Danum Valley Conservation Area
(DVCA) - Rendezvous
with the world’s tallest tropical tree
INTRODUCTION
DVCA a 43,892 hectares Class I (Protection) Forest Reserve,
is one of Sabah's last strongholds of undisturbed lowland dipterocarp
forest. It is one of the world's oldest and richest lowland tropical forest with more than 200 species of trees per hectare. With
the richness and abundance of flora and fauna, it is an ideal natural
"laboratory" for research on tropical forest ecology and
conservation. Danum Valley Field Centre (DVFC), a
world-renowned scientific facility was established in 1986 for research,
education, training and wilderness recreation.
Among the inhabitants of DVCA are more than 120
species of mammals including ten species of primates such as the endangered Orang utan. Other large mammals
include the Bornean pygmy elephant, Banteng, Malayan
Sun bear, Clouded leopard, Bay cat, Binturong and many species of deer.
It is also home to 73 reptiles, 56 amphibians and more
than 47 fishes. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded including the
Red-Crowned Barbet, eight species of pitta including
the Fairy pitta and all eight species of hornbills
found in Borneo.
Activities at DVCA are guided by the Danum Valley Management Committee (DVMC) which comprises
relevant State and Federal Government agencies, institutions, academia, and
NGOs. A long-term research programme was initiated in 1984 between the Danum Valley Management Committee and The Royal Society,
United Kingdom under its South East Asia Rainforest Research Programme
(SEARRP). To date, a total of 534 research projects have been completed or are
in progress, many of them collaborative between Malaysian and overseas
scientists. The research projects comprise of Post-Doctoral (156), PhD (175),
Masters (85), Bachelors (42) and others (76). This makes Danum
Valley as one of the three leading rainforest research centres in the world
besides La Selva in Costa Rica and Barro Colorado Island in Panama.
Danum Valley Field Centre (DVFC)
ACTIVITY
Activities
at DVCA are guided by the Danum Valley Management
Committee (DVMC) which comprises relevant State and Federal Government
agencies, institutions, academia, and NGOs. DVCA is open to both international
and local researchers. DVCA also provide recreation and adventures
activities for tourists such as guided forest trekking, bird watching, guided night drive/walk,
nature photography, camping, swimming, sunrise watch, tree platform climbing
and trips to INFAPRO. Environmental Education Programme
is available upon request.
Bird
watching
Guided forest
trekking
Nature photography
FACILITIES
The Danum Valley Field Centre (DVFC) has
modest accommodation facilities comprising chalet, resthouse,
hostel, researchers’ quarters and camping ground. Chalet
(twin sharing occupancy with airconditioning) and
rest house (twin sharing occupancy with ceiling fan) are located just a few
steps away from the Dining Hall. The hostel location is a walking distance
of less 20 minutes to the Dining Hall. Two separate buildings for male & female (4 pax
per dorm) with common bathroom for each building.
Electricity supply is only available
from 7.00 am to 12.00 midnight.
Meals are served buffet-style at the Dining Hall. There is free flow of boiled
drinking water, coffee and tea.
Facilities currently available
in DVCA are:
·
Shell Nature
Interpretation & Environmental Education Building
·
Accommodation for
guests:
Chalet
Rest
house
Hostel
Tented
camping ground
Jungle
trails
Researcher’s
quarters
Scientific
laboratory
ATTRACTIONS
·
World tallest tropical
tree
The world’s tallest tropical tree is found here, standing tall at
101.8 M and is about the length of six sperm whales (each approximately 16
meters) lined up head to tail or as high
as the Yayasan Sabah Tower
(122 M) in Kota Kinabalu.
·
Forest Fauna
Clouded
leopard
Orang utan
Rhinoceros
hornbill
Great
argus pheasant
·
Forest Flora
The forest of Danum Valley
Maiden
veil’s fungus
·
Waterfalls
Tembaling Waterfall
Purut Waterfall
·
Burial Caves - a
special place in the myths and legends of the Orang
Sungai or ‘river people’ of Borneo.
There are three burial sites discovered in Danum
Valley, two near Field Centre and one below the cliff
overlooking Borneo Rainforest Lodge.
DVCA
Trails Map
Trails
currently available at DVFC:
1.
