Roughly half of Danum Valley's mammal species are nocturnal, which is why a night activity is built into nearly every package.
Night drive vs night walk
Borneo Rainforest Lodge and other operators typically offer an open-top 4x4 night drive along forest roads, spotting eyeshine with a guide's spotlight — an efficient way to cover ground and spot larger or more skittish animals. The Danum Valley Field Centre focuses more on guided night walks on foot, which get you closer to smaller, harder-to-spot creatures like insects, frogs, and tarsiers.
Photo by Danum Valley Rainforest Lodge
What you might see
- Civets and slow loris, seen regularly
- Western tarsiers, tiny and easy to miss without a guide's trained eye
- Owls and nightjars
- Clouded leopard — rare, but night drives are genuinely your best shot at one
Photography note
Flash photography is typically not permitted during night walks and safaris to avoid disturbing wildlife — bring a headlamp for navigation rather than relying on camera flash.