Borneo Wildlife Tour: A Multi-Day Trip on the Kinabatangan River

A Borneo wildlife tour along the Kinabatangan River is one of the most unforgettable nature experiences you can have in Malaysian Borneo. I stayed in a jungle lodge along the Kinabatangan River for 3-days, spotting wildlife during the day and night.

Known as one of the best places in Borneo to spot wildlife, the Kinabatangan River is famous because it is home to wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, and various species of birds.

The Multi-day trip offered early morning and afternoon boat cruises, guided jungle walks, and an immersive stay. It was the perfect adventure for wildlife spotting and I want to share everything in this post from booking the tour, explaining the wildlife I encountered, and everything else!

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Booking a Jungle Lodge Tour along the Kinabatangan River

The best way to spot wildlife in Borneo along the Kinabatangan River is by booking a tour. There are day trips from Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan, but I highly recommend a multi-day tour. That gives you the best chances to see wildlife.

There are so many tours out there and I recommend finding a tour that best fits your Borneo itinerary.

Sure you can spend as little or as much money as you want on a wildlife tour in Borneo. I’ve seen resorts along the Kinabatangan River that offer a more luxurious experience.

I was looking for something a little more rustic that I felt would guarantee me sightings of Orangutans and other animals.

By doing research, I found this Borneo Wildlife Tour at the Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp.

This tour had everything on my wish list, the company picked me up from the airport, took care of transportation, and I stayed deep in the jungle right along the Kinabatangan River.

The Borneo Wildlife Tour that I took can be booked directly here.

Before I go further into the tour and the itinerary, the next sections cover more about Borneo and the wildlife that call this island home.

About Borneo and the Kinabatangan River

Borneo is the world’s third largest island behind Greenland and New Guinea. Borneo is not a country but an island shared between three countries: Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Borneo is known for its ancient rainforests, rich indigenous cultures, and wildlife.

Sabah, where I stayed is on the Malaysian side of Borneo. There are two states, Sabah and Sarawak. Sabah is home to both Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan and is one of the best places to see wildlife in Borneo.

The Kinabatangan River is Borneo’s second longest river after the Kapuas River. The Kinabatangan River is famous for its biodiversity.

River cruises along the Kinabatangan River are a popular tourist attraction and one of the best ways to spot wild orangutans.

Borneo's Big 5

Have you ever heard of Africa’s “Big Five?” It’s a term that was originally used by hunters. To hunters, the Big Five were challenging and dangerous animals. Now it’s more wildly used by tourists and tour operators.

Those animals include the Cape Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, lion, and Rhino.

Well Borneo also has a “Big Five.” No, these are not game-animals but more iconic animals that call this island home.

Borneo’s Big Five include the Bornean Pygmy Elephant, the Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, Rhinoceros Hornbill, and the Crocodile.

After spending 3 days along the Kinabatangan River, I only saw 3 of Borneo’s Big 5. I saw the Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, and Crocodile, although I saw many other beautiful species.

Below you can find a little more information on each of Borneo’s Big 5. In case you visit, see if you can spot them!

Bornean Pygmy Elephant

There are often sightings of the Bornean Pygmy Elephant in Sabah along the Kinabatangan River. Unfortunately, I did not see them on my tour, but I met other travelers that did spot them.

To spot the Bornean Pygmy Elephant, it’s all about being at the right place at the right time. Obviously, the season and time of day has a big determination as well.

The Bornean Pygmy Elephant is much smaller then the African and Indian Elephants.

Their physical characteristics include a height of 8-10ft with a relatively long tail, large ears, and round bellies.

They are considered to be gentle and peaceful, but please do not approach or harass them if you encounter them in the wild.

There are an estimated 1,500 Bornean Elephants left in the wild. They are endangered because of habitat loss.

Orangutan

I saw wild orangutans daily while on the Kinabatangan River. There were a couple that hung around our camp eating the fig fruits high in the trees.

