A team of outstanding National Geographic wildlife experts has created a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience through Wildlife of the World by Private Jet, where Sabah has been selected as the first location in Asia to witness wildlife in the wild.
Sabah was chosen and put on the map as part of the luxury private jet trip because of its wildlife diversity and how much each area offers in terms of knowledge and wildlife sightings. This, of course, centres around Sandakan, which is known to be the wildlife capital of Sabah on the east coast.
Wildlife of the World by Private Jet to Sabah
The top-notch team of experts includes Author and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Sandesh Kadur and Primatologist and Conservationist Mireya Mayor.
The specialists and guests travelled in style aboard a refurbished and decked-out Boeing 757 private jet, branded under the National Geographic brand, across three continents, Asia, Africa, and Europe, and accommodated in exquisite lodgings.
After a two-day stop in Singapore, the experts flew into Sandakan for a three-day wildlife adventure. They visited Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre (SOURC) and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) and spent two nights at Kinabatangan River. While at SOURC and BSBCC, the experts and their guests were given private tours and talks.

Sabah is listed as Days 3-5 in the 24-day wildlife experience, and the itinerary states the following;
DAYS 3-5: BORNEO, MALAYSIA
- Fly by private Jet to Sandakan on Borneo’s northeastern coast, and drive to the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Encounter rescued Malayan sun bears at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and continue to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to observe orangutans and learn about efforts to protect them.
- These critically endangered great apes—endemic to only Borneo and the Indonesian island of Sumatra—are some of our closest relatives, sharing some 97% of their DNA with humans. Spend two nights in the heart of the lush Kinabatangan River basin.
- Explore jungle waterways by boat with naturalist guides, and venture into the rainforest on foot to search for Borneo’s unique species: orangutans, gibbons, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, and a range of rare birds.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Daily
- Accommodations: Sepilok Nature Resort or MY Nature Resort; Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort or Sukau Rainforest Lodge
What the Experts Say
Noredah Othman, CEO of the Sabah Tourism Board, commented;
“I am pleased that the Nat Geo experts’ team with their VVIP guests were here to experience our amazing wildlife. I commend Sticky Rice Travel for their efficient planning and arrangement in guiding the Nat Geo group in Sabah,”.
“We also had a private jet that came into Sabah in October this year, bringing in VVIP guests for wildlife tours. This private jet was brought in by Abercrombie & Kent with their ground handler Asia Top Team Travels. Sabah is a world-class nature and wildlife destination; we are also known for our conservation efforts,”.
“A big thank you to MAHB, Sabah Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and PDRM in Sandakan airport for their continuous cooperation and support on the private jet arrangement,”.
Grace Chan, Sticky Rice Travel General Manager, said,
“We are very excited to host up to 3 Private Jet arrivals annually to guests who are all very passionate about wildlife. The close proximity of Sepilok and Kinabatangan from Sandakan enhances the possibility of experiencing the river and seeing Orang Utans, making it a key destination in the overall program. Thus, putting Sabah on the radar as one of the top wildlife destinations in the South East Asia region.”
Gennaro Nardone, Asia Top Team Travels Managing Director, said,
“In 2015, Abercrombie and Kent came to Borneo to scout for destinations which we crafted an interesting itinerary for them and finally in 2017 we had the first private jet in Sandakan for a 4 Days 3 Nights Sandakan and Danum Valley trip. In 2021, private jet was fully sold however due to Covid restrictions the trip was cancelled, but now they are back. Previously in October, we have done another private jet with a full flight of 48 VVIP guests and 20 staff.”
“Due to positive response from the guests, Abercrombie & Kent was able to sell off an additional departure private jet for February 2023 and another one for February 2024. Sabah has the potential to be the ‘In’ destination for the high-end market, allowing visitors to see wildlife in the wild and experience what it’s like to live in a pristine jungle,”.

Conclusion
For more information about this super exclusive and unique tour, please visit National Geographic Expeditions, as you can get all the details and booking information there. Other specialised tours are also available apart from the Wildlife of the World by Private Jet to Sabah and other countries.
For National Geographic to select Sabah Borneo as one of their destination stops, it is truly a privilege to see this over here in Malaysia Borneo. I, for one, would dream of going on one of these flights in my lifetime.