See Nature Galore At Malaysia’s Spectacular Kinabatangan River, Sabah

See Nature Galore At Malaysia’s Spectacular Kinabatangan River, Sabah
Sarah J
Sarah J 
Published
| 4 min read

The Kinabatangan River is one of the top places for enjoying nature in the Malaysian state of Sabah. On the island of Borneo, the Kinabatangan River is Malaysia’s second longest river, running for more than 550 kilometres (342 miles).

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary works to preserve the small amount of natural habitat, with much land having been destroyed by logging, palm plantations, and developments. Because the wild creatures now have a smaller area to roam, this means that there are higher chances of seeing an array of creatures in their natural environment.

The small settlement of Sukau is the best base for enjoying the diverse delights of the Kinabatangan River. There are a handful of river lodges and very few other facilities. The nearest major town is Sandakan, which is around 131 kilometres (81 miles) away. Many people visit as part of an arranged package trip from Sandakan, although you can also arrive independently by public minivan and arrange your boat trips directly with the lodges.

Here’s why you should add the Kinabatangan River to your Borneo itinerary:

Admire beautiful river scenery on a boat trip

see nature galore at malaysia’s spectacular kinabatangan river, sabah | admire beautiful river scenery on a boat trip

Hop in a small boat and soak up the lovely scenic views. The wide river has lush greenery on either side, and there are narrow tributaries that can also be explored. The water is brown and muddy because of the colour of the soil at the bottom, the dirty-looking waters in contrast to the vibrant green foliage. Boat trips may also visit several oxbow lakes, lakes alongside the gushing river that have been formed by the river changing course over the years.

See lots of wild creatures in their natural habitat

see nature galore at malaysia’s spectacular kinabatangan river, sabah | see lots of wild creatures in their natural habitat

The waters of the Kinabatangan River are home to various species of fish. Crocodiles also swim in the murky depths, and you might be lucky enough to spot the head of a baby crocodile rising up out of the waters.

The protected forests along the sides of the river are home to one of Borneo’s most famous inhabitants, the large and mighty orangutan. Whilst sightings of the ginger apes are rare, there is still a slight chance that you may spot one swinging through the tree tops. The island of Borneo is one of just two places in the world where orangutans live in the wild, the other being the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

One of the most impressive sightings is if you come across a herd of pygmy elephants. Smaller than other species of elephant, there is about a 50 / 50 chance of seeing the majestic elephants alongside the river. They may be feeding in the long grass and drinking from the river, with some plunging into the waters to bathe.

Various monkeys call the area home, including pesky macaques. Watch out for them frolicking in the trees. If your eyes are sharp, you may see small rodents and lizards scuttling about in the undergrowth. You will definitely hear the whirring and buzzing from many different insects.

Look up the skies and spot an array of birds. The majestic hornbill is one of the area’s most impressive birds, with other feathered inhabitants including kingfishers, swifts, storks, owls and eagles.

There are high chances of seeing large snakes coiled in the trees. Other creatures that call the area home include wildcats and Sumatran rhinos.

Observe the rare and endemic proboscis monkey

see nature galore at malaysia’s spectacular kinabatangan river, sabah | observe the rare and endemic proboscis monkey

Proboscis monkeys only live in the wild on the island of Borneo. Although their numbers are small, there is an almost guaranteed chance of seeing them on a journey along the Kinabatangan River in Sukau.

The curious-looking creatures are known for their unusually long noses. Adult monkeys are quite large, although they are generally pretty placid when compared with other monkey species. You will probably spot groups of proboscis monkeys in the trees, with higher chances of seeing them in the late afternoon as they head to the river banks to settle for the night.

Good swimmers, you may even see proboscis monkeys splashing about in the water!

Boat trips at various times of day and night

see nature galore at malaysia’s spectacular kinabatangan river, sabah | boat trips at various times of day and night

If time permits, try and arrange several boat trips at various times of the day and night. This provides the best opportunities for seeing numerous different creatures. Day trips allow you to spot creatures that are typically fast asleep at night time, whilst trips in the dark let you see nocturnal creatures. Some creatures are at their most active in the early mornings, with the mists still rising from the waters and before the temperature gets too hot.

The boat guides are highly experienced wildlife spotters, and their keen eyes can find creatures where you thought there were none. At night, they will shine the beam from their torch to identify anything of interest that they have spied.

Tips for enjoying the Kinabatangan River

Watch out for leeches! The wet and humid conditions make leeches a very real problem, even when you’re seated in your boat. Don’t panic if you find a leech slurping away on your blood – they will fall off on their own when they’re full! If you can’t bear the thought of it though, holding a naked flame, from a lighter or match, close to the blood-sucking pest usually causes it to disengage and fall off.

Mosquitoes are another annoyance, and can be problematic during the day as well as throughout the night. Don’t forget to slap on plenty of mosquito repellent. You may also want to consider wearing long pants and shirts, especially for any early morning, late afternoon, and night time boat rides.

Wear and take along sunscreen if you’re venturing out during day light hours. A light-weight rain jacket or plastic rain poncho might come in really handy too in case of showers or rain.

Don’t forget your camera! And, make sure it’s fully charged. With so many photo opportunities all around, keep your camera at the ready. You don’t want to be fumbling around in your case and miss some great shots! Binoculars are highly recommended, especially for keen bird spotters.

Be quiet during the boat trip so as not to scare creatures away. And, make sure you take any rubbish away with you – don’t litter!

Book your boat ride(s) along the Kinabatangan River and be in awe of the beauty of nature and lots of fascinating wildlife.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Originally from the UK, Sarah has been mostly based in her second home of Thailand for the past five years. As well as exploring new places, learning about different cultures, and sampling lots of...Read more

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