Supu Caves Kinabatangan, Sabah Borneo: A Bat Cave With A Rich History
Upstream of the Kinabatangan River, hidden within the depth of the Borneo Jungle, you can find the Supu Caves. The caves are made up of 11 limestone caverns in the Pin-Supu Forest Reserve, and are now important archaeological sites.
During our stay at the Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp we opted to go on the Supu Trip which is a morning spent hiking and exploring the Supu Limestone Kaste Forests and Caves. A less visited area of the jungle with an increased biodiversity and increased mosquitos, we share our experiences of visiting these unique cave systems in the heart of Borneo.
Contents
Where Are The Supu Caves?
In Borneo, Saba, located just off the Kinabatangan in the Pin-Sulu Reserve you can find the Supu Caves.
How To Get To The Supu Caves?
You will need to book a tour to visit the Supu Caves. We booked our Kinabatangan River Cave and Supu Cave adventure with Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp (TREC).
The Supu Caves, Sabah
Our day started with an hour cruise upstream towards the Limestone Kaste Forests, we stopped off for a breakfast of noodles at the Riverside Cafe then continued along the river. On the way we were lucky enough to see a white headed sea eagle.
When we arrived at the jetty we clambered up a rickety set of stairs to the rangers camp, the rangers are here to protect the swiftlet nests inside the caves. Before we had even had our briefing about the day we were swarmed by a cloud of mosquitoes. Our guide came to the rescue and sprayed us with Off! spray which we recommended as ours did not work.
We headed on the hottest hike of our lives uphill towards the caves. All four of us, the ranger, our guide and Mike and I were dripping in sweat as we kept climbing and climbing. We couldn’t stop without being attacked by mosquitoes so we kept climbing to the sounds of the rainforest. We heard a ….. which our guide described as a peacock of the rainforest.
We reached the first cave where we had to use a rope to climb up and into the entrance. A slippery, technical climb down into the cave led us to be standing in inches of bat guano. As we looked up thousands of bats flitted around above us and when our guide whistled, they flapped and scattered all around the cave.
The second cave showed us the tiny swiftlet nest which are so important to the species existence and why the rangers spend 24/7 at a basic camp protecting this important site. The nests are a delicacy in Chinese cooking and are now protected in Malaysia.
The final and largest cave showed us the ancient coffins which have laid here for 500-900 years. We also got to enter the ‘bat cave’ where we could view the bats up close.
Bats
It is estimated around 11 species of bat live inside the Supu caves. Although we only observed one were by no means ecologists, if you’re a keen bat enthusiast, these caves have been used by groups in the past to survey a large range of bats, including the tiny bumblebee bat.
History of The Supu Caves
500-900 years ago, the Supu caves were used as a burial site. The traditional burial methods involved carving tribe coffins with ornate animals, each representing a different social status. A head-hunter alpha male would have the most ornate coffin which may involve a bison head with horns and snakes carved along the top.
Inside, we also observed coffins buried high within the cave, nestled between the rocks. We were told there’s around 68 coffins within the caves plus many artifacts that were originally buried with the deceased some of which have ended up in the Kota Kinabalu Museum.
Yellow Seraya and The Sepilok Giant
After that cave exploration, we headed back to the rangers camp for lunch. On the way we stopped to observe a Yellow Seraya, which had a huge buttress root which made for an epic photo. Another famous Yellow Seraya can be found at the Rainforest Discovery Centre and is nicknamed The Sepilok Giant.
KOPEL And The Supu Caves
We completed our Supu Cave adventure with KOPEL, which is a co-operative started to support the local livelihoods of people through conservation and ecotourism. One reason we booked the tour was due to the low environmental impact, plus funds from programs such as TREC go toward habitat restoration. From all the staff we met during our stay it was clear to see the passion they had for the environment and conserving the natural beauty of their home.
In 2010 KOPEL started to manage and restore the swiftlet population as well as set up the rangers camp for protection of the caves.
Explore more about the community based work of KOPEL Here.
Supu Caves Common Questions
How Much Is The Supu Cave Tour?
The cave tour is added to your TREC Kinabatangan River stay package. Below is the cost for the TREC accommodation, The 2N 3D Tour has the option to add Supu Cave for an additional price.
TREC Jungle Stays and Costs
2D1N - RM359.50
3D2N - RM643.00
3D2N (with Supu) - RM722.50
4D3N - RM932.70
How To Book A Supu Cave Tour?
You can book directly through TREC or KOPEL. We sent an email to reserve our stay.
Should I add The Supu Caves To My Kinabatangan Trip?
In our option yes, we loved seeing the stark contrast between the lush jungle and river compared to the dark, dingy cave. It also gave us an opportunity to see more of what the jungle has to offer and connect with local guides trying to protect and conserve the forest. Just seeing the sheer amount of bats made the hot, sticky hike worth it… but be prepared for mosquitos, and lots of them.
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
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 Supu Caves
An interesting contrast to the lush rainforest, the Supu Cave Trek actually became a highlight of our stay on the Kinabatangan River. The abundance of bats inside the cave was unlike anything either of us had seen before, plus seeing these elusive mammals up close felt like a surreal experience. Learning about the history of the cave and the love the rangers had for the area we left Supu Cave feeling glad we had added it to our Borneo itinerary.
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
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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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