3 Days Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Kinabatangan Wildlife

3 days should be the minimum amount of time you should spend on a Kinabatangan wildlife spotting program. It provides time to spot animals that come out in the wee hours and in the night with some back up time in case of poor weather plus you get to relax in a comfortable award winning lodge.

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary spreads across 26,000ha (260 sq km) along the lower Kinabatangan river in Sabah. The lower part of the river plain floods easily creating five distinct habitats to support the enormous bio-diversity of wildlife. Likened to a 'mini Amazon', it is one of two known places in the world to be inhabited by ten species of primates, four of which are endemic to Borneo. It is also one of two places in the world where four colonies of primates inhabit the same place, namely the proboscis monkey, silvered langur, maroon langur and or grey langur. It has the highest concentration of proboscis monkeys and orangutans in Malaysia. 

During the right season (around June) you can spot herds of Borneon pygmy elephants, a distinct and endemic species of the Asian elephant. Other common animals spotted include crocodiles, mangrove snakes, macaques and many more.

Birdlife
Among the 200 species out of 244 found in the region are 8 species of hornbill, oriental darter (wiped out in the Peninsular) and the critically endangered Storm’s stork among many others.

The wildlife cruises are not to be missed as this is the best place to catch Borneo's unique wildlife from the comfort of a boat. 

We end the tour back in Sandakan, where you get to relive some of its colourful history through a city tour.

What do I get to do?

River cruise spotting for wildlife, Sandakan city tour.

Adventure rating and remarks

1 - Your eyes will be the most used muscle as you sit back and scout for wildlife. You should be agile enough to get in and out of boats. There is also a light rainforest walk for 45 minutes over even terrain to spot more wildlife.

Rates (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM) and per person)

Valid until 2016

Minimum 2 Adults

By Boat, RM1800 per person
By Land, RM1600 per person
(SPECIAL RM1400 per person Travel 01 May – 30 June, 01 Nov – 15 Dec 2016)

Single Traveller, Add RM380 to above rates.

Tour is Sit In Coach/ Combined basis. Private tours can be arranged at additional charge.
July - August Peak Season Surcharge RM160 per person

Itinerary SB/SDKBB7D

DAY 01 (L,D)

On arrival at Sandakan Airport, transfer to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre for video show. Walk ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the orang utans at 1000hrs.
Continue to Sandakan jetty for 2½ hours boat journey OR 2 hours overland journey to the multi awards winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge along Sabah's longest river, Kinabatangan with opportunity to view birds and wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. Late afternoon take a river cruise using electric motor in search of some of the 10 primate species. Sukau is home to Borneo pygmy elephants, orang utans, proboscis monkeys and all eight species of hornbill in Borneo.
Return for solar heated hot shower, candle light dinner overlooking the riverbank and slide show conducted by naturalist guide. Overnight Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge

DAY 02 (B,L,D)

Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills.
A 0600hrs morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap oxbow lake to view more birds and wildlife.
After breakfast, proceed for an educational tour on the Hornbill Boardwalk located behind the lodge with our in-house naturalist. You have the option to visit our 65 acres Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Program (KWICORP) site to learn about reforestation of degraded riverine reserve.
In the afternoon, we proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife.
Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge

DAY 03 (B)

After breakfast, return to Sandakan by boat journey.
Have lunch before we proceed to Rainforest Discovery Centre. Explore the botanical garden, home to various species of flora and take a bird view of the centre from the canopy walk and hanging bridge.
Transfer to airport for the late afternoon flight back to Kota Kinabalu.

End of tour

Accommodation

Sukau Rainforest Lodge is a highly rated and award winning environmentally friendly rainforest eco-lodge (2N). A 20 room, multi international award winning resort. It is built on stilts for cool ventilation with a separate lounge, restaurant, open sun-deck, river jetty, an enclosed garden and two tree platforms. Hot water supplied by solar heaters. All rooms are twin bedded, with ceiling fan, mosquito netting, attached bathroom, hot shower and toilets. River tours are conducted by eco-friendly boats powered by electric motors.

We think this is Malaysia's most green and environmentally friendly lodge with a vision streaks ahead of its peers. Support this!

What does it include?

Tours and transfers, accommodation and meals specified, entrance fees and English speaking guide.

What does it exclude?

Excludes airfare Kota Kinabalu/Sandakan/Kota Kinabalu and other items not mentioned.

Best time to visit

This trip is available all year round.

Getting here

Sandakan is reachable by air via Kota Kinabalu and Kuching Airport. There are also daily flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) via Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia. We recommend taking the first internal flight from KK to Sandakan in time for the orangutan feeding at 10:00.

Joining and finishing point

This tour begins and ends in Sandakan. The other must see attractions around Sandakan are the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and a leisurely island stay at Lankayan Island Dive Resort either at the beginning or end of this tour. To visit the Sepilok Orangutans without an additional overnight stay, you must arrive in Sandakan via the first MAS flight from Kota Kinabalu (KK) to catch the 10am feeding time. Else, we recommend a one night stay at Sepilok Nature Resort.  

Responsible Tourism practices

The Sukau Rainforest Lodge is built on stilts using different Borneo hardwood species and is completely self sufficient in water and power supply, utilising rainwater and solar energy. Electric motors are used for river safari tours to wildlife areas to minimise air and noise pollution and reduce stress to the wildlife. Every room has an attached bathroom with solar hot water shower. Energy is reused for lighting such as cooking oil.

Multi-award winner Sukau Rainforest Lodge was named British Airways “Tourism for Tomorrow Award 1997” for the Pacific Region, and has received runners-up for "Green Hotelier of the Year 1999" and "IH&RA Environment award 1999" by the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA). It is a low impact Eco-Lodge with in-house “green policies” and Code of Practice.  The grounds of the resort also includes two elephant 'passes' that allows a corridor for elephants to migrate.

For every international guest who stays, a donation of US$1 (RM3.80) per adult to Sukau Ecotourism Research & Development Center (SERDC) for our community and conservation projects. You may choose to continue the tree replanting program at their 64 acre site to allow the wildlife corridor to grow.

Not ignoring the community, the lodge is a strong supporter of the local people, the 'Orang Sungei' or people of the river. Hiring preferences and training is offered to the locals firstly. Boats and other services are purchased from the community.

There is also a special purpose built boardwalk leading through the back jungle. It contains a special 'elephant pass' for migrating elephants to continue moving freely. This special event occurs quarterly.