Borneo

Sabah-Borneo Malaysian School Tours

A school tour to a destination like no other on the planet, sabah's wildlife conservation projects, marine parks and rehabilitation centres are ranked amongst the highest standards with Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre being the largest in the world. There are over 20,000 plant species, 6,000 found no where else in the world.The forests are home to the 11cm pygmy squirrel, the smallest in the world, the pygmy elephant, clouded leopards, sun bears, Sundaottercivets, and Sumatran rhinoceros. There are 228 mammal species with 44 endemic including the endangered Proboscis Monkey and the Wild Man of Borneo - the orang-utan.

Discover Australian World War ll heritage in Sabah

A school tour to Sabah Borneo is a perfect fit with the Australian High School History curriculum. The most poignant site to visit is the former Japanese POW Camp at Seven Mile, outside Sandakan. The Sandakan Memorial Park commemorates all Australian and British POW's who died in Sandakan and the forced marches to Ranau. In 1942 and 1943 the Japanese brought to Sandakan about 2700 Australian and British POW's. Early in 1945 the Japanese decided to move the POW's 260 kilometres west into the mountains to the small settlement of Ranau. On these forced marches between January and June approximately 500 prisoners died. The remainder died at the Ranau and Sandakan camps.

Of all those who had been alive in January 1945, by the end of August only six - all Australians - survived. Two escaped into the jungle during the second march in June 1945. Another four escaped from Ranau and in July and with the help of the local people were fed and hidden from the Japanese unit until the end of the war. Today the POW dead whose bodies were recovered are buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Labuan.

The School Tours

There are two School Tour options being 9 days and 11 days, both showcase the best of Sabah, taking in the flora, fauna, conservation, culture, history, and climate of this diverse and exotic destination.

Highlights of - 9 & 11 day tours: -

• Lok Kawi Wildlife Park - zoo & botanical garden set on 280 acres & operated by the Sabah Wildlife Department with more than 100 species of animals.
• Mosopead Cultural Village - A living museum with traditional buildings including the House of Skulls.
• Sabah State Museum - consisting of a Science and Education Centre, Heritage Village, Sabah Art Gallery and Museum of Islamic Civilization.
• Sabah State Mosque - Accommodates 5,000 muslim worshippers Pu Toh Tze Chinese Buddhist Temple - one of the five Sikh temples which was one of the few buildings in Kota Kinabalu which survived World War ll.
• Kinabalu National Park - Malaysia's first World Heritage listed site covering an area of 754 sq. klm (larger than Singapore) and has one of the richest flora collections in the world covering 4 climate zones.
• Mt Kinabalu - the highest mountain in Malaysia located in Kinabalu National Park.
• Kundasang War Memorial Gardens - dedicated to the 2,428 Australian and British Prisoners of war who died during WW ll on the infamous forced death marches from Sandakan to Ranau.
• Poring Hot Springs - Open air Japanese style baths with sulphuric minerals.
• The Canopy Walk - suspended 41 m above the forest floor and one of the longest canopy walks in the world.
• Albert Cleary Monument - Stands as a reminder of the tragedy suffered by not only Gunner, Albert Cleary but to all POW's who died at Ranau during World War ll.
• Sukau - located on the Lower Kinabatangan River, this region is estimated to have the largest concentration of wildlife in Borneo.
• Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre - Established in 1964 to return orphaned Orangutans back in to the wild and is currently the largest oran-utan rehabilitation centre in the world.
• Selingan Turtle Island - part of the Turtle Island Marine Park in the Sulu Sea, the park is a conservation area for the endangered Green and Hawksbill turtles.
• Libaran Island - visit a local island primary school.
• Sandakan - Dating back to merchants, gun runners, colonial British days, and Japanese occupation, Sandakan is a former capital city of Sabah.
• Sandakan Memorial Park - Dedicated to the memory of the 1800 Australian and 738 British POW's who died at the camp during Japanese occupation.
• Sabah Forestry Institute - Training facility for the education of technical personnel of the Sabah Forestry Commission.
• Luanti Baru - Winner of the Best River Care Award in Malaysia. An interesting experience with the Garap and Longton fish nibbling at your feet.
• Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Market - Hundreds of stalls selling souvenirs & colourful merchandise.
• Tanjung Aru - Traditional dance, music & cultural performance by the Tanjung Aru Troop.