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Sabah, and Sarawak on Malaysian Borneo offer
some of the most challenging 4x4 grounds in the world. As logging companies
pull out of the jungle in the wake of ever more stringent conservation policies
they leave behind abandoned logging tracks that become the playground for
challenging cross-country expeditions that satisfy the most demanding. Or they
become the pathways to nearly mystical, almost inaccessible destinations in the
far interior where adventures and discoveries lie.
In Sarawak, the logging tracks cut through some amazing and lush
rainforests and offer access to the aboriginal communities that live along the
river. A 4WD is the ideal vehicle to travail upon these rough roads with rest
stops to visit the communal longhouses of the indigenous Iban, Kayan or Kenyah
people along the way.
It’s not hard to see why 4 Wheel Drives (4WD) are very popular and even a
necessity in Sarawak. Not only can they travel through the toughest
Borneo jungle trails and rivers, they make pretty cool and rugged vehicles to
zip around town, too. One word of caution though, once you get into a 4WD
for an off-roading adventure, you may never want to get out of one again – it
is that addictive.
To be sure, they are not the smoothest rides
around. Even a simple ride along a village dirt road had all your bones
rattling and body swaying this way and that. What more crossing a river or
worse still, a log bridge.
Crossing a log bridge can be pretty scary,
depending on the length of the bridge. It can be from just one end of the
vehicle at a time to the whole truck balancing on just two logs for quite a
distance. Only the driver will be in the vehicle. “It is critical to have
a very good spotter who has good judgement and more importantly can keep calm.
Any panic on the spotter's face will be picked up by the driver, and the driver
needs to have complete trust in the spotter.
River crossings, on the other hand, can also be fun to splash around, but 4WD
off-roaders need to first make sure that water isn't too high and fast to sweep
the truck away.
Getting wet and muddy is all part of the thrill. So is getting the truck
stuck. This where you learn various methods of getting a 4WD unstuck.
“It can be as simple as rocking back and forwards. You can winch yourself
out if your truck has a winch or someone else can winch you out. Or use a
snatch strap which acts like a big rubber band. Hook it up between two
vehicles.
BA KELALAN
Ba'kelalan is a group of nine villages in the Bario
Highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia about 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea level and 4
km from the border with Indonesian Kalimantan. The villagers belong to the Lun
Bawang tribe. The villages are Buduk Nur, Long Langai, Long Lemumut, Long
Ritan, Long Rusu, Pa Tawing, Buduk Bui, Buduk Aru and Long Rangat.
The name Ba’Kelalan is derived from the Kelalan River and Ba’ which means wet
lands in the Lun Bawang language. Its population is about 1500 but as many as
8000 call it home. In the cool mountain climate, temperate fruits such as
apples, mandarin oranges and vanilla are grown. The area also produces rice,
and mountain salt is obtained from the nearby hills. The people in Ba'Kelalan
are Christian, members of the Sidang Injil Borneo, and rice production has
doubled since the prohibition of alcohol.
Ba'kelalan Airport has flights to Bario and to Lawas using 19-seater DHT
aircraft. Road access is possible via a 125 km former logging trail from Lawas
using four-wheel-drive vehicles, but the road conditions can be particularly
bad in the rainy season and the journey takes at least six hours. However, in
September 2009 the federal government of Malaysia approved RM50 million for the
first construction phase of a road from Lawas to Ba’Kelalan to facilitate
access.
Tourism has increased in recent years: Ba'kelalan now has a 9-hole natural golf
course, and the settlement is also the easiest point of access for visits to
Kayan Mentarang National Park in Krayan, Kalimantan.
KOTA KINABALU - BA KELALAN
Package
Rates:
Package A – Days 1 – 4, 4D Sabah Drive RM 1,600 per person
Package B – Days 4 – 8, 5D Ba’Kelalan Expedition RM 1,800
per person
Package C – Days 1 – 8, 8D Sabah and Ba’Kelalan Expedition
RM 2,500 per person
Price is calculated based on 4 persons riding together in
ONE vehicle.
Itinerary
Day
|
Activity
|
Remarks
|
Day 1
|
Arrival into KK, self drive to hotel. Tour of KK and the Waterfront.
In the evening a course on Essential 4x4 Driving will be conducted.
|
Arrival into BKI before noon.
