Imbak Canyon: Into The Heart of Borneo [Field Work Part 1 ( Day 1 and 2)]

Curious of what does a Biologist do?
Well, I have a first exposure during my Field Trip to Imbak Canyon Conservation Area, Sabah.

This was a training to prepare us before we start doing our own research.
Imbak Canyon???? Where is it?? never heard of it..

This was the reaction that I get from most of my friends.

Imbak Canyon Conservaton Area is the last remaining untouched and relatively unexplored area of Sabah. 

It is a Virgin Jungle which means no human disturbance in this area.

Imbak Canyon Conservation Area is located over 300 kilometers south east of Kota Kinabalu, 

 north of Maliau Basin in Lahad Datu and

in the heart of Sabah (almost in the middle of Sabah).

The access to this Imbak Canyon Conservation are  is strictly controlled.

 The permission to enter must be obtained in advance from Yayasan Sabah Group offices in Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan.

1day travelling is required to reach there which includes

4 hours travelling from Kota Kinabalu to Telupid 

then 2 hours  from Telupid to the Base Camp just outside the Conservation Area.

Four wheel drives are needed to travel off track in the forest..

After the base camp, we need to travel almost 2 hours off track into the conservation area.

Then we need to travel 2km by foot to enter the scientific expedition camp.

P/s: OMG.. Tiring is IT?!

Enough of the information, and lets have a peak what is happening during my trip~

As it is a 6 days field work, I bought a super huge Back pack to stuff in all my things.

It weight almost 12kg!!!

Imagine that carrying that to walk 2km in the forest!!

As I mention earlier, 4 Wheel vehicles are essential to travel off road.

My Institution have rented 11 4 wheels vehicles with professional drivers to drive us in..

Well, This is VIRGO.

The Hilux that I traveled in and out of the Forest~

Luckily Hilux is more comfortable compared to other 4 wheels.

The name list for my travelling companies~

And We start traveled after a short briefing~

Along the journey, we passed by Tamparuli Rumah terbalik, Kundasang and Kinabalu park.

Then we stopped by Ranau to have our lunch~

~Ranau Town~

We even meet a bus of juniors travelling to Kundasang there~

And we continued Rolling~

The drivers actually do have great sense of humour while they entertained us with their hilarious joke and singing.

Then we stop by Telupid town to have a break~

Enjoying Ice-cream while waiting~

At last we reached the forest...

It was challenging to travel off road while raining.

The road was so muddy and sticky to travel..

We even need to pass through a river during the journey..

We were so scare when the river water started to flow into the car and soaked our leg..

The bad new was...

Our back pack were soaked with river water...

>.<

After bumping and shaking our head and waist all the way,

we finally reached the base camp.

Yeah!!!

We stayed in tent for the 1st night.

Luckily I bring my sleeping beg along as I can felt all the rock behind my back..

However, I fainted right away after I lyed down~ xp

It's A good night sleep.

Second day started with freezing whether..

I wrapped my selves with scarf and long sleeves~

After packing our tent and had breakfast, we continue rolling ( term used by the driver) ~

Sun glasses are crucial  while traveling under hot sun~

And of course to sleep~ Xp

Opps~ A car broke down during the journey..

The frame that support the wheels broke..

Challenge never ends~

Tougher road ahead while we getting closer to the virgin forest..

After 2 hours travelling in car,we reach the conservation area.

We have to walk in 2km to the expedition camp  with all our back pack..

No roads for car anymore..

Only trail for people to walk.

>.<

To enter a forest, what you need is a cap,

 a pair of Kampung Adidas ( rubber shoe that looks like adidas) for RM3.50, 

a pair of Leech Socks or Stocking Pacat (to prevent leeches),

 long sleeves, towel to cover your neck, tug in your shirt ( well, i Haven't tug in In this picture)

[ all this to prevent leeches].

Our journey into the virgin jungle started.

It was kind of hard to walk as it was slippery and muddy all the way through.

And  super tiring with the super heavy back pack on us..

We need to cross few rivers during the journey..

This is the fast flow river, quite dangerous cause I nearly swept away by the river flow.

After almost 1 hour of walking , We finally arrived the Expedition camp.

After the long journey, we have a lovely lunch prepared for us~

I ate double size when I was in the camp!

They found a snake in the camp!!!

During the night, immediately we started our 1st field work that was frogging.

Frogging means catching frog~

Oh ya.. catching frog in the rain and super dark and slippery forest.

It was a tough!!!

And we need to go frogging for 2 nights!!!

Well, to sum up, day 1 and 2 are mainly travelling into the Imbak conservation area.

Spent most of the time in car, bumping and shaking all the way through.

And I leveled up my sleeping skill where I can sleep even in a bumpy 4 wheel car!!!

That's all for Part 1 of My IMBAK Field Trip~

Stay tune for the 2nd part~

Sleepy face~~

If you are interested to travel to Imbak to explore the nature,

you can contact:

Research & Development Division

Yayasan Sabah Group

12th Floor, Menara Tun Mustapha

P.O. Box 11623

88817 Kota Kinabalu

Sabah, MALAYSIA

Tel: (6 088) 326300 Ext. 6318

Fax: (6 088) 326315/326316

E-mail: albinus@icsb-sabah.com.my

Or

Imbak Canyon Conservation Area

Rakyat Berjaya Sdn. Bhd.

Yayasan Sabah Group

Jalan Sekolah Cheng Min

P.O. Box 1437

90715 Sandakan

Sabah, MALAYSIA

Tel: (6 089) 225836  Fax: (6 089) 210852

E-mail: imbakcanyon@gmail.com

Languages Spoken: English and  Bahasa Malaysia

or 

North Borneo Safari

Lot 31, 1st Floor, Block B4,

Jalan BU 5/1, Bandar Utama,

Mile 5, Sandakan, Sabah,

Malaysia.

Postal Address: 

WDT 49 PPJU 90309, 

Sandakan, Sabah, 

Malaysia. 

Tel: +60-89-235525, 

Fax: +60-89-235526, 

Email: cpu@tm.net.my