Orang-Hutan comes from the Malay words “Orang” meaning person and “Hutan,” meaning “Of the forest.” So, orangutan translates to person or people of the forest.

I have more information on the Bornean Orangutan and Borneo’s conservation efforts in my post on Visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan.

Wild orangutans are found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. There are differences between the Bornean and Sumatran Orangutans.

The Bornean orangutan lives on the Malaysia and Indonesian side of Borneo and are larger then the Sumatran species. The Bornean orangutan also has darker fur and broader faces.

The orangutans spend the majority of their life high in the trees and rarely come to the ground. They use their long and muscular arms to climb and move from tree to tree.

Did you know orangutans build nests? I didn’t either prior to my visit. Orangutans build nests for many purposes, including safety and comfort. They make new nests daily and can assemble them quickly within a few minutes.

Proboscis Monkey

Perhaps one of the most unusual primates in the world is the Proboscis Monkey. This species of monkey is endemic to Borneo, meaning it lives here and nowhere else in the world.

The proboscis monkey is instantly recognizable by its long nose and round belly. They live near mangroves and the forest edges near rivers, like the Kinabatangan River, which is one of the best places in Borneo to see the Proboscis Monkey.

I learned this from our guide, since the proboscis monkeys live near the edge of rivers, threats by crocodiles is always a concern.

The proboscis monkeys are excellent swimmers and divers. To escape predators they can dive up to 20 meters or 66 ft deep. There is a certain depth where crocodiles can’t open their mouths, so they are not a threat to the proboscis monkey.

Rhinoceros Hornbill

There are eight species of hornbills in Borneo, which include the Rhinoceros, Helmeted, Wreathed, Oriental Pied, White-crowned, Wrinkled, Asian Black, and Bushy-crested Hornbills.

Unfortunately while on my tour on the Kinabatangan River, I did not encounter the Rhinoceros Hornbill, but I did spot the Oriental Pied Hornbill, Black Hornbill, and the Bushy-crested Hornbill.

The Rhinoceros Hornbill is Borneo’s most iconic. It’s recognizable by its black and white plumage and large orange/red casque or helmet.

Although I did not see one, try spotting them in the forest canopy or flying above you over the Kinabatangan River.

The photo above is of a Black Hornbill sitting on the branches of a tree along the Kinabatangan River.

Saltwater Crocodile

The saltwater crocodile is one of Borneo’s most powerful and fascinating predators. They are commonly found along the rivers and wetlands of Borneo.

Spotting a crocodile resting on the riverbank or silently swimming through the water is a thrilling experience.

We spotted our first crocodile in Borneo while on a night river cruise along the Kinabatangan River. The next day, we spotted them on the river banks or resting in the water close to shore.

What to Expect on a 2-3 Day Kinabatangan Wildlife Tour

If you’ve signed up for a Borneo wildlife tour or are looking for one, I recommend the tour that I did, you can find it here.

The expectations and Borneo wildlife itinerary are based on the 3 Days and 2 Nights at Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp that I booked.

You can do a two day or three day tour, I highly recommend the 3-day tour because two of the days are basically transportation, so you really only get one full day.

The tour company picked us up from Sandakan Airport and drove us to a location where we disembarked on our journey to the jungle lodge.

The Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp is a remote no-frills camp where the main purpose is to learn about and spot wildlife. Which is exactly what I signed up for!

I went in October which is a great time to visit. Although hot and humid, it was not unbearable.

Below you can find more information on the camp itself and best time of year to go on a Borneo wildlife tour.

Expect to see a lot of wildlife. I saw orangutans daily, proboscis monkeys, civets, kingfishers, macaques, gibbon, langur monkeys, and so many other species.

Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp

To get to the Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp we flew into Sandakan, rode in a van for 2 hours, took a boat ride across one section of the Kinabatangan River, hiked, and then took another boat trip on a tributary to the camp.

I say camp, but it’s more of a jungle lodge. It’s definitely not a 5-star resort. It’s simple, there is no electricity besides the generators that get turned on a few hours at night. But expect to relax and just enjoy being in the middle of the Bornean rainforest.

