What’s in my Bag for Borneo (2023 Trip)

What gear is inside my bag?

1. Sony A7R5

2. Sony 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G Lens 

3. Sony 90mm f2.8 Macro G Lens

4. Sony 24-70 f2.8 GM Lens

5. Extra Sony Batteries (NP-FZ100)

6. A7R5 Chargers

7. 64GB memory cards

8. Card Reader

9. Binoculars

10. Wildroar Rain & Dust Cover 

11. Wildroar Rain & Dust Cap

12. Leech socks 

Borneo is a photographic destination like no other. It is home to an incredible variety of species, from the massive orang utan to the tiny mantis. It also has some of the best avian diversity on the planet. The wide variety of photographic opportunities could make the process picking the correct gear for the trip incredibly complicated for you as a first timer. 

In this blog post, I would like to share some of the best and most useful gear I carried to Borneo for my first visit last October. 

My Camera Setup

As a 16 year old, amateur wildlife photographer, my camera setup was far from perfect. 

Borneo is equal parts a wildlife photographer’s dream and nightmare. With the variety of species ranging from birds in the distance that would require at least 400 mm of reach to capture, to insects, that would be best suited to being photographed with a macro lens, my camera bag was incredibly packed. 

I carried only one body, a Sony A7R5, and three lenses, a 200-600 f5.6-6.3, 24-70 f2.8, 90mm macro f2.8. In the day, I usually carried my camera body with the 200-600 lens on it, as it was a fantastic all rounder. The 200mm end worked fairly well for photographing snakes or larger species if they came close and 600mm was perfect for photographing birds and species in the high up canopies. I also carried my 24-70 in a small daypack, along with my other items, but I didn’t end up using it much. 

At night, I always used my 90mm macro as my main lens. I carried my 200-600 using a strap in case I saw a civet, or any other larger animals. 

Laptop, Hard Drives, Memory Cards & other tech:

After capturing the images, you will need somewhere to view and edit them. Therefore, I always carry the following on the trip: 

Laptop (My personal laptop is the Macbook Air M1 13”) → Even though it’s not the most powerful on the market, this laptop is more than enough for using all the features to edit images on lightroom, and it is incredibly convenient to travel with. 

1x 2TB portable SSD → Any SSD will do, however I use a Samsung T7 SSD. It is light, portable and available in a number of different storage capacities. 

CF Express (or SD) cards → I use the 80 GB Sony CF Express A cards, as they are compatible with my camera, and offer great read and write speeds. 

SD/CF Express Card Reader → I use the Sony one which can read both SD and CF express cards. 

Clothing & Accessories

Without the right equipment, the jungles of Borneo are brutal. Here are some things that I carried on my trip that made all the hikes and boat safaris just that little bit easier and more enjoyable:

Long sleeved tops → If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re going to be walking through the jungles to some degree during your Borneo visit. Long sleeves will protect against scratches from foliage and branches, they will reduce your chances of being stung by plants that brush against you, and they will reduce the amount of leeches that will bite you. 

Leech socks → Leeches can be found everywhere in Borneo. They love the wet, humid conditions found in the jungle and are always looking for a new host to drop or crawl onto. Leech socks prevent the leeches from getting onto your legs, and make it tough for them to climb on your body. While most lodges in borneo sell leech socks, they aren’t usually very good quality. I bought my pair from Wildroar and they were the most effective out of anyone’s in the lodge. One thing to note, is that they are not at all breathable, so after using them, your feet and the inside of the socks will likely be drenched, and it is advisable to turn them inside out and let them dry. 

Waterproof poncho or raincoat → The weather in Borneo is unforgiving. It could be bright and sunny one moment, and thundering and raining the next. It is important to have a good, trustworthy raincoat to keep you and your belongings dry.  

Rain Cover for camera gear → Usually, water and cameras don’t mix well. I have used a Wildroar rain cover and rain and dust cap for around a year now, and I think that it is one of the better options on the market. It comes with a little storage bag as well!

Trekking Poles → If you are travelling with someone older, or are not an experienced hiker, trekking poles are necessary. While I didn’t use the poles much, I travelled on this trip with my grandparents, and I’m not sure they would have been able to cover a lot of the area without their trekking poles. Decathlon has some good, cheap options.