Borneo's best wildlife destinations
Rarely do visitors come to Sabah and leave without catching a glimpse of at least one of Malaysian Borneo's iconic species such as the Bornean orang-utan, proboscis monkey, Bornean pymgy elephant or any one of a the islands hundreds of species of birds. How and where such encounters occur will be determined by how long you are here for, your interests, how far you are willing to travel and what kind of budget you are travelling on.
For a "quick dip" into Borneo's wildlife, head to the wildlife sanctuaries in Sepilok and spend a day or 2 exploring the orangutan sanctuary, sunbear sanctuary and Rainforest Discovery Centre either independently or via a guided tour. This is the cheapest and easiest way to come face to face with an orang-utan but may not fully satisfy those looking for a truly wild experience.
Malaysian Borneo's four most reliable places for encounters with larger mammals such as orangutans, pygmy elephants, wild cats, proboscis monkeys, gibbons & langurs in the wild are the Kinabatangan river, Danum Valley Conservation Area, Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Deramakot Forest Reserve. If you are travelling on a tight budget then the choice is simple, the Kinabatangan river is the only one of the four that offers budget friendly accommodation and tours, to visit any of the other areas, expect to pay between USD650 to USD750 per person for a fully inclusive 3D2N tour or around double that for the luxury of Borneo Rainforest Lodge.
The Kinabatangan river
Quick facts
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Recommended length of stay: 3D2N
Budget range: $ - $$$ depending on lodge Main activities: Wildlife river cruises, night walks, bird watching Fitness level: Easy Main access point: Sandakan Frequent sightings of: Proboscis monkeys, langurs, orang-utans, pymgy elephants, saltwater crocodiles, long-tail & pig-tail macaques, flying fox, slow loris, hornbills & numerous bird species Occasional sightings of: Wild cats, gibbons, tarsiers |
Why visit The Kinabatangan river?
Widely considered one of the best places to see wildlife in South East Asia. In addition to numerous sightings of proboscis monkeys, large herds of up to 100 pygmy elephants roam freely along the river, there are regular orang-utan sightings, encounters with salt water crocodiles of up to 4meters, large packs of long tail and pig tailed macaques and birds galore! There are numerous accommodation options at the Kinabatangan river making it suitable for most budgets and it's location between Sandakan and Lahad Datu makes it easy to combine with a visit to Sepilok, Turtle island or one of the other wildlife reserves on Sabah's East coast.
Where to stay?
There are many options to choose from ranging from basic homestays to high-end resorts but our pick of the bunch is Hornbill Lodge. Owned and operated by River Junkie, Hornbill Lodge offers comfortable private rooms as well a limited number of dorm beds in a quiet corner of Bilit village. Built right on the banks of the river and surrounded by rainforest, every room comes with a modern ensuite bathroom, airconditioning, flexible bedding arrangements and private river facing balcony.
Getting here
To reach the Kinabatangan river, you can first fly from either Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan airport (SDK) then your lodge will transfer you from Sandakan to the river and this takes approximately 2 hours. Depending on timing, you may need or want to spend 1 or more nights in Sandakan or Sepilok first before setting off on your Kinabatangan river tour.
Tabin Wildlife Reserve
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Tabin Wildlife ReserveRecommended length of stay: 3D2N or 4D3N
Budget range: $$ Main activities: 4x4 safaris, jungle walks, bird watching Fitness level: Easy to medium Main access point: Lahad Datu Frequent sightings of: Gibbons, orang-utans, civets, leopard cats, long-tail & pig-tail macaques, flying fox, slow loris, hornbills & numerous bird species Occasional sightings of: Pygmy elephants, clouded leopards, tarsiers |
Why visit Tabin Wildlife Reserve?
This 1205-sq-km reserve consists mainly of lowland dipterocarp forest with mangrove areas – most of it is technically secondary forest, but that doesn't seem to trouble the wildlife or visitors. The stars here are the primates – gibbons, red-leaf monkeys and macaques, plus a lot of orangutans. Rescued orangutans from Sepilok are released here, so you've got a pretty good chance of spotting some. Birdlife is particularly abundant with a staggering 260 species recorded here including all eight of the hornbill family, from rhino through to helmeted. Tabin has a number of mud volcanoes and salt-licks where animals and birds gather for their precious minerals, and you can watch them, cameras poised, from viewing towers. Tours range in length from 2D1N to 4D3N and special interest trips can be arranged.
Where to stay?
There is only one accommodation in Tabin Wildlife Reserve called Tabin Wildlife Resort and all guests joining our Tabin Wildlife Safaris will stay here. The resort offers comfortable mid-range accommodation with private ensuite rooms, airconditioning, 24 hour electricity and buffet style meals.
Getting here
The entry point into Tabin is from the town of Lahad Datu and you can reach Lahad Datu via a very short flight from Kota Kinabalu with MAS Wings or overland from Tawau, Semporna, Sandakan or the Kinabatangan river (2 to 3.5 hours drive). Once you leave the town behind, you'll travel around 1.5 hours down a bumpy track to reach the accommodation.
Danum Valley
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Quick factsRecommended length of stay: 3D2N or 4D3N
Budget range: $$ - $$$ Main activities: Jungle walks, 4x4 safaris, bird watching, herping Fitness level: Medium Main access point: Lahad Datu |
Why visit Danum Valley?
Flowing like a series of dark, mossy ripples over 440 sq km of central Sabah, the Danum Valley Conservation Area is like something out a children’s story book: the sheer spectrum of furry and scaled friends you find within its dipterocarp forest is mind-blowing: orangutan, tarsier, sambar deer, bearded pig, flying squirrel, king cobra, proboscis monkey, red-leaf monkey, gibbon and pygmy elephant (to name a few). The flora is just as impressive as the fauna with the world's first tree over 100m tall discovered in Danum Valley in 2019.
