Bukit Lutut Climb 2days1night tour code SEV 06A

HASA INCENTIVES SDN BHD

(Tour Operator License KPSU/TDD/2002/2TO)

B1, 1st floor, block B, Warisan Mata Mata, and Gadong. Negara Brunei Darussalam

Tel: 673-8-766796/ 2423332 Fax: 673-2-425738 Email: info@borneoguide.com website: www.borneoguide.com / www.sumbiling.blogspot.com

Tour Code: SEV 06A

Tour Name: Bukit Lutut Climb 2days1night

Duration: 2days1nights

Promotion Price: B$175.00 ( Normal price B$250.00)

Day one Sumbiling Eco village-SEV / Bukit Lutut Peak for overnight ( L/D)

8.00 am meet at Kianggeh Jetty (Bandar Seri Begawan) and take a 45 minutes public boat ride to Bangar. Bangar provides a last opportunity to purchase camera batteries, personal drinking water (100 plus), energy bars etc.

Then proceed 20 mins by vehicle to Sumbiling Eco village. Morning tea will be served and the expedition leader will give a briefing. Then trekkers cross the Temburong River by boat and begin trekking on a gentle slope covered with secondary forest to the Mutong River. The track will involve criss-crossing the pristine Mutong River. You should be prepared to walk in wet shoes. You will be rewarded with the sight of the beautiful Mutong River, untouched primary rainforest (one of the best in Borneo), hundred year old vines, huge trees, occasional hornbills calling & many other delights. Some of the plants and insects are yet to be named by scientists! After a nice 1 hour trek we will reach Mutong Camp One. Here we will stop for lunch to keep up our energy level. There is time for a swim, to relax or enjoy the photographic opportunities.

After fully rest, we will hike up to Bukit Lutut. As we move further into the thick rainforest, the slope will become steeper & steeper. Some sections of track may require us to use our hands to hoist our bodies up. Occasionally gibbons make their distinct calls as if laughing at us. Hikers with binoculars might be able to see some birds & gibbons. After about 3hr uphill trek we will reach Camp 2. After a brief rest continue trek to the peak of Bukit Lutut to view the sunset (weather permitting). We will set up camp and eat together in camp style, entertained by an orchestra of various frogs, crickets, cicadas and other insects. After dinner, the surroundings can be explored for insects or nocturnal creatures (again weather permitting).

Day Two Bukit Lutut Peak and trek down to Mutong Camp /River trek to SEV ( B/L)

Wake up to the call of gibbon followed by the sweet melody created by our birdie friends. Be amaze with a beautiful view of the Rainforest canopy as far as the eye can see. In clear weather you can also see Mulu National park mountain range to the south and Lawas mountain range to the north. After breakfast, break camp and prepare for another day with nature. We are now in a deep jungle. Occasionally the gibbon make their presence felt and hornbills can be seen flying overhead.

Today’s trek is mostly downhill and can be more difficult. After about a 2-3hr trek we will meet the Mutong River again. Here if we are quiet enough, we might see hornbills & other birds at close range. There is an opportunity to take a dip into one of the many river pools. Try out natural Shampoo consist of leaves and many more. Continue trek along the Motong River back to SEV around 1-2pm.

Arrive at SEV, where you can repack your load, have a refreshing shower and change your clothes. Lunch is served before transferring overland to Bangar and by boat back to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Includes: Expedition leader/ guides, all meals, land transfer in Temburong, and boat ride from Bandar Seri Begawan.

Excludes: Porter for carrying personal back pack( B$45/day max 10 kg or B$90 for whole 2days1nights trip) you need to carry your own drinking water,Camp for sleeping, sleeping bag & Snack along the way. ( if you like to hire camp B$25/2 man camp and sleeping bag B$10 each, please inform while you confirm your tour)

We highly recommend you hire a porter to carry your bag so that you can fully enjoy your trekking expedition

What to expect :

Bukit Lutut can be very challenging hill to climb, it is only 500 plus meter and approximately 5km from Sumbiling Eco Village. Only recommend for people with reasonable fit and loves nature. Not recommend for child under 10 years.

As an outdoor trip, itinerary and times indicated are subject to change without notice, as trips may be affected by rain, heat, high or low water levels in the river. covered site will be provided for answering calls of nature. Meals will be served with army type rations with food such as canned curry chicken, baked beans, corned beef etc with rice. It is recommended that you bring your own high energy bar eg. mixed fruit bar. Hot water will be available for coffee or tea.

