Gomantong Caves and a definate orangutan sighting

I am researching where to take the children for a field trip and as they went to Sepilok to see the Orangutans last year , I thought the famous birds nest (for the soup) caves could be a good field study trip.

They are a network of mainly two caves and they are huge. The first one, the black cave so called because it delivers black nest which are dirtier, with feathers and twigs than the more valuable white ones which are pure swift saliva. The benefits are said to be many from clearing skin of acne, everlasting youth and asthma. It is a beautiful board walk through the forest to the cave, on entering the cave you are elevated above the 3m + of bat guano, deposited by the other major residents.

There was a huge recycling project under way by the cockroach and dung beetle population, which must well outnumber all the other residents, the floor of the cve appeared to have a life of its own.

The swiftlets are just starting to build their nests now, I can see many swooping over the lake below my room, they need plenty to drink to make thise nests. The collection is now strictly controlled in to two period, one just before the eggs are laid, probably in march and the next after the chicks have fledged. It would be good to return for the first collection as these cave are very high and the harvesters are suspended on ropes attached to hook put in by early chinese collectors thought to be more than 5 hundred years ago. It is assumed those early pioneers were expert climbers to get up there initially.

When we emerged we were directed up a steep climb to the top of the cave and then on to the more inaccessible white cave. We didn't venture in, there was no board walk and the guano was too slippy! Although the rangers were wandering in and out in just their flip flops . 

 We were guided down, thank goodness, as our way up was more than a scramble on very slippy rocks, in very sticky trousers and even slipperier sandals, by a couple of rangers who pointed out an orangutan who is quite docile and lives around their camp, pinching their rice. We got to within 3m and he was very chilled. It is difficult to get a clear photo because of course he is a man of the forest. It was amazing to be so close while he was just pulling leaves off the tree so noncholantly.

On the way back down we came across a pythons den and the ubiquitous leech. Our guides made us go in to the bathroom to strip off in order to ensure we didn't take any home with us!

On the way back we we called in at Sukau where we may also take the children jungle camping over night and take a night cruise up the Kinabatangan river although I have yet to work out where to get tents for 30 kids when I can't even find an ATM within 2 hours from here, its certainly one way of living cheap.