Trail to Tembaling Waterfall (3.5 KM per way)
2.
Trail to Burial
Site (1.7 KM per way)
3.
Trail to Purut Waterfall 7 KM per way
4.
Trail to Rhinopool Loop Trail 6 KM
5.
Trail to Nature
& Orchid Trail 500 M
(Distance of trails from Danum Valley Field Centre)
HOW TO GET THERE
Visiting Hours:
There are two security gates
along the road leading to DVCA, namely at KM 11 and DVFC gate (Not manned).
These gates close a 6:00 pm daily, therefore visitors are advised to arrive at DVFC
before sunset. The gates open at 6:00am (KM 11) and 8:30am (DVFC)
respectively.
The
Danum Valley Conservation Area office is just
opposite the Lahad Datu
Airport:
Opening
hours:
Mon-Thu: 8:00 am -1:00
pm
2:00
pm - 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am -11:30 am
2:00
pm - 5:00 pm
Sat,
Sun & Public Holidays:
Closed
Danum Valley provides the following
transportation:
Option
1
Scheduled
transfer (Bus – 8 Seater)
(Every
Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
RM85 per person each way.
Departure
time:
3:00
pm from Lahad Datu
Town to Danum Valley - expected to arrive at Danum Valley at 5:30 pm
(2
1/2 hours drive depending on the traffic)
8:30
am from Danum Valley to Lahad
Datu Town - expected to arrive at Lahad
Datu Town at 11:00 am
(2
1/2 hours drive depending on the traffic)
Option
2:
Charter
vehicle (4WD - 4 seater)
RM350
per vehicle each way
Departure
time is flexible
Visitor
can also select for the following transportation arrangements:
1.
By flight: Daily flights from Kota Kinabalu
to Lahad Datu (55 minutes,
and additional two hours by road to DVFC).
2.
By road: from Kota Kinabalu
(10 hours), from Sandakan (5 hours) and from Tawau (4
hours).
Self-drive
vehicles into the Danum Valley Conservation Area are
required to apply for the vehicle permit and subject to the following charge:
Fee:
RM20.00 (all types of vehicles)
Validity
of permit: 2 weeks
Prior
reservation should be made in advance.
For
more information inquiry:
Yayasan Sabah
Conservation
Area Management Division
(Danum Valley/Silam/Taliwas) & Forest Rehabilitation
Level
9, Tun Mustapha Tower
Likas Bay, P.O. Box 11201
88813
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Telephone
No: +6 088 326 320
Fax:
+6 008 326 315
Email:
dinisiah.cemd@gmail.com
Danum Valley Conservation Area
Block 3, MDLD 3286
Ground Floor, Fajar Centre
P. O. Box 60282
91112 Lahad Datu,
Sabah, Malaysia
Telephone No. 089 880441
Emails:
rifhanmar@yahoo.com / sck_72@yahoo.com /
wongrichel@yahoo.com
Additional
Information
1.
For reservation made and confirmed 30 days or more prior to arrival,
prospective visitors shall be required to make a deposit payment of 50% of the
total charges made within seven (7) working days in order to secure the
reservation. For reservation made and confirmed 30 days or more prior to
arrival, prospective visitors shall be required to make a deposit payment of
50% of the total charges made within seven (7) working days in order to secure
the reservation.
2.
Visitors intending to undertake jungle trekking are advised to bring proper
attires, shoes, leech socks, raincoat, water bottle, food container &
utensils, torchlight and personal toiletries. (Please refer to Conditions of Entry into Conservation Area and list of Do’s and Don’ts).
Other Information inquiry for:
1. Conservation Area Management (Danum Valley/Silam/Taliwas) & Forest Rehabilitation Division
Organizational Chart
2. Danum
Valley Conservation Area Lahad Datu
Organizational Chart
3. Danum
Valley Conservation Area Strategic Management Plan 2010 -2020
4. Compliance Mechanisms
5. Measure Success
6. Stakeholders Minutes of Meeting
& Workshop
7. References to Scientific Research
8. Scientific Research Papers on
Primates
9. Social Impact Assessment Reports
10. Species Action Plan
Please contact us via email: yscafrd@gmail.com