By road from Sandakan to the riverside villages around Sukau, where the lodges and boat operators are.
What to do
River cruises with a guide to look for proboscis monkeys, orangutans, Bornean pygmy elephants and crocodiles.
Birdwatching: all eight hornbill species found in Borneo live here.
Jungle walks and cave visits from the lodges.
The weather here
Animals are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, when the cruises go out. Afternoon storms can cut a cruise short, and after heavy rain the river rises and the banks can flood.
Good to know
The Kinabatangan floodplain was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in September 2025.
Most visitors stay one or two nights at a riverside lodge that runs the cruises.
Holiday and event dates are compiled by BorneoSky from official announcements and can change. Weather forecasts: MET Norway. Smoke forecasts: Copernicus CAMS.
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