Where to stay?
There are only 2 accommodations in Danum Valley and you can choose between jungle luxury at Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Sabah's premier jungle accommodation, or basic private rooms and dorms at Danum Valley Field Centre. Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge, on the outskirts of Danum Valley, ceased operating in 2020 but you may still sometimes find reference to it on various older websites.
Getting here
The entry point to Danum Valley is from the town of Lahad Datu and you can reach Lahad Datu via a very short flight from Kota Kinabalu with MAS Wings or overland from Tawau, Semporna, Sandakan or the Kinabatangan river (2 to 3.5 hours drive). Once you leave the town behind, you'll travel around 2 to 2.5 hours down a bumpy gravel track to reach your accommodation.
Deramakot Forest Reserve
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Quick factsRecommended length of stay: 3D2N or 4D3N
Budget range: $$ - $$$ Main activities: 4x4 safaris at dawn, dusk & night, short walks Fitness level: Easy to Medium Main access point: Telupid from Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu |
Why visit Deramakot Forest Reserve?
The main draw for visitors to Deramakot is the possibility of spotting the elusive Sunda clouded leopard but orangutans, gibbons, pygmy elephants, leopard cats, civets and more can be found in this huge forest reserve. Tours to Deramakot start from 3D2N and include 7 hours of wildlife safaris (drives) per full day with dusk, dawn & night being the favoured times for wildlife spotting!
Where to stay?
Sabah Forestry Department provides simple chalets with ensuite bathrooms and electricity from 6am till 12pm and 6pm till midnight (subject to change), when the electricity is on, there is airconditioning available in the rooms. All our guests visiting Deramakot will stay in the forest reserve accommodation with simple local-style meals are provided.
Getting here
Access into Deramakot is via the small town of Telupid which can be reached in just over 4 hours from Kota Kinabalu or 2.5 hours from Sandakan. Once you leave from Telupid it is a 2 hour drive down bumpy gravel roads to reach your accommodation.
what wildlife can i see around Kota kinabalu?
If you only plan to spend time in and around Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's capital city, then your best option to see wildlife will be to join an afternoon river cruise at the Klias wetlands, located around 2.5 hours drive from the city. Tours include a 2 hour boat cruise through the wetlands in search of proboscis monkeys, a variety of bird life and the occasional crocodile followed by dinner and an enchanting display of fireflies after dark. If it is orangutans you are searching for then be sure to include a visit to Sabah's East coast in your plans as it is not possible to see them in and around Kota Kinabalu other than at Lok Kawi zoo which we don't recommend.
Nature & bird lovers could also consider visiting the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands Centre. Located just a short taxi ride or hot sweaty walk from Kota Kinabalu city centre, the Wetlands Centre offers a boardwalk through the mangroves and a small nature interpretation centre to help you learn more about mangrove habitats.
Nature & bird lovers could also consider visiting the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands Centre. Located just a short taxi ride or hot sweaty walk from Kota Kinabalu city centre, the Wetlands Centre offers a boardwalk through the mangroves and a small nature interpretation centre to help you learn more about mangrove habitats.
Sandakan is the main starting point for river cruise safaris in the Kinabatangan floodplains as well as tours to Turtle Island and Lankayan. The city offers an intriguing glimpse into Borneo's history - take a walk on the Sandakan Heritage Trail, explore its historic landmarks like Agnes Keith House, visit the Sandakan War Memorial, or embark on a wildlife adventure to witness orangutans at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Whilst it is possible to fly to Sandakan and leave on a wildlife tour on the same day, we recommend allowing 1 or 2 nights around Sepilok & Sandakan first before heading off to your next destination.
Orangutans at Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre
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Sepilok- A visit to the world's most famous place to see orangutans in their natural habitat just became even more compelling thanks to the addition of an outdoor nursery for youngsters in the same complex, and the nearby, excellent Sun Bear Conservation Centre. For those who have time, the nearby Rainforest Discovery centre is also well worth a visit and is home to Malaysia's longest canopy walk.
Orangutan feeding times: 10am & 3pm (closed at lunchtime) Sun Bear Conservation Centre: Open daily 9am till 3.30pm |
Light shaft in Gomantong cave
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Gomantong caves- Imagine a massive crack in a mountain, a cathedral-like inner chamber shot with splinters of sunlight and swarming with cockroaches and scorpions, and you have the Gomantong Caves. Yes, the smell is disgusting thanks to the ubiquity of bat guano, but these caves are magnificent. The forested area around the caves conceal plenty of wildlife – travellers are regularly able to spot orangutans here. Best visited in combination with a Kinabatangan river tour or on your way to or from the river.
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Hatchling at Selingan
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Turtle island parks- Just off the coast of Sandakan you have Turtle island, officially called Selingan island. With sightings of nesting turtles and turtle hatchlings almost guaranteed year round, Selingan Island is a hit with visitors of all ages. An overnight stay is required to see baby turtles hatching and female turtles nesting, the best time to visit is April to October, the sea can be rougher from November to January but whenever you go, you are sure to have a magical experience!
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If you are coming from the Kinabatangan river, Danum Valley or Tabin Wildlife Reserve then it is easier to travel overland to Semporna than fly and we can assist you with transfers if needed. We also offer complete Reefs & Rainforests adventures to help you combine time in the jungle and time underwater, have a look at our 10D9N Reefs & Rainforests itinerary for inspiration!
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