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Brunei Exclusive 20Th to 23Rd March 2019 (4 Days)

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Brunei Exclusive 20Th to 23Rd March 2019 (4 Days) Brunei Exclusive 20th to 23rd March 2019 (4 days) Rhinoceros Hornbill by Markus Lilje The tiny Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam is a hidden jewel in the greater landmass of Borneo. Seldom visited by tourists and especially birders, we will spend quality time in a large tract of protected forest in the Ulu Temburong National Park, known for its healthy populations of hornbills and troops of gibbons and langurs. Access to this park is by boat, where we travel to a wonderful eco-friendly lodge situated in dense rainforest. Another attraction of this park is its an impressive canopy walkway, which offers stunning views over the rainforest and a wealth of birds and primates. RBL Brunei Birding Itinerary 2 THE TOUR AT A GLANCE… THE ITINERARY Day 1 Arrival in Brunei Darussalam, transfer to Ulu Temburong National Park Days 2 & 3 Ulu Temburong National Park Day 4 Ulu Temburong National Park to Bandar Seri Begawan and depart TOUR MAP RBL Brunei Birding Itinerary 3 THE TOUR IN DETAIL… Day 1: Arrival in Brunei Darussalam, transfer to Ulu Temburong National Park. Ulu Temburong National Park is a protected sanctuary surrounded by 50 000ha of Bornean rainforests, part of the Heart of Borneo international conservation area. It boasts some of the highest species diversity in Brunei with well over one hundred species of bird already recorded. After arriving in Bandar Seri Begawan, we take a 40-minute long boat journey from the Batang Duri jetty to the Ulu Ulu Resort, in the heart of the Ulu Temburong National Park. During our boat ride, we shall keep an eye open for a number of waterbirds and riparian forest species such Oriental Darter, the rare Storm’s Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Black-and-red Broadbills by Glen Valentine Grey-headed and Lesser Fish Eagles, Jerdon’s Baza, Asian Koel, Blue-eared, Blue-banded and Stork-billed Kingfishers, Blue-rumped Parrot, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Oriental Dollarbird, Plaintive and Violet Cuckoos, Square-tailed Drongo- Cuckoo, Black-and-red Broadbill, Blue-throated Bee-eater, Purple-throated Sunbird and the highly sought-after Straw-headed Bulbul. Days 2 & 3: Ulu Temburong National Park. Superb rainforest birding is to be had during our two full days exploring the Ulu Temburong National Park. Birding the trails and the canopy walkway can be very productive and we may find Chestnut-breasted, Red-billed and Chestnut-bellied Malkoha’s, Orange- bellied, Plain, Crimson-breasted and Yellow-breasted Flowerpeckers, Plaintive Cuckoo, stunning Black- and-red, Green, Banded and Black-and-yellow Broadbills, incredibly plumaged Diard’s, Red-naped and Scarlet-rumped Trogons, Rufous Piculet and both Maroon and Buff-rumped Woodpeckers, the delightful Banded Kingfisher, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Blue-eared, Bornean Brown, Golden- whiskered and Yellow-crowned Barbets, Greater Green and Lesser Green Leafbirds, Short-tailed, White-chested, Scaly-crowned and Sooty-capped Babblers, Green Iora, Fiery Minivet, Dusky Munia, active Grey- breasted, Spectacled, Yellow-eared and Bornean Spiderhunters, Brown-throated, Purple-throated, Copper-throated and Temminck’s Sunbirds and the stunning Whiskered Treeswift amongst many others. Ulu Temburong is a hornbill paradise, with up seven possible species including Storm’s Stork by John Caddick Wreathed, Wrinkled, Black, Rhinoceros, RBL Brunei Birding Itinerary 4 Bushy-crested, White-crowned and the awesome Helmeted. Raptors are also a feature of this park, and we will be on the lookout for the enigmatic White-fronted Falconet, Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle, Jerdon’s Baza, Crested Honey Buzzard, Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Black Eagle and Brahminy Kite. We will also spend some time birding around our lodgings at night for Buffy Fish Owl, Bornean Wood Owl, Reddish and Collared Scops Owl, Large and Gould’s Frogmouths and Malaysian Eared Nightjar. Some of the area’s very special birds that we will search for during our time here include Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle, the spectacular Great Argus and Crested Fireback - both impressive pheasant species, Chestnut-necklaced and Crested Partridges, Green Imperial Pigeon, Thick-billed, Pink-necked and Little Green Pigeons, Dusky Broadbill, Black Magpie (sometimes split as Bornean Black Magpie), Crested Jay, scarce and unobtrusive Bornean, Black-throated and Striped Wren-Babblers, Rufous-tailed and White-crowned Shamas, Sunda and Bornean Blue Flycatchers, Finsch’s Bulbul, Common Hill Myna, Maroon-breasted and Rufous-winged Philentomas as we as the elusive and unpredictable Chestnut- naped Forktail. White-crowned Hornbill The lodge grounds themselves offer good birding, and here we by Markus Lilje