It was a painful awakening at 4 am but we were up and out in no time, back at the airport and aboard our 6.20 am flight to Lahad Datu. We were there in just under an hour and landed safely at the small, local airport which doesn't even warrant a conveyor belt for the few bags that arrive there, just a small concrete slab where they are dumped for collection!

We were picked up by a representative from Borneo Nature Tours and taken to their office to complete registration. This basically meant that we had to sign our life away and agree that we wouldn’t hold them responsible if we were lost, drowned, eaten by wild animals or anything else bad that you can possibly imagine. Hmmm, just what are we letting ourselves in for here!

At about 8 am we set off with three others and our driver on the two and a half hour trip to our destination in the Danum Valley conservation area. The first half hour was on tarmac road but as we entered the conservation area it became a gravel road which became increasingly rough and difficult as the journey continued and, by the time we reached our destination, was more like a dirt track.

Throughout the journey we were surrounded by forest. The trees were very tall and the vegetation as thick and lush. Once we paused to look at a monitor lizard, another time it was a long-tailed macaque. As we crossed the Danum river we stopped to watch some pygmy elephants crossing in the distance.

When we reached the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the heart of the Danum Valley we were greeted with garlands made of leaves and a welcome drink made from lemongrass and ginger before being shown to our room which was at some distance from the main lodge along a wooden walkway. Our deluxe room was very comfortable and had a balcony looking out directly onto the river. There was also an outside spa bath to enjoy a relaxing dip after a long, hot day in the rainforest!

Lunch was a sumptuous buffet served in the main lodge. You can’t help but wonder how they manage to prepare such an amazing spread so far away from anywhere but ours was not to wonder, just to enjoy!!

In mid afternoon we met with our local guide, Mike, ready to have an introductory session along the Nature Trail. Before setting off, on Mike’s advice, we added an attractive and hitherto unheard of item to our wardrobe, namely leech socks. Not to encourage them of course, but to keep them out, or so we understand! Even knowing that the socks are necessary made us both feel very uneasy and even more so when it seems that leeches are probably the least of our worries when we consider some of the other creatures we might come across, namely the slithery biting kind!

We hadn’t been long on our walk when the rain came down and boy did it rain! Mike told us that the rainforest needs at least 2 hours of rain every day so in that case we are very grateful … but also very wet! We are also very grateful for our impulse purchase of long, green plastic macs which we bought in Kota Kinabalu. Little did we know at the time just how much we were going to need them! We sheltered for a while by the frog pond before continuing our walk in the rain.

Back at the Lodge we met again at 6 pm for a slide show which gave us more information about the rain forest and the conservation area and also some does and don’ts for trekking and observing wild animals. We then set off for a night safari in the back of a big open truck with a bench down each side. Mike was the spotter up in a chair on top of the cabin. He shone his torch here, there and everywhere and pointed things out to us. Unfortunately the rain started again quite soon and we were glad of those macs again, plus umbrellas all round. Yes, there was a lot of rain. We saw a few things in spite of the weather but the most memorable by far was the flying squirrel which was quite startling when it spread its 'wings’ to glide through the trees.

Back once more at the Lodge we stayed to enjoy a beer in the bar before heading back to our room but the rain just became heavier and heavier with thunder and lightning thrown in for good measure. How do we get back without getting soaked? Luckily they have plenty of umbrellas available just for that purpose!