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Pros: very friendly staff great food knowledgeable and skilled guide, Mohammad chatting and meeting with other travelers
Cons (sorry in advance for the novel): Although the staff were wonderful and our guide Mohammad had an incredible eye for nature, this score is brought down by the accommodations and the unfortunate state of the nature reserve due to surrounding palm plantations.
We booked the 3D/2N package through River Junkie. While we were able to see a few different species of monkey, various birds, a few orangutans, and one single little baby crocodile, it became very apparent at how small of a nature corridor this was (not the remote jungle escape one is led to believe). During the boat tour (done twice a day), we would go to the same spots each time that were only a short distance from all the lodges (alongside all the other tour boats) - and my curiosity led me to understand why by checking the Google satellite map. All around the area in every direction is covered by palm plantations - including along the river- which leads to very limited space for the wildlife to compete for (also seemingly impacting the size of each species population in the area - we did see wildlife, but very few actual animals... You know it's rough when the boat is getting excited about seeing 2 common birds after 10 minutes of no wildlife whatsoever). Perhaps part of my disappointment was expecting this experience to be teeming with life (not necessarily rare animals, but at least a LOT of life)... I came away from it feeling disappointed, despite seeing the wild orangutan that I hoped to see most.
The jungle walks were not very exciting - again, very little wildlife. Although we saw a few birds sleeping on branches during our night walks.
If you're looking for a truly wild escape, this might not be the place after the impacts of surrounding plantations. It's sad to see - I hope somehow the area can be rejuvenated to a truly wild jungle once more.
In regards to the rooms/facilities- they were dingy, dirty, and uncomfortable. There was also nothing to do in the secluded locale for the remainder of the day beyond the ~2-3 hours per day touring.
Overall, this experience was overpriced and I would not do this again, nor recommend...
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Booked the 3D/2N package through River Junkie in late November. We went when the river was high, which drastically reduced our chances to see pgymy elephants and crocodiles, but we did get to see many species of monkeys, birds, and even a few orangutans!
Rooms: We booked a private cabin and for a two star hotel, it was adequate. The bed was comfortable, they provided a towel, the AC worked well, and the shower was hot. My major complaint was that the cabin felt dirty: dusty throughout and particularly noticeable under the bed and the toilet seat was not cleaned. The furniture was also a bit rundown.
Service: The staff were friendly, including our guide: Mohammed. He seemed knowledgeable about the area and allowed us to use his binoculars on the boat. As part of the package, you go on a couple of night walks and a jungle trek. You can "rent" boots and a flashlight from the lodge (RM 10/ each, cash), but I think they should be included in the package because there's no way you could do either of these activities without them.
For our first day, our group had 7 people, which was a perfect number. Easy to hear the guide on the boat, a little tougher on the night walk if you're in the back. The second day when the next group arrived, they got added to our group, which made for 12. I believe the max number of people is 14, but even 12 was a lot. If you're at the front of the boat, it's hard to hear the guide in the back and on the jungle trek/night walk, if you're in the back, you're hooped- you can't hear what the guide is saying.
While I'm glad we had this experience, I wouldn't do it again. Perhaps if I was a wildlife photographer, I would. But you're so far away from the wildlife that a camera phone isn't going to do the trick. Lastly, there's no wifi in the rooms. But if you have a data plan, you should be able to connect (at least...
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We booked through river junkies and stayed here for two nights. The dorms were nowhere near as bad as the horror stories on here (I’m not sure what people expect- you’re in the middle of the jungle!). The linen is slightly yellow but that’s because it is washed in water reclaimed from the river- it is all clean and smelt fine. No issues with bed bugs, and the air conditioning was very powerful. The communal toilet/showers could do with a bit of work, but once again you’re in the jungle!
Our guide Omar was absolutely fantastic- we managed to see seven species of primate across the two days, and he was able to spot wildlife from so far away it was unreal. He really cares about the local people and the jungle too.
Food was plentiful and very hot at every meal- no complaints there at all. The lodge should invest in a hotel style toaster for the mornings though, as a massive queue forms around the three old toasters.
You have to rent the boots and flashlights for the night walks, at 10rm each. The boots are non negotiable- the mud is higher than ankle depth in some places so even a decent pair of walking boots would be overtopped. As they are effectively mandatory the lodge should really include them in the pricing of the room. The torches weren’t charged properly both nights we got them- so make sure you check if you want to rent them. Oh and the boots were predictably a little stinky- the lodge should try and sanitise/deodorise them if they can.
We had an amazing time here and saw more Wildlife than I expected to see in my wildest dreams from a trip like this. Do not hesitate to book, and don’t worry about the dorms- they’re absolutely fine!
Oh and take ALL of the...
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