Gomantong Caves, Wildlife Trips, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
Gomantong Cave
Gomantong Caves, Wildlife Trips, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
Not many tourists have heard about Gomantong Caves before they come on their holiday to Sabah, Borneo. If you fancy going somewhere different to get close to some of the wildlife of Borneo then you should consider a visit to these Caves.
Gomantong Caves, Sabah, Borneo
A visit here can easily be included as part of a Kinabatangan River Cruise trip. Read on to find out more about the amazing Gomantong Caves.
Borneo has been a source of bird nests, used in bird nest soup, for the Chinese market since the 17th century. The Chinese have long believed that the nests have medicinal qualities.
One of the most well known cave systems in Borneo for collecting birds nests is at Gomantong in Sabah. The collection of nests at Gomantong caves is strictly monitored to ensure sustainability, and many believe these are the best managed caves in the world.
Orang Utan, Sabah
At the onset of the breeding season the Swiftlets build a nest which is harvested straight away. The birds then build a second nest and are left alone until after the chicks have fledged. These nests are then collected.
There are differences in the timing of the breeding season between species and different cave systems. At Simud Putih cave in Gomantong the initial harvest of ‘white’ nests is in February, followed by a second collection in June or July. In the main cave at Gomantong, Simud Hitam, the first collections are in March – April, and the second collection in Late August and September.
The main cave at Gomantong visited by tourists is a breathtaking experience – because of the sheer scale of the cave, the enormous volume of Swiftlets and bats and the strong smell of ammonia from bird droppings on the cave floor. If you are interested in visiting Gomantong Caves as part of your holiday to Sabah, Borneo then please contact the Borneo Dream team.
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