may find species such as Bold-striped Tit-Babbler, Bornean, Yellow-eared and Spectacled Spiderhunters, Red-throated, Plain, Purple-naped and Crimson Sunbirds, Large Woodshrike, Lesser Cuckooshrike, Hair-crested and Ashy Drongos and the very attractive Blue- throated Bee-eater. The lodge here also has its own canopy walkway, and we will spend a fair amount of time high in the trees here, scanning for the afore mentioned species amongst many others. A treasure trove of Garnet, Hooded, Blue- headed, Blue-banded and Bornean Banded Pittas are available, and we will endeavour to find as many of these as possible. Pittas are retiring and unpredictable of course, and we will need a large dose of patience and luck to see these shy avian jewels amongst the dense understorey. A range of secretive forest mammals occur, though we should see the typically vocal Bornean Gibbons, Hose’s Langur and Pig-tailed Macaques, whilst and we will need to be rather lucky to find Sambar and Red Barking Deer, Greater and Lesser Mouse- Deer, Thomas’s and Red Giant Flying White-fronted Falconet by Glen Valentine Squirrels, Malayan Colugo (Flying RBL Brunei Birding Itinerary 5 Lemur), or Common Palm and Malayan Civets. Rarer species that do occur include Leopard Cat, near- mythical Marbled and Bay Cats, Banded Palm Civet, Malay Badger, Thick-quilled Porcupine and Western Tarsier. Day 4: Ulu Temburong National Park to Bandar Seri Begawan and depart. We have most of the morning to continue our search for any outstanding species. After lunch, we will return to Bandar Seri Begawan where the tour will conclude. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Tour dates, prices, single supplement rates, approximate flight costs and spaces available for this tour are displayed on our website. Please see under IMPORTANT NOTES below. This includes: All meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 4; Bottled drinking water; All lodgings (in Veranda rooms); Ground transportation; Reserve entrance fees; Extra activities as mentioned in the itinerary; and All guiding services (including tips for local guides and services). The tour fee does not include: Visa fees; ANY flights; Any beverages (including mini-bar charges at hotels); Special gratuities; Telephone calls and Laundry and other items of a personal nature. Single Supplement: The single supplement cost for this tour will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If RBL cannot provide you with a rooming partner for these nights although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share. IMPORTANT NOTES: a) Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we quote our tours in 4 currencies. The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold, and the actual cost in the other currencies listed will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 4 months before the tour.) The same applies to approximate flight and single supplement rates, which are also quoted in the respective fixed currency. b) Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement will have to be charged. c) Furthermore, these costs are subject to unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result. d) Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary and / or the designated Rockjumper leader/s at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as close to the original program as possible. RBL Brunei Birding Itinerary 6 Tipping: As noted above, gratuities (drivers, hotel staff, restaurants etc.) are included on this tour. However, this does NOT include your Rockjumper leader/s. If, therefore, you feel that he/they have given you excellent service, it is entirely appropriate to tip them. Special Notes: Although this Brunei tour does not require a high level of fitness, participants should be in good general health as much of the forest birding will be done on foot and may require walking for several hours at a time. Should you have any physical limitations, please notify us in advance of departure. ARRIVAL and DEPARTURE DETAILS: This tour does not include ANY airfares. Departure is from the Bandar Seri Begawan jetty at 09:00 on day 1. A combination of speed boat, land and long boats are used to arrive at our resort. The tour will conclude at the Bandar Seri Begawan jetty at approximately 15:30 on day 4. The above information in respect of arrivals and departures is a guide only. Precise arrival and departure information will be sent to you in your Tour Confirmation package once the tour has been officially confirmed. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Rockjumper office. FLIGHTS: Brunei International Airport, Bandar Seri Begawan (IATA: BWN) is the main port of entry for international flights into Brunei and is well serviced by most of the world’s major airlines. We have the capacity to advise you on the best route according to your preferences but your local travel agent will best be able to book these flights for you.
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