Borneo's best wildlife destinations
Coming face to face with Malaysian Borneo's iconic species such as the Bornean orang-utan, proboscis monkey, Bornean pymgy elephant or any one of a the island's hundreds of species of birds, can often be the highlight, or even main focus, of a trip to Borneo.
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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 wild encounters with larger mammals such as orangutans, pygmy elephants, wild cats, proboscis monkeys, gibbons & langurs 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. For a 3D2N tour in Danum Valley, Tabin Wildlife Reserve or Deramakot Forest Reserve, expect to pay between RM2500 - RM3500 per person (approx USD600 to USD750pp) or double that for the luxurious Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Danum Valley.
The Kinabatangan river
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Recommended length of stay: 3D2N
Budget range: $ - $$$ depending on lodge Main activities: Wildlife river cruises, night walks, bird watching Fitness level: Easy Main access point: Sandakan |
Why visit The Kinabatangan river?
Widely considered one of the best places to see wildlife in South East Asia. In addition to numerous sightings of proboscis monkeys, large herds of up to 100 pygmy elephants roam freely along the river, there are regular orang-utan sightings, encounters with salt water crocodiles of up to 4meters, large packs of long tail and pig tailed macaques and birds galore! With numerous accommodation options at the Kinabatangan river, it is suitable for most budgets and it's location between Sandakan and Lahad Datu makes it easy to combine with a visit to Sepilok, Turtle island or one of the other wildlife reserves on Sabah's East coast.
Accommodation
There are many options to choose from including basic homestays, jungle camps, modest lodges and high-end resorts but our pick of the bunch is Hornbill Lodge. Owned and operated by River Junkie, Hornbill Lodge offers comfortable private rooms as well a limited number of dorm beds in a quiet corner of Bilit village. Built right on the banks of the river and surrounded by rainforest, every room comes with a modern ensuite bathroom, airconditioning, flexible bedding arrangements and private river facing balcony. It is the only lodge at the Kinabatangan river that has year-round access to flood-free jungle trails as well as an in-house wildlife observation tower.
Getting here
The starting point for Kinabatangan river safaris is Sandakan city which can be reached by plane from Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu or you can travel overland from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan (approx 6 hours). You can also travel overland from Lahad Datu, Semporna or Tawau to most Kinabatangan river lodges.
Tabin Wildlife Reserve
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Recommended length of stay: 3D2N or 4D3N
Budget range: $$ Main activities: 4x4 safaris, jungle walks, bird watching Fitness level: Easy to medium Main access point: Lahad Datu |
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.
Accommodation
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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Recommended 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.
Accommodation
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. If you are hoping to get a birdseye view of the rainforest for the Danum Valley canopy walk then you will need to stay at Borneo Rainforest Lodge as it is only accessible to their in-house guests. Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge, on the outskirts of Danum Valley, ceased operating in 2020.
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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Recommended 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 town |
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! There are a few nature trails around the accommodation to give you a chance to stretch your legs between drives but the 4x4 safaris are when most wildlife sightings occur. If you have always imagined trekking through primary rainforest in search of animals then Danum Valley might be a better option.
Accommodation
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 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.
Special interest & custom wildlife itineraries
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Whether you are an avid birder-watcher, travelling with small children, looking to get off the beaten path or would simply prefer to create your own itinerary, we are here to help. Every year we plan hundreds of custom itineraries for visitors to Borneo and have some great tips on how best to maximise your time and get the most out of your budget. Contact our team today to start planning your Borneo adventure!
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