Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort
Location
Accessed by boat from Sandakan, the journey here is an adventure in itself: you’ll pass traditional fishing villages and glide through lush mangrove forests. This is the environment of some of Borneo’s most treasured species: pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, estuarine crocodiles and several species of hornbill. Migratory birds flock overhead, and fireflies twinkle after dusk in this magical and fascinating place.
With 24-hour solar-powered electricity, Wi-Fi in the dining area, and friendly staff on hand around the clock, the resort balances rustic authenticity with thoughtful comforts. It’s a sanctuary where immersive wildlife encounters begin the moment you unpack.
The communal lounge and library invite you to curl up on bamboo sofas with guidebooks about pygmy elephants and hornbills. Woodland trails and raised boardwalks wind through shaded gardens planted with pitcher plants and ginger flowers, offering quiet nooks and hammock spots for afternoon siestas.
Experiences
- Dawn river safaris on the Kinabatangan River are the best ways to spot pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, and hornbills in the soft light of sunrise.
- Late afternoon is the time to head out to find the crocodiles. They’ll be sunning themselves on the banks, getting warm for a night time of hunting.
- Take a guided walk along shaded forest trails, spotting macaques, gibbons and rare butterflies with an expert guide.
- At night on the river, a spotlight might reveal slow lorises, flying squirrels and the eyes of crocodiles. The giant cicadas and fireflies add a magical atmosphere.
- Take your binoculars to the elevate riverside hide to look for kingfishers, eagles and colourful pittas. For further birdwatching, take a trip to the Danau Pitas oxbow lake.
- Enjoy an immersive cultural visit to a nearby Orang Sungai village where you’ll be delighted by rich storytelling, handicrafts and rice-wine tasting.
- Do your bit for habitat restoration by planting a tree at the Kulamba Field Centre, a 45-minute boat ride away.
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
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