Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp: The Best Borneo Jungle Accommodation
If you’ve dreamt of sleeping surrounded by a jungle soundtrack and spending your days looking for unique and wonderful wildlife, Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp in Borneo needs to be added to your travel bucket list.
Nestled in between the Tungog Lake and the banks of the Kinabatangan River, you can find this Kinabatangan Jungle Camp which offers an insight into the magic of the Borneo Jungle. You will spend your nights in one of the ten ‘camp platforms’ and your days exploring the nature around you, the perfect conservation and ecotourism location in Borneo, Malaysia.
Below we share our authentic Borneo experience during our 2 Nights 3 Day stay at KOPEL’s Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp.
Contents
Top Tip: Make Sure You Have The Strongest Mosquito Spray! Learn From Our Mistake.
Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp Location
Tungog 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 the Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and Mount Kinabalu.
The Camp can be found in-between the Kinabatangan River and Tungog Lake, a great location nestled in the Borneo Jungle. Before you head into camp you need to register at the KOPEL office, KOPEL is a community based co-operative that runs the camp as well as supporting local livelihoods and villages, another great reason to book your stay here.
How To Get To Tungog Eco Camp?
You need to make your way to the KOPEL office, there are a few ways you can do this. The first, and most simple is to book a van through TREC, we booked our van from Sepilok to the office via email.
The second and more budget friendly option is to catch the bus heading to Semporna, you will need to ask to get off at the Kinabatangan River Bridge, from here you can walk to the office.
Introduction To The Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp (TREC)
Once you arrive at the check in centre, there’s a few things you want to make sure you have. The first is a good mosquito spray we recommend OFF, this seemed to work well against the monstrous mosquitos, the second is a Head Torch and the final essential is Leech Socks, all of these items can be bought in the small shop before you get taken to the camp. TREC also rents wellies for RM10 which we recommend getting. Now you’re prepared, let us take you through what to expect from Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp.
As you clamber down into a small, unsteady boat your mind drifts to the many crocodiles that you hoped to see and now you’re slightly unsure! The nerves quickly go away as the wind hits your face and you're racing down the Kinabatangan River. A quick 10 minute cruise will take you to the camp, keep your eyes peeled as we saw a variety of wildlife on this short trip including a hornbill and saltwater crocodile.
Just as you settle into your camp platform you’re called for your first activity, an evening cruise...
Kinabatangan River Cruise - Sunset and Sunrise
During your time at TREC you will go on a Kinabatangan River Cruise, the 560km river is home to ten species of primate, over 250 birds and hundreds of insects and plants.
As the sun is setting and you're cruising down the river, look out for Borneo’s diverse wildlife. You can spot the endemic proboscis monkey, pygmy elephants, 8 different species of hornbill, orangutans and many more species.
The river cruise was the best activity we did during our time at TREC closely followed by Supu Cave.
TREC Night Jungle Walk
After enjoying a dinner of fried noodles at 9pm the members of the camp gather each evening for the Jungle Night Walk.
The walk is hot, humid and sweaty and don’t forget your leech socks, especially if it has rained. You’ll spend an hour walking through the pitch black, scanning your head torch up and down in hope to spot a nocturnal gem. Some of the wildlife you might see includes slow lorises, tarsier, snakes, frogs and insects.
Forest Conservation Program - Tree Planting
During your time at camp you will have the chance to take part in the Forest Conservation Program. This involves planting a tree in a nursery forest that KOPEL has organised.
Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp Trek
An unreal moment for us occurred during our camp trek. We had just arrived at camp and went on a 30 minute walk down into the jungle, around 50 meters In we were met by a large male wild orangutan sat low in a tree. The feeling of seeing the endangered primate up close is something we can’t describe but hope you get to experience.
Supu Cave Adventure At Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp
An optional excursion that we feel is worth the extra money is Supu Cave. We were driven to a remote location 40 minutes upstream to a small local camp where rangers stay in basic conditions 24/7 to protect the cave.
Supu Cave, home to thousands of bats, swiftlet nests and stunning limestone formations is also an important archaeological site. The caves are home to ancient coffins signalling the cave once used to be a burial site; a few coffins remain which can be seen on the tour. The hike up to the cave is hot, strenuous and infested with mosquitoes but the cave itself made the trek worth it. Inside you can see some amazing rock formations and your guide will also point out the protected swiftlet nets.
Bats are everywhere in the caves and they have a thick layer of guano on the floor, so be prepared for your shoes to be covered. You will get a chance to see the bats up close but for me it was just as amazing seeing hundreds flock around the cave, the sound, sight and smell is immense giving a sensory overload.
KOPEL 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.
Explore more about the community based work of KOPEL Here.
Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp Common Questions
TREC Jungle Stays and Costs
2D1N - RM359.50
3D2N - RM643.00
3D2N (with Supu) - RM722.50
4D3N - RM932.70
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.
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
What Is The Food Like At TREC?
During your stay all three meals will be provided. We had a mixture of rice, noodles, different meats and lots of veggies. Everything is locally cooked and delicious plus if you have an allergy they are super accommodating and will prepare you a separate meal if needed.
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 Tungog Rainforest Camp
A truly unique experience that has shown us the amazing world of ecotourism and passion for sustainably held by KOPEL in Borneo. To be able to experience wild orangutans up close and the endemic proboscis monkey from a river cruise was unbelievable and something we feel should be on everyone's bucket list.
Falling asleep to the sound of monkeys, surrounded by dense rainforest made our visit to Borneo unforgettable. We would also recommend Supu Cave, although an intensely hot hike the cave was remarkable and the bats incredible.
If you head to Tungo Rainforest Eco Camp we’d love to hear from you and hopefully one day we will return to the Borneo Jungle where we hope the wildlife will continue to thrive despite threats and pressure of the modern world.
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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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