Kinabatangan River

You can secure your booking by paying directly on the site. Since spots fill up quickly, we do not offer instalments—payment must be made in full at the time of booking.

However, your payment is not taken immediately when you request a spot. Your payment method will only be charged once your booking is confirmed, which typically happens within 24 hours. If your request isn’t confirmed, you won’t be charged.

Booking in advance is highly recommended, especially during the dry/high season (March–September). Some budget homestays might take walk-ins, but if you want a smooth trip, book ahead.

You need to book a lodge or tour—you can’t just show up and rent a boat. Lodges offer package deals that include boat safaris, accommodation, and meals.

Nope! There’s no entrance fee—you only pay for your lodge and boat safaris.

Kinabatangan River is Sabah’s longest river, stretching for 560 kilometers, flowing from the Crocker Range in the west all the way to the Sulu Sea in the east. The river is an essential waterway supporting an extensive floodplain that fosters incredible biodiversity, making it one of the best wildlife destinations in Southeast Asia. It’s home to Borneo’s "Big Five": pygmy elephants, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, and rhinoceros hornbills, as well as numerous bird and reptile species.

This region faces serious environmental challenges, particularly from oil palm plantations that encroach on wildlife habitats. However, several protected areas, such as The Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary offer refuge to species that call this place home.

The Kinabatangan offers a unique opportunity for travelers to explore river-based wildlife safaris and immerse themselves in one of Borneo's most significant ecosystems.