Kinabatangan River Tour: A Journey Through Borneo’s Biodiversity
Floating down a croc infested river in a small, local boat, hunting for elephants should be on everyone’s bucket list….right? You can do such a thing on the Kinabatangan River Tour in the Borneo Jungle.
During your time in Borneo, if you choose to visit the river, an untouched section of wild jungle with orangutans, pygmy elephants and endemic proboscis monkeys will greet you.
This guide will outline how to get to the Kinabatangan River as well as what to expect, and our experience of spending time in this unique habitat that is teetering on the edge of existence.
Contents
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Where Is The Kinabatangan River?
The Kinabatangan River is located in the province of Sabah, a state in Northern Borneo that is described as a natural playground. For the adventurous traveller there is Sepilok, Danum Valley and Mount Kinabalu.
The river stretches 560km, making it Malaysia’s second longest river with the mouth of the river joining the Sulu Sea.
How To Get To The Kinabatangan River?
The easiest way to see the river is through an organised tour, but if you are making your own way to the river we would recommend you head to the village of Sukau. Here you can book different river cruises as well as stay a few nights if you wish.
Grab: The most expensive way would be to book a Grab Car on the app.
Local Taxi: Use a local taxi, your hotel should be able to arrange this for you.
Public Bus: A complicated but budget friendly method is to take the bus from the long-distance terminal in Sandakan towards Laban Datu. Ask your driver to drop you off at the Sukau junction. From here you need to find a car or taxi to take you the rest of the way.
Organised Tour (Recommended): The easiest way and what we recommend is an organised tour or expedition. You can take a day trip to the Kinabatangan River From Sepilok Or Sandakan or choose to stay in one of the Eco Camps on the banks of the river. Your tour or accommodation will arrange transport for you.
If you’re short on time a day trip is great but to get the most out of the river and experience the wild biodiversity we would recommend staying at least 2 nights in the jungle.
1 Day Kinabatangan River Tours
From Sepilok Or Sandakan
If you’re short on time or on a budget, book a one day tour from your accommodation in Sepilok or Sandakan. The tours will include everything including lunch and will take the stress out of planning.
Single or Multi-Day Tours From Sakau
If you’re in Sakau, then a variety of cruises will be available for you to book from morning, afternoon, evening or night boats. In daylight hours you have a good chance of seeing the Borneo Big 5 as well as some of the primates, kingfishers and lizards that reside by the river. If you choose a night tour you’ll be looking for the nocturnal animals such as civets, tarsier and owls.
Don't forget a Head Torch for the Night walks
Multi-Day Tours From An Eco Camp
If you choose to stay in an Eco Camp such as Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp, Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort , Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge or Nature Lodge Kinabatangan your River Cruise will be part of your package.
We chose Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp which is run by KOPEL. KOPEL is a community based co-operative that runs the camp as well as supporting local livelihoods and villages, which is a great reason to book your stay here.
What Will You See On The Kinabatangan River Safari
The main draw to this stretch of river is the Borneo Big 5: Pygmy Elephants, Crocodiles, Orangutans, Rhinoceros Hornbill and Proboscis Monkeys.
There are so many other species you can see including long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques, monitor lizards, eagles, the list is endless and the biodiversity here is unlike anywhere else we have been. The sad reason for this is the encroaching palm oil plantations have pushed the animals into an ever enclosing section of jungle, concentrated around the river.
Bring Binoculars! We had none and borrowed the guides, we would've been lost without them
Our Personal Experience Of The Kinabatangan River
A bucket list dream, one that I never thought would become reality was to truly visit and explore a rainforest's depths and biodiversity. We had made it to the Borneo Jungle.
The boat's engine as our soundtrack and a full moon lighting the way we headed out on our evening night cruise. The evening cruises were our favourite and when we saw the most activity, monkeys squabbled on the bank, hornbills flew overhead and we’d occasionally see a crocodile poke its head above the murky waters.
Its not called a Rainforest for nothing, bring a good Raincoat
About 2 hours in total, and with numb bums we clambered out the boat. We were all awed by the wildlife we had encountered. Although some are hard to spot from the bank (we’d recommend binoculars), we had seen 4 of the Borneo Big 5, so we will have to return to try and see the elusive Pygmy elephant.