Accommodations

The accommodations were no-frills but included everything you need for a few nights stay in the jungle.

Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp had about 6 rooms all equipped with clean beds.

Honestly, even with the heat and humidity I slept amazing in the rooms each night. The bed was surprisingly comfortable.

Toilet and Showers

Rest assured, the camp does have a western toilet which is amazing being in the middle of the rainforest.

The showers were a bit different then what I was used to. The camp relies on rainwater which is abundant in the rainforest.

You fill a large bucket with the rainwater and use a smaller bucket to pour the water over yourself. Trust me it’s cold but refreshing after being in the hot and humid climate all day.

Food and Drinks

For the first day, dinner was included. The second day, we got breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the third day included breakfast.

The food was brought to the camp fresh daily. It was prepared off-site and brought to the camp by boat.

Each meal I had was buffet style with about three or four varieties. For breakfast it included beans, sausages, toast, and eggs. Lunch and dinner included vegetables, chicken, and rice.

Honestly everything I had did not disappoint. It was exactly what I expected from a jungle lodge deep in the jungle.

Coffee and tea were provided throughout the day.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1

Pickup from Sandakan Airport → Stop in Kinabatangan for Lunch → Arrive at Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp → Afternoon River Cruise → Night River Cruise

We arrived in Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu and were picked up from Sandakan Airport by the tour company. We drove a few hours to the town of Kinabatangan for a quick lunch and fill up on supplies.

From Kinabatangan we drove to the first dock where we hopped on a boat, crossed the Kinabatangan River, hiked through the rainforest for about 10 minutes before getting on another boat that took us to the Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp.

After going through a quick briefing with the staff and see our accommodations, we jumped on a tour boat and spent 1.5 hours slowly cruising the tributary looking for signs of wildlife.

We spotted several Stork-billed Kingfishers, hornbills, macaques along the river bed, large monitor lizards, and orangutans.

After the river cruise we had time back at the camp to relax. Once it got dark we went on a night river cruise in hopes of spotting crocodiles. We actually did spot about three crocodiles and a few more Stork-billed Kingfishers.

Day 2

Early Morning River Cruise → Lunch and Downtime → Afternoon Cruise → Night Hike

Day two of our Borneo wildlife tour along the Kinabatangan River started early as we took the boat around the tributary trying to spot animals.

Surprisingly the mornings were not very active, we spotted a few monkeys off in the distance. Otherwise it was primarily hornbills and kingfishers.

During the day, there was a lot of downtime in between the river cruises. During this time we relaxed, took showers, and went on hikes through the rainforest. The orangutans were usually around the camp too eating the fig fruit.

The night before we spotted a Malayan Civet beneath the hut. During the day, not only did the one come back, but there were two civets. I was able to watch them dig around for food scraps.

The afternoon cruise was kind of a repeat of the other river cruises, we hugged the coast of the tributary looking for any signs of wildlife.

At dusk, we saw a lot of proboscis monkeys high in the trees. We also saw a huge tree full of leaf monkeys (langurs).

To wrap up day two of our Borneo adventure, we went on a night hike through the jungle. There was like a 2 kilometer trail by the camp. We had two guides with flashlights that would point out interesting wildlife.

We spotted a Borneo Tarantula, numerous species of frogs, and a baby python.

Day 3

Early Morning River Cruise → Depart Back to Sandakan

Unfortunately, day 3 is more of a transit day back to Sandakan. You can take one more morning cruise, but after that it is time to back track back to Sandakan.

Directly after breakfast, right before going on the morning cruise a few others from the camp spotted an orangutan right at the camp eating the figs from the trees. This was our best sighting of the orangutans, she was so close to the camp.

There was also a high energy gibbon swinging around tree surrounding the camp. They really do fly through the trees. Once in a while the gibbon would stop so I could get a good look at him.

The water was beautiful that morning, it was so calm. Unfortunately, we didn’t see much wildlife outside the usual monkeys off in the distance and hornbills flying directly above us.

