A Guide to Wildlife Photography Tours in Borneo

Borneo is an incredible destination for wildlife photography; it’s a place where every rustle in the trees could reveal a rare primate, and the rivers quietly carry you past creatures found nowhere else. It’s a place for those who are curious, patient, and passionate about capturing the natural world at its most raw and real.

This guide is for photographers who dream of more than snapshots—who want to come home with images that tell real stories. Whether you’re planning your first photo expedition to Borneo or looking to refine your approach with the help of experts, we’ll walk you through what to expect, how to prepare, and how joining a dedicated photography tour can help you get the most out of every moment.

Why Choose a Photography Tour in Borneo?

The island of Borneo, shared by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Over 15,000 plant species, more than 220 mammals, and roughly 420 bird species reside here—many found nowhere else.

But biodiversity alone doesn’t make a location ideal for photography. What sets Borneo apart is the accessibility it offers to wildlife. Through protected rainforests and ethical conservation zones, photographers can respectfully document rare species without disrupting delicate ecosystems.

What to Photograph in Borneo

• Orangutans: No photography tour in Borneo is complete without tracking orangutans. These intelligent apes display incredible emotion and complexity, which can translate into striking visual stories. In areas like Sepilok and along the Kinabatangan River, you’ll have ethical and well-positioned opportunities to observe and photograph both semi-wild and wild orangutans.
• Proboscis Monkeys: With their cartoonish noses and expressive faces, proboscis monkeys are visually compelling. Photographing them leaping across mangrove trees or interacting in family groups offers dynamic action and narrative.
• Bornean Pygmy Elephants: Smaller than their African and Indian cousins, these elephants are shy, rare, and magical to witness. On a well-organized Borneo photo tour, your chances of photographing these gentle giants increase with the help of local guides and river-based positioning.
• Birdlife and Beyond: From rhinoceros hornbills to brightly colored broadbills, the avifauna is astounding. Patience, long lenses, and the right light will reward you with images that rival any tropical destination. You’ll also encounter reptiles, frogs, and insects perfect for macro work.

Navigating the Jungle with Your Camera

Photographing in Borneo’s rainforests is both rewarding and demanding. Light is inconsistent, conditions are humid, and terrain is unpredictable. When confronted with incredible wildlife photography opportunities in these circumstances, it’s good to be prepared.

• Lighting Challenges: Under the dense canopy, light is limited and diffused. Outside, harsh equatorial sun can create high contrast. Fast lenses and cameras with excellent ISO performance are critical.
• Essential Lenses: A 100–400mm zoom is indispensable. Also pack a 70–200mm for portrait-style wildlife shots, and a wide-angle for contextual or environmental images.
• Weather-Proofing: Expect sudden downpours. Dry bags, waterproof covers, and lens cloths should always be within reach.
• Mobility: Lightweight gear is your friend. Many shoots take place from boats or involve treks through slippery trails. Portability matters more here than in many other locations.

Why Join a Guided Photo Tour?

While it’s possible to travel independently in Borneo, doing so as a wildlife photographer presents real challenges—logistics, language, permits, timing, and, most of all, missed opportunities. That’s where our professionally guided Borneo Wildlife Photography Tour comes in. We might be biased, but dedicated photo tours are a great option for serious photographers who want to maximize creative potential while staying ethical, supported, and informed. Here are some reasons why;

• Expert Photographic Instruction: You’ll be guided by a professional photographer with field experience in low-light, wildlife, and action photography. Every day includes hands-on coaching, composition feedback, and strategic shooting sessions.
• Strategic Itinerary Planning: We organize the entire tour around optimal light, animal activity, and shooting conditions—not a generic travel schedule.
• Local Expertise: Our naturalist partners and guides live and breathe this region. Their knowledge leads to better sightings, better angles, and better shots.
• Ethical Photography Focus: We make sure to get you to the right place, at the right time to get that incredible shot, but not at the detriment of the natural environment we’re traveling in.

Key Locations for Nature & Wildlife Photography

Our photography tour in Borneo explores a carefully curated route through the Malaysian state of Sabah, offering varied ecosystems and wildlife encounters.

• Kinabatangan River: A vital wildlife corridor and the heart of our expedition. Here, you’ll photograph orangutans, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, hornbills, and—if you’re lucky—pygmy elephants, often from boat-level for eye-to-eye shots.
• Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: Offers consistent access to orangutans in semi-wild environments, ideal for studying and photographing facial expressions, interaction, and movement.
• Rainforest Lodges & Jungle Walks: You’ll also explore interior trails for macro photography and encounters with forest birds, insects, and amphibians that reveal Borneo’s hidden biodiversity.

Preparing for Your Photography Tour in Borneo

There’s more to preparing for a Borneo photo tour than just gear. Success also depends on your preparation and your attitude.

• Physical Readiness: Expect humid hikes and long hours. Basic fitness will be helpful on this trip.
• Photographic Goals: Are you storytelling? Focusing on species? Seeking behavioral shots? Having clear creative intent will shape how you shoot.
• Mental Patience: Wildlife photography is rarely instant. Borneo will teach you to wait, observe, and anticipate

Join the Journey

By the end of your time in Borneo, you won’t just have strong photos—you’ll have sharper instincts, steadier hands, and a better eye for the quiet moments that matter. You’ll by guided by professional wildlife photographer Charlotte Arthun learn to work with chaos: unpredictable light, moving subjects, shifting terrain. And in the process, you’ll come away with something harder to define but impossible to forget—a deeper connection to your craft, and to the wildness you came to witness.

Find out more about our upcoming Borneo Photo Tour!