The Kinabatangan River is one of Borneo’s must-visit spots thanks to its incredibly diverse wildlife. It’s one of the best places to spot the Borneo Big Five, including the elusive orangutans, and boat trips offer spectacular encounters with countless wild animals. The river is home to an abundance of different species, from monitor lizards to soaring birds of prey and hundreds of monkeys. For us, our stay here was the highlight of our Borneo itinerary and provided the best encounters of our entire trip. Find out how to make the most of your visit with these helpful tips for visiting the Kinabatangan River.
Tips for visiting the Kinabatangan River
Take a night boat tour
Not all accommodation options offer night boat tours, but if yours does, then grab the opportunity with both hands. We did several evening trips in different parts of Borneo — including at Bako National Park — and found the night tours at the Kinabatangan River particularly impressive.
We were pleasantly surprised by how much we saw. On just one night tour we had several up-close encounters with kingfishers (less than a metre away!), multiple buffy fish owls, and a number of estuarine crocodiles.
Generally, these tours only last around an hour to an hour and a half, but if you’re travelling all the way to Borneo, these night cruises along the Kinabatangan River are definitely worth it to maximise your chances of unique wildlife sightings.
Stay for longer
Most people who visit the Kinabatangan River usually stay for 3 days and 2 nights. Although you’ll still see plenty of wildlife in this time, it’s best to stay longer if possible.
We visited for 5 days and 4 nights, and during our stay we saw a number of groups come and go who were only staying a night or two. Most of these people ended up missing out on several of the Borneo Big Five by doing so, with most not seeing an orangutan, Borneo pygmy elephant, or a rhinoceros hornbill. In contrast, by staying longer we were able to see all of the big five — and most of them on multiple occasions.
Although some luck is required to see everything, your chances increase dramatically the longer you stay. Even if you stay for longer and miss out on something you had hoped to see, it’s unlikely you’ll regret it as there’s still plenty of spectacular wildlife to enjoy along the river.
Packing essentials for the Kinabatangan River
As the Kinabatangan River is fairly remote, it’s important to pack wisely to ensure you have everything you need for your stay. Of course, some items — like clothes and toiletries — are obvious, but there are some extras that you won’t want to forget.
Our essential packing list for the Kinbatangan River includes a camera with a zoom lens, a powerbank (power cuts are possible, so don’t miss this if you want your phone to stay charged!), binoculars, a waterproof jacket, sun cream, mosquito spray, a torch, and white tiger balm (to soothe any bites).
Some accommodations offer soft drinks and beer to buy on-site, but it’s best to confirm whether this is possible prior to your arrival.
What wildlife can you see
Borneo is home to some iconic wildlife, much of which can be found along the Kinabatangan River. In particular, the river is a great place to see the Borneo Big Five — orangutans, Borneo pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, estuarine crocodiles, and rhinoceros hornbills.
Although the big five normally steal the show, there’s plenty more incredible wildlife to discover. Notable species found in the area include pygmy squirrels, several varieties of kingfisher, and Storm’s storks — of which there are estimated to be less than 500 individuals left in the wild.
Keep your eye out at all times, as you never know when a sighting can happen. We had some great sightings from our accommodation, so it’s always good to be alert.
If you’re looking for more places to see some of Borneo’s incredible wildlife, we recommend visiting both Bako National Park and the Kuching Wetlands National Park.
Different lodges
The Kinabatangan River has a variety of accommodations suited to different budgets. Due to the remoteness, comforts like air conditioning come at a price. Like elsewhere in Borneo, it does get pretty warm along the river — so make sure to check what the facilities are before booking if air con is a must.
Some lodges also have a lot of stairs, which means they aren’t suitable for everyone. Wherever you stay, it’s best to read some recent reviews and ensure it meets all your needs. Below are some of the best accommodation options by the Kinabatangan River:
Book a package
Normally during our travels we organise everything independently. When we looked up about staying along the Kinabatangan River, we found several different packages where the boat cruises and accommodation were included together. These package deals tend to be more cost-effective, so it’s best to take advantage of them for your stay.
We arranged a 5-day, 4-night stay via a package, which included pick-up and drop-off at Sandakan airport, all meals throughout our stay, two river cruises a day (morning and afternoon), as well as our accommodation.