When returning to camp, there was a huge monitor lizard soaking up the sun.

What to Pack and How to Prepare

Space is limited and you’ll be spending multiple days in the rainforest. So it’s best to pack smart and light for a Borneo wildlife tour.

The company, recommends leaving your suitcase with them and only taking a backpack to the jungle camp. You do have to walk through the rainforest from one boat to another, so you don’t want to lug your suitcase around.

Travel light, prepare for long days, and expect limited electricity and power.

The main purpose of this tour is to see wildlife, so I recommend brining a good camera. I’ll list all the essentials and what I brought along below.

These items can also be purchased through Amazon, I linked each item below.

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✅ Long-sleeve shirts and Long Pants: You are in the rainforest, there will be bugs! When doing the night hike, there are fire ants, so cover up! Not to mention covering up can protect you from the sun.

✅ Rain jacket or poncho: It’s the rainforest, it’s going to rain. We got lucky and it rained at night but we were dry during the river cruises, you never know.

✅ Comfortable walking shoes/hiking boots/flip flops: I brought a pair of hiking shoes and flip flops. The hiking shoes were great because there was mud along the trail. I wore flip flops around the camp.

✅ Hat: I wore a hat most the time for sun protection. The sun rays can be intense in this part of the world.

✅ Binoculars: If you don’t have a telephoto lens for your camera, I recommend bringing a pair of binoculars. The guide will try and get as close as possible to wildlife, but sometimes they hang out high in the trees.

✅ Camera with Zoom Lens: For me, a camera with a zoom lens was a must. It was my goal to photograph wildlife especially the orangutans. Honestly, your phone photos might turn out ok, but to me it doesn’t capture the detail a camera has. So I highly recommend a nice camera with a telephoto lens.

I have a Nikon d7500 equipped with the Sigma 150-600mm lens.

All animal photos on this page were shot with the Sigma 150-600mm lens.

✅ Bug Spray: You’ll use it, especially at night or if walking on the nature trails. There were mosquitos everywhere.

✅ Flashlight: Our guides had really nice flashlights, but it was nice to have our own for the night hike and walking to the restrooms after dark. I prefer head lamps, and really like Black Diamond headlamps.

✅ Towel: I brought a travel towel with me. I use the towel for several reasons, wiping off water and sweat or drying off after showering.

✅ Snacks and Water: Snacks and Water were provided by the camp. They had bottled water and lemon crackers. But if you need an energy bar or certain snacks, buy them before you go to the jungle camp.

Best Time to Visit the Kinabatangan River

Borneo has a dry and wet season. The dry season usually lasts from March until late October and the wet season is from November to February.

Of course, dry season is peak tourist season. The pro about visiting Borneo during the wet season is that there are far less crowds.

I visited mid-October which was getting close to the beginning of the rainy season. Our guide told us it was actually a very good time to come because it’s fruiting season and the monkeys will be active.

During dry season, river levels are lower and many animals including the pygmy elephants and monkeys will come closer to the water edge. During rainy season, they tend to go further inland.

March through May is high season, you can expect good weather and a lot of animal activity, but there will be more tourists.

June through August the weather can be more hot ad humid. It’s best to do morning and late afternoon cruises.

September through October is shoulder season but still good weather and chances to see wildlife are still high.

November through February, during the rainy season, the rain can be heavy at times but you have far less tourists.

Conclusion

Spending 3-days along the Kinabatangan River was one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences I have ever done. A Borneo wildlife tour is something I highly recommend and your chances of seeing wildlife are high.

Spotting wild orangutans was one of my most memorable experiences but it was just as fascinating seeing other Bornean animals in the wild like the proboscis monkeys, king fishers, crocodiles, and hornbills.

A multi-day tour in the Bornean rainforest allows time to explore and you get a better chance to see wildlife, so I recommend it over a quick day tour.

If you are planning on traveling to Borneo or have done already, let me know and please share your experience!

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