headed Partridges stepped into view.

The absolute highlight of our time in Kinabalu Park was completing the “Whitehead’s Trio.” We had incredible, close-range encounters with the Whitehead’s Trogon, the neon-green Whitehead’s Broadbill, and even caught a glimpse of the Whitehead’s Spiderhunter. We capped off the highland leg by spotting the Mountain Black-eye immediately upon arrival at the summit, followed by the elusive Bare-headed Laughingthrush. To add a touch of botanical magic, the group even witnessed a Rafflesia flower in full bloom.