Recommended to wear :

Light, easy to dry shorts & t shirts during trekking, light trekking shoes with good grip, a favorite cap to cover your head, face towel for those who sweat a lot.

Evening wear - light, easy to dry long pants, socks, light cotton long sleeve shirt and a pair of sandals or thongs.

Recommended to Bring :

Light rucksack, changes of clothes, sun lotion, hat, raincoat, camera, binoculars (only if you are bird watcher), small towel for the walk, towel + toiletries, swimsuit , insect repellent- non aerosol type, tiger balm will do. A small flashlight or head torch. A change of clothes and towel for use on return to Sumbiling village.

Some snacks like energy bars e.g mixed fruit bars, chocolate, sweets and drinks (any isotonic drink or packets of oral rehydration salts) in case you get hungry and thirsty en route.

IMPORTANT! Please limit your back pack to 5-7 kg depending on your fitness, if heavier you might consider hiring a porter to carry your stuff. It is B$90 for a 2days 1night trip, max 10kg.

Rules of the Rainforest :

Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints. Bring back nothing but memories

Please Don’t Bring: Suitcases, radios or loud sounding devices.

Sungai Ingei Protection Forest in Belait

2nd Hob Project Document Wildlife In Sg Ingei Forest

Written by Rachel ThienThursday, 15 October 2009 08:26

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei is to conduct its first faunal expedition over a period of about two years starting July next year to explore and document the wildlife of Sungai Ingei Protection Forest in Belait as it is believed to be one of the richest forests in the Heart of Borneo (HoB).

The expedition is HoB second project, the first project is the ongoing rehabilitation of degraded peatswamps.

"HoB is where we are trying to give our attention and resources in order to deliver a change. It is fantastic to see the Bruneian government take this on board as it is an essential part of understanding the ecosystem," said Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources during a press conference yesterday.

Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab, who is also the chairman of the Brunei Darussalam HoB National Council, added that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was "very clear" we had to link our wildlife species and livelihood together.

He also noted that it was a "huge opportunity and potential" to link Sarawak's Mulu Park and the Sungai Ingei Conservation Forest as an ecotourism destination.

"I see this project as a huge opportunity for capacity building. It is also a good opportunity for students to obtain knowledge and skills to responsibly manage HoB," he added.

Dato Hj Hamdillah commented that the first HoB project was "wonderful" and this second project had a compelling reason to invest in.

"Right now, we do not have scientific research which is vital to make objective decisions about what to do with this conservation forest. We want to be able to develop ecotourism packages from one of the best bio-diversity forests in HoB," he said.

SCB CEO Danny Quah echoed the same sentiments.

He said that basic inventory and other other scientific information was an "absolute necessity" for sustainable management of any natural resource.

"Brunei is home to some of the most biologically diverse forest habitats in the world and with Borneo as a whole, it comprises a major Hotspot for global biodiversity. Brunei's natural habitats need proper conservation management now and in the long term, but necessary scientific information is currently very much incomplete," he said.

Quah added the conservation of HoB was important to instill awareness about the importance of forests in combating climate change by storing carbon.

"We hope that what we learn from results at the Sungai Ingei area would help us to sustainably manage it to reap maximum benefits for the community at large," he said.

Project Executants cum Senior Lecturer Dr K Charles from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Faculty of Science could not stress enough on the importance of the fore-mentioned views.

"This is Brunei's first faunal expedition to explore and document the wonderful wildlife of Sungai Ingei Protection Forest that has in store for us. The faunal survey will gather necessary scientific data to enable us to better manage Brunei's natural habitats and their wildlife," he said.

He also spoke on the opportunity to recce the area for its tourism potential, taking into account its proximity to Sarawak's Gunung Mulu World Heritage Site.

"This project will address at least 13 of the 36 interventions in six of the 15 strategic thrusts that are recommended in Brunei's national HoB project Implementation Framework report 2008," he said.

Most of the survey work will be carried out by staff and local students of UBD, with the support of various government departments and the Brunei Heart of Borneo Centre.

The first phase of the expedition will take place from July 2-20 in 2010, where the public can expect potential discovery of species new to Science, contribution to scientific knowledge, wildlife conservation management and tourism planning and development among many others.

Furthermore, compilation of results and a seminar presentation will be held in March 2011.

Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) in partnership with the WWF yesterday announced its sponsorship of about $400,000 to $500,000 for this second HoB project. Earlier this year, the funds of $700,000 were derived from a prize donation from the "Race for a Living Planet Environment Challenge" which Brunei won.

The prize donation has been agreed by SCB to be donated to environmental projects endorsed by WWF in the country.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times