Keep Your Electronics Safe On The Boat With A Dry Bag
An experience we’d recommend to all, and one that perhaps further generations won’t get to experience due to the ever rising threats to the jungle. For us it felt like a now or never experience, hopefully we are wrong!
We highly recommend bringing really good Binoculars. This will transform your experience
Kinabatangan River Boat Cruise Common Questions
How Much Is A Kinabatangan River Tour?
A Single River cruise costs RM50-100
When Is The Best Time To Visit The Kinabatangan River?
What To Pack For A Stay In The Borneo Jungle
Binoculars- These are essential for seeing the wildlife up close
Mosquito Spray - Get the best
Cap and Sun Cream
Raincoat - For those tropical downpours
Head Torch - Essential For Night Cruise or if you’re staying on the river
Dry Bag - To keep any electronics safe
Where to Stay On The Kinabatangan River?
We can recommend staying at Tungo Rainforest Eco Camp. We enjoyed the 3D 2N package which came with a daily Kinabatangan river cruise.
Best Places To Stay In Sepilok
Sepilok town sits on the edge of the Sabah Jungle Reserve and acts as a gateway to the Rainforest; it is also home to some of Borneo’s Conservation efforts to protect the exceptional wildlife and educate us on the threats to their habitat. Sepilok is a small town with only a handful of accommodation options meaning we advise you to book in advance.
We use Booking.com and HostelWorld for all of our stays around the world!
Below is a list of top accommodations we recommend for Sepilok, Sabah:
Top Things To Do In Sepilok
Top Pick: Rainforest Discovery Centre
A bridge between human civilisation and the dense Bornean jungle, home to some of the last wild orangutans left on planet earth, the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) Sepilok is a true gem and a must visit on your trip to Borneo.
Best Experience: Orangutan Sanctuary
On the edge of the Sabah rainforest reserve in Sepilok, you can find the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. In our eyes, an ethical centre that helps reintroduce Orangutans to the jungle.
Most Educational : Sun Bear Conservation Centre
In the middle of the Bornean Jungle lies a Conservation Centre for the world's smallest and cutest bear, the Sun Bear.
Off The Beaten Track: Head to Tungog Eco Camp
Fancy an adventure? Head deep into the jungle and find on the banks of the Kinabatangan River the Tungog Eco Camp. Spend your days on the river looking for wildlife such as the proboscis monkey, trekking in the jungle and uncovering hidden caves.
Essential Travel Items You Need For Borneo
 | Jungle Formula - High Deet Mosquito Spray The weak sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high deet percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes. |
 | Lifestraw - Filtered Water Bottle Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind, plus you’re helping the environment! |
 | Universal Travel Adaptor With Multiple USBs Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country... game changer. |
 | Binoculars To Spot The Wonderful Wildlife You're most likely heading to Borneo for the wildlife. Don't miss out on seeing these amazing animals up close and pack a good pair of binoculars! |
Top Tips For Travelling Borneo
If you’re visiting Borneo, here's our top tips:
Try Nasi Lemak - The national dish of Malaysia, Nasi Lemak is fresh grated coconut and steamed rice served on banana leaves.
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… Also don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags.
Don't skip the Kinabatangan River - It may be pricey but this is where you're going to see most of Borneo's wildlife, including wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants.
Dress for the jungle - Pack long sleeve, lightweight materials that cover you from mosquitos but will also keep you cool. Don't forget your Raincoat as tropical downpours are frequent.
Final Thoughts on The Kinabatangan River Boat Cruise
A once in a lifetime wildlife cruise where you visit an untouched section of wild jungle with orangutans, pygmy elephants and endemic proboscis monkeys. Whether you have time to spend a few nights exploring the river or can only manage a day trip, the Kinabatangan River is not to be missed off your Borneo itinerary.
A corridor of wildlife, pushed together by palm oil plantations and human development can be found on the banks of the river. A sad story that highlights the threats to the endemic species that live in the Borneo Jungle and the fact that the wildlife we saw may be gravely endangered. Seeing wild orangutans takes your breath away, but for us it felt like a now or never experience, with the high possibility that in the future these animals won’t have anywhere to live, hopefully we are wrong!
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Borneo adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
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