Overview
Kinabatangan is perhaps one of the best places to see wildlife in Borneo. During the river cruises, you’re likely to encounter all of the ‘Borneo Big Five’: orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, rhinoceros hornbills, and saltwater crocodiles. For this trip, we usually collaborate with local homestays. However, Kinabatangan’s incredible wildlife viewing comes at a cost: logging and palm oil plantations have caused much of the forest to be lost, leaving wildlife confined to a very narrow stretch of forest, which makes them easier to spot. The economics of palm oil, however, are complex. That’s why we recommend combining this trip with a safari in Tawau Hills Park, a primary rainforest that is incredibly rich in biodiversity. The team has recorded 338 species of birds, 109 species of mammals, 57 species of snakes, and 87 species of frogs there. Through this route, you’ll gain an understanding of the nuances of palm oil, see how both a highly disturbed forest (Kinabatangan) and a primary rainforest can support wildlife, and learn about the important work local NGOs are doing. This tour is designed to give you a deeper appreciation of how conservation is carried out on the ground and in an Asian context.
This itinerary is customisable. Let us know at checkout if and how you'd like to personalise the itinerary.
See them in the wild
Habitat restoration
Community support
Conservation research
Kodama Tested
Key target species
Orangutan
Critically Endangered
Pygmy elephant
Endangered
Proboscis monkey
Endangered
Rhinoceros hornbill
Vulnerable
Red Leaf Monkey
Vulnerable
Kingfishers
What you will be doing
Arrival at Kinabatangan before lunch for the afternoon river cruise. Night cruise optional
Kinabatangan morning cruise and private transfer to Tawau Hill Park. Night walk at Tawau Hills
Our morning wildlife walk will be at 7:00 before breakfast. Then you’ll have some free time to do the longer trails on your own. The late afternoon wildlife walk is at 16:30, then we’ll have dinner and the night wildlife walk
Similar itinerary to Day 3
Morning walk, and free time until departure for Tawau airport
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: We will pick you up at the airport
🗺️ Instructions: We will pick you up from the airport
Things to know
Accessibility:
Children friendly
Fitness requirement
Moderate fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
The trip is all inclusive apart from flights and drinks.
If you like several of the trips in Borneo, please let us know as some can be combined into one longer itinerary.
Check with your government guidelines on vaccine requirements.Please note that some vaccines can take several months to complete the course.
We recommend you take your own travel insurance in case of flight cancellations or other unexpected events
You will need to be reasonably fit as the climate can be humid, and some of the trails can become muddy after rain, and there will also be uphill hikes
Bring comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing
As this trip is booking on-demand, we will do our best to accommodate additional requirements. Please let us know in the booking form.
Please let us know your dietary requirements in the booking form.
Bring your own medication.
It is best to bring your own torchlight and binoculars. You can borrow from us without charge.
You can hand wash your laundry at Tawau Hills Park but the weather here is damp so it will take time to dry
There are some accommodation choices at Tawau Hills Park, which we will provide you with further information based on your scheduled travel dates and availability. The Research Centre has shared shower and toilets and no hot shower. It has all the basic amenities such as towels, power sockets, blankets. You can choose a room with air conditioning or one without. The Chalet at Tawau Hills Park has no hot shower but all the basic amenities including air conditioning, mini fridge, filtered water and kitchenette.
Inclusion ✅
Tour transport
Pick up and drop off transport
Meals
All activities
Accommodations
Tour guide
Exclusion ❌
Gratuities
About your host
1StopBorneoWe are a wildlife conservation NGO & Travel company based in Borneo. Founded in 2012 with the main objective of conserving the rainforests funded by our ecotour activities. All our trips are conservation-based. All the money goes to our rescue service, reforestation, education programs and so on!
Conservation Charity: All travel income goes to support conservation projects on the ground
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.
💛 From Kodama
We have tested these tours and can vouch for the excellent conservation work the team is doing on the ground. Our team can also advise you on the ideal itinerary based on your interests and available time. We accept all major currencies, so you can book with ease.