Lunch on own. Bundusan Hotel
|
Day 2
|
Breakfast at Bundusan area and head to Tamparuli, then into Kiulu
off road
|
Packed your own lunch
|
|
Exit at Nabalu to shop for souvenirs. Head to Pine Resort,
Kundasang.
|
Pine Resort
|
Day 3
|
A Flora and Fauna day tour. Highlight is a visit to see the largest
pitcher plant at Mesilau. Visit the Kundusang vegetable and flower market.
After own lunch continue to Bundu Tuhan. Then head straight back to
and overnight in KK.
|
Lunch on own at ‘Milk Shop’.
Bundusan hotel
|
Day 4
|
Departure/arrival and travel day
|
This depends on the expedition package.
|
|
Package A – ends tour at BKI airport
|
|
|
Package B. Meet with Package B group arriving at BKI airport. Drive
from KK to Lawas and overnight Lawas.
For this group, a course on Essential 4x4 Driving will be conducted.
|
Package C group free and easy in KK. Join Package B group who arrive
late morning.
Meals on own. Change tyres to extreme off road tyres in Lawas.
|
|
Package C. Breakfast and depart to Lawas and on to Merarap Hot
spring. (If no Package B arrival)
|
Meals on own. Shop for lunch on Day 5. Change to extreme off road
tyres in Lawas.
|
Day 5
|
Lawas or Merarap to Ba’Kelalan. Full day off road travel 160kms in
extreme conditions. Arrive in the evening.
|
Own breakfast and packed lunch.
Overnight and dinner included at Apple Lodge.
|
Day 6
|
Breakfast and tour of Ba’Kelalan
|
Breakfast , lunch and dinner included at Apple Lodge
|
Day 7
|
Early breakfast and depart to KK. Long day of driving. Overnight in
KK.
|
Breakfast in lodge included. Own packed lunch and overnight at
Bundusan Hotel.
|
Day 8
|
Free till late morning departure.
|
|
Please note the following:
1.
In villages and built up areas there may be
restroom facilities. But in the bush, one needs to go bush.
2.
Drives are usually punctuated by meals, rest and
pee stops. We also stop to take pictures of scenic areas.
3.
Please bring along your passport for crossing
state borders between Sabah and Sarawak.
4.
Road conditions to Ba’Kelalan can be very muddy
and you are to assist in vehicle recovery. The travel time also varies from 4
to 10 hours.
Items included in the cost are:
1.
1 unit Self-Drive Rental 4X4 Vehicle (conditions
are as per normal rental vehicle)
2.
1 fully prepared guide/escort vehicle
3.
Hotel and lodge accommodation included
Not included are:
1.
Meals. Only meals at Apple Lodge in Ba’Kelalan
are included in the cost.
2.
Beverages and water
3.
Snacks and alcoholic drinks
4.
Fuel
5.
Items such as topping up of oils and fluids,
etc.
6.
Entrance fees to Kinabalu national park (Day 3)
WE PROVIDE:
Zip Lock Bag
Mineral Water
Guides (Qualified First Aider)
4WD Transport
Transport throughout the journey
THINGS TO BRING OF
YOUR OWN
Extra clothing to
change
Towel
Medication (if necessary)- First Aid Kit is with Guide
Camera (optional)
Personal Toiletries (Environment Friendly)
ATTIRE
Casual t-shirts with
long/short pants
Jungle trekking shoes/sandals/sport shoes
Socks
Extra pair of slipper/shoes (in case of emergency i.e. shoes worn out)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Participants should
note that an adventure trip involves risk. Whilst we make every effort to
safeguard our guest, we cannot be held responsible for personal injury or
loss due to the action of clients which are beyond our
control. A signed release or Indemnity Form will be required from all
participants.
We and our partners reserve the right to make such alteration to departure and
completion dates, reducing the extent of a trip, etc, that we deem necessary
due to road, river or weather conditions or other conditions beyond our control
including minimum safe running numbers, before and whilst on a trip.
Postponement notice will be provided by us or our partner prior to the trip.
Due to bad weather or high water in which high risks is unavoidable or
insufficient participants. All payment will be transferred to a later date of
same trip scheduled or a full refund to guest if services not rendered.
Guest may postpone the trip to the later date but no cancellation shall be
entertained. NO REFUND for cancellation by guest.
BOOKINGS AND PAYMENT
Day Trips
: Booking has to be made at least 48 hrs prior to departure.
Overnight Trips: Booking has to be made at least
14 days prior to departure
Full payment to be made upon confirmation of booking.
