Malaysia is well known for its beautiful wilderness, filled with unique flora and fauna. Due to its diverse ecosystems, this Southeast Asian country offers incredible wildlife adventures.
Thanks to its rich biodiversity and lush rainforests, you can expect to encounter all sorts of wildlife – from orangutans and pygmy elephants to tigers and exotic birds. And you’re not limited to only land animals; Malaysia offers diving experiences and marine parks where you can spot vibrant marine life and coral reefs.
While adventurous travellers are bound to find something exciting to do, it’s important to be well-prepared for wildlife experiences and know how to experience them in a way that not only respects the local culture, but also the environment and its inhabitants.
- Observe Wildlife at Earth Lodge in Ulu Muda
Run by a group of passionate conservationists, Earth Lodge is a small eco-lodge and low-impact tour operator located on the eastern frontiers of Kedah, northern Malaysia.
Earth Lodge gives you the opportunity to stay smack dab in the middle of the remote Malaysian rainforest in Ulu Muda. Thanks to relatively low rates of poaching and human intrusion, this area has very high biodiversity.
A high biodiversity means that there’s a huge variety of different plants, animals, and other organisms living there, and it’s this richness in species that helps make the ecosystem more resilient and balanced, supporting a healthy environment.
The wildlife commonly seen in this rainforest includes the Asian elephant, Malaysian tapir, sambar deer, barking deer, and wild boar. Additionally, Ulu Muda is home to other large mammals such as the gaur, tiger, and leopard. For a full list of mammals, click here.
You’ll have the opportunity to explore jungle trails, rivers, limestone hills, caves, and saltlicks, while you enjoy boat rides and observe wildlife during your stay.
Earth Lodge combines sustainable tourism with much-needed scientific research, nature conservation and advocacy work, making it a fantastic and ethical way to experience Malaysia’s wildlife.
- Enjoy a Mangrove Boat Tour with Dev’s Adventure Tours
Dev’s Adventure Tours is an eco-friendly company with a passionate team of nature guides ready to introduce you to the natural wonders of Langkawi, in northwestern Malaysia. Whether you explore the island by kayak, boat, or bicycle, you’ll once again be astonished by its rich flora and fauna.
Dev’s Mangrove Boat Tour is an ethical and educational journey focused on conservation. Unlike many other tours that harm wildlife, Dev’s emphasises respect, ensuring no animals are fed or mistreated.
This five-hour tour takes you through the mangroves by boat, visiting bat caves and observing sea eagles and red kites in their natural habitat. It highlights the importance of preserving wildlife without harmful practices like feeding sea eagles chicken fat, which softens their eggshells.
You’ll also have the chance to see kingfishers, monitor lizards, bats, sea eagles, and mudskippers. This tour is of great value and offers an unforgettable and ethical wildlife adventure in Malaysia.
The knowledgeable and engaging guide makes the experience interactive and informative. At the end of the tour, you’ll be delighted by a vegetarian restaurant at a floating restaurant.
- Admire Bears at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center
The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center (BSBCC), located in Sabah, northern Borneo (East Malaysia), is the world’s only sun bear conservation centre. Founded in 2008, its two main aims are to provide care and rehabilitation to rescued sun bears and increase awareness of sun bears worldwide.
By visiting the BSBCC, you’ll have the rare opportunity to see sun bears in their natural forest setting – you’ll see rescued ex-pet sun bears on their road to rehabilitation, as well as local flora and fauna such as orangutans, macaques, squirrels, and diverse tropical tree species.
So what makes the BSBCC a particularly wonderful wildlife adventure? Well, its ethics puts it way ahead of most experiences. Unlike traditional wildlife experiences that often focus on entertainment, the BSBCC focuses on the welfare, rehabilitation, and protection of the sun bears.
The centre acts as a sanctuary for orphaned and ex-captive sun bears, offering them a safe and enriched environment. For bears that can be reintroduced into the wild, the BSBCC serves as a halfway house by helping them develop essential survival skills before being released.
You’ll find signboards in multiple languages offering information about the sun bears, as well as members of staff who are always happy to tell you more about the bears and answer any questions you may have.
And it’s worth noting that, as a charity, all proceeds go towards sun bear conservation programmes!
- Support Endangered Species at the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve
Located about 120 km to the north of Kuala Lumpur, the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve covers an astonishing total area of 4330 hectares.
It was the first nature reserve to have dedicated itself to protecting the Sumatran rhinos – the smallest of the living rhinoceroses and the only Asian rhino with two horns. The Sumatran rhino is critically endangered due to its habitat being lost or degraded by invasive species, road construction, poachers, and encroachment for agricultural expansion.
The Sungai Dusun reserve is also home to around a dozen Malayan tapirs (a fully protected species that is currently endangered) and some gharial crocodiles, which are critically endangered. It is estimated that there are fewer than 1,500 adult Malayan tapirs left in the wild – a number that dwindles by the year.
Within the reserve, there is also an ex-situ breeding centre for wildlife species such as tapir and porcupines. If you’re thinking of visiting the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve, make sure to call ahead of time to arrange a visit.
When planning your wildlife adventure in Malaysia, whether you’re exploring the remote rainforests of Ulu Muda or visiting the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center, it’s a good idea to be prepared in order to make the most of your trip.
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Hi! I’m James, the marketing manager at Stasher. I’m passionate about slow travel, immersing myself in new cultures and building unique memories in different places. On our blog, I share insights and stories to inspire and help you avoid pitfalls. Most importantly, I hope to make sure that you have the most rewarding travels!