Travel agents like to recommend Borneo as a getaway for a good reason – its rainforest landscape makes it a home to a variety of rare and endangered wildlife. Known as the world’s largest island, Borneo is comprised of three countries. The island, which covers over 286,000 square miles, is separated into four political areas: Kalimantan belongs to Indonesia whilst Sarawak and Sabah are part of Malaysia. A small remaining area is made up of the sultanate of Brunei.
Borneo’s Location
Borneo, whose landscape is primarily mountainous, is situated southeast of the Malay Peninsula and southwest of the Philippines. The highest peak on the island, Mt. Kinabalu, stands 13,455 feet. Because the climate is usually wet and hot, the island receives a prolific amount of rain. Portions of the island regularly get from 150 to 200 inches of rain yearly. Monsoons buffet the large island from October to March. Therefore, if you wish to visit Borneo, a Borneo travel agent will usually advise travel from April to September.
A Lush Green Wilderness
Because of the amount of rain, Borneo’s flora is extremely diverse. The island displays almost 11,000 species of floral plants, of which a third is indigenous. The dense vegetation on the island is amazing as well. Scientists have recorded 700 species of trees in one 16-acre area of lowland forestry. By comparison, only 171 native trees have been recorded in the entire eastern part of North America.
For the last 1,000 years, the island remained remote from the rest of civilization. Because of its location, Borneo was not frequently visited by immigrants and traders. However, during the 16th century, Spanish and Portuguese emissaries reached the island’s shores. After the arrival of the British and Dutch, the country began to thrive. Today the island is inhabited by Islamic Malays, Chinese, Europeans and non-Islamic Dayaks.
If you wish to see the rainforest in all its glory, then you want to arrange travel to Borneo with a Borneo travel agent. Again, the best time to see the isle is from April through September. If you like rain, however, and lots of it, then you can visit the island any time of the year.
