The Kinabatangan river is one of the best and most easily accessible places to see wildlife in Asia! The population density of animals on this stretch of the Kinabatangan river is second to none, including so much of Sabah’s most sought after wildlife: Orang-utans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, langurs, wild cats, crocodiles, amazing birdlife and much much more! We recommend you take a 3 day 2 night Kinabatangan river trip as this will give you the best chances of seeing as much wildlife as possible. Over the course of 3 days you will be surrounded by nature, join sunrise & sunset river cruises, trek through the jungle and also get the chance to experience the jungle at night, on night walks. Experienced, eagle-eyed nature guides will be with you throughout to help you spot the critters you may otherwise miss! With varied trip options and accommodation ranging from dorms and private A/C rooms to private villas, our Kinabatangan river trips can accommodate just about all budgets and comfort levels.
Close to the city of Sandakan, nearby the small town of Sepilok, you will find Sandakan’s biggest (and Sabah’s 2nd biggest) tourist attraction; Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (SORC). The rehabilitation center was founded 1964 with the aim of returning orphaned, injured or displaced orangutans into the wild. The ground where the rehabilitation centre is located is part of the 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre falls under the administration of the Wildlife Department of Sabah. Have you always dreamt about a close encounter with an orangutan? At this centre you’re able to see the orangutans in their rehabilitation programs. At Sepilok the orangutans are divided in groups. The most independent ones are released in the wild after a certain period of time; you can watch them during feeding-time. Today up to 75 orangutans are roaming freely in the reserve.
The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) is a sun bear rescue and rehabilitation facility being developed in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Malayan sun bears are the smallest bears in the world and are only found in Southeast Asia. These bears continue to be threatened by forest degradation, illegal hunting for bear parts and poaching to obtain young cubs for pet trade. The results of these threats has caused young sun bears found to be living in unnatural captive conditions in Sabah, with no access to outdoor areas. There are currently 44 rescued ex-captive sun bears residing at the BSBCC. The facility includes large forest enclosures to provide a natural environment suited to the needs and welfare of the sun bears and facilitate their rehabilitation back into the wild. In 2014, the Centre opens to the public. Visitors can learn about sun bears and observe them in their natural habitat.
Situated 23 kilometres from Sandakan Town and not too far from the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre, the RDC’s main highlights are its 363m long canopy walkway, exhibition halls, the Plant Discovery Garden, the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, environmental education programmes and a small lake with a suspension bridge. The RDC also gives visitors a chance to get intimate with nature through its Nature Experience programme which includes a guided walk to the Plant Discovery Garden, Rainforest Walk and indoor/outdoor activities. The night walk is also highly recommended to appreciate most of the rainforest scene. Most visitors would enjoy the anticipation to watch the Red Giant flying squirrel coming out around dusk time. In 2009, RDC is internationally recognized as Important Bird Area (IBA) and will often be the host venue for the annual Borneo Bird Festival which attracts the participation of birding enthusiasts from all over the world. If you are lucky, you can spot the endemic Bornean Bristlehead, Blue Headed Pitta, Wallace’s Hawk -Eagle, Great Argus, Blue-banded Kingfisher and more. The Rainforest Discovery Centre is open daily with a minimal fee for visitors.
There are two cave complexes – Simud Hitam (Black Cave) soaring up to 90 metres high and the more accessible of the two, and Simud Putih (White Cave), where the more valuable nests are found. You will need to make prior arrangements for exploring the more challenging Simud Putih which calls for more serious caving. Simud Hitam opens its door to the public and is a five-minute walk from the registration centre. A well-maintained boardwalk gives you easy access to do some exploring or watch the skilled harvesters at work.
The resident creatures of the caves include swiftlets (from which the nests are collected) and bats among others. On the cave floor, it is infested with bat guano, creepy crawlies and dare we say uncountable cockroaches. So wearing a covered shoes or boots is highly recommended for this visit. Outside, other birds such as serpent eagles, bat hawks and kingfishers can be seen. You might even spot wild orangutans!
The Kinabatangan River is the longest river in Sabah, flowing 560km to the Sulu Sea on the east coast. The lower 70 – 100km of the river form the Kinabatangan Floodplain. In 2005, 26,000 hectares of the Lower Kinabatangan were designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary – known today as the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary protects the area immediately alongside the river – a ‘protected corridor’. This makes it highly likely during river cruises and short treks in the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, you will see a wide range of wildlife, including elephants (if they are in the area), orangutans, proboscis monkeys, macaques, gibbons and lots more. The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to 200 species of birds, including hornbills, kites, crested serpent eagles, egrets, blue-banded and stork-billed kingfishers and oriental darters. The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is one of only two areas in the world inhabited by ten species of primate, four of which are endemic to Borneo. The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is also one of two places in the world where four medium-sized colonies inhabit the same place: namely, proboscis monkey, silvered langur, maroon langur, and Hose’s or grey langur. The Sanctuary truly is a special place for a wildlife adventure in Sabah.
Discover the World, one Full Adventure at a Time!
Singgahmata 1, Kampung Bilit, 90000 Kinabatangan, Sabah
info@borneojungleadventure.com