Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort – 2-Day Wildlife Package Sabah, Malaysia
If you are planning on visiting the Kinabatangan River during your holiday in Sabah and you’d like to stay at a more secluded Lodge with high-quality accommodation, then look no further than a stay at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort.
The Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort is surrounded by a secondary rainforest reserve, pristine freshwater swamps and mangrove forest. The Resort is located 40km, or about an hour’s boat ride, from Sandakan harbour. Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort is built on stilts and wooden walkways above ground to preserve the rainforest floors. During your 2D1N Package, you will stay in a Deluxe Chalets, which are spaced perfectly for privacy. Each spacious, comfortably designed Deluxe Chalet is equipped with a fan, aircon, ensuite bathroom, 40” TV with selected Astro channels, and a decked balcony.
Wildlife Encounters and Lovely Accommodation at the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort
During your 2D1N Wildlife Package at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort, you will enjoy the following activities – return boat transfers from Sandakan jetty to the Resort, 1 x late afternoon river cruise, 1 x night safari, 1 x early morning river cruise.
The Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort is located in the Lower Kinabatangan Segma Wetlands, which is home to three Forest Reserves. The location is recognised as an internationally important wetland for its undisturbed ecosystems where several rare, endangered species live, such as the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Proboscis Monkey and Rhinoceros Hornbill. The Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain, which the Resort borders, is home to an amazing diversity of flora and fauna with a record 1000 plant species, 90 fish species and reptilian and 50 mammal species. Bird watchers will also find this place incredible. There have been over 200 species of birds spotted around the reserve.
If you want to see more wildlife during your holiday in Sabah, why not combine this trip with a 2D1N Turtle Island trip and spend a night on Turtle Island, watch a Turtle nest and visit Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary? A lovely combination of wildlife trips in Sabah.
Trip Itinerary – 2-Day Wildlife Package at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort
Day 1
~ 11:45 Meet the representative from Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort at the Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty (or add on the return transfer option above).
12 noon – Board the boat and start your journey by the river to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort. The boat transfer to the resort will take ~ 1.5 hours and pass by mangroves and Abai village.
13:30 – arrive at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort. Check in to your Deluxe Chalet, then enjoy afternoon tea and a tasty local snack, ‘goring poising’ or banana fritter.
16:30 – Join your first-ever cruise along the Kinabatangan River. You’ll join a ~ 2-hour late afternoon river cruise in search of wildlife. Hopefully, you will see a wide variety of wildlife to photograph, including Macaques, Proboscis monkeys, orangutans and Borneo Pygmy Elephants (fingers crossed!). On the river cruise back to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort, you’ll get the chance to take photos of the landscape at dusk.
~18:30 – arrive back at the Resort. Time to freshen up and relax, then enjoy dinner at the Resort’s restaurant.
20:30 – 22:00 – After dinner, join a night river safari searching for nocturnal wildlife.
Overnight in a twin / double share Deluxe Chalet at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort.
Day 2
06:00 – 09:00 – Join an early morning river cruise to enjoy more wildlife and birdlife encounters. You will cruise to the nearby oxbow lake to look for wildlife. You’ll be provided with a packed breakfast to eat during the river cruise. Later on the river cruise, you will also visit the local village, Kampung Abai, a small fishing village and have the chance to interact with the villagers.
09:00 – Return to the Resort for breakfast.
10:00 – Check out from Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort and transfer back by a river cruise to the Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty. Arrive at the jetty around 11:30hrs. Make your own journey from the Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty (or add on the return transfer option above).
Trip Pre-Requisites – 2-Day Wildlife Package at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort, Sabah, Malaysia
This trip is suitable for all people.
Trip Inclusions
- Accommodation in a Deluxe chalet (twin / double beds, fan, private bathroom – indoor and outdoor shower) at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort
- 3 x river cruises in Abai, Kinabatangan (1 x morning, 1 x night safari, 1 x afternoon)
- Land and boat transfers, as stated in the itinerary
- Meals – afternoon tea and dinner on day 1, breakfast on day 2.
- Guiding by an English-speaking licensed Nature Guide.
- 0% Sales & Service Tax on the tour price as applicable from 6th May 2019
Trip Exclusions
Transfers to Sandakan Yacht Club, Flights, alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, travel insurance, meals not stated in the itinerary, tips
Recommended Packing List For The Trip
To get the most from this trip, please bring with you a raincoat, cap/hat, insect repellent, sun cream, comfortable trekking shoes, comfortable cotton T-shirt, long sleeve top, long or short trousers, binocular for observing wildlife, head torch for night river safari, camera and personal medications (if needed), essential toiletries, towel. Please take your passport with you on this trip – your passports will be checked at the Kinabatangan Lodge.
Notes – 2-Day Wildlife Package at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort, Sabah, Malaysia
All activities are subject to weather conditions. The prices shown are valid for trips up to 31st March 2024. For trips to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort after this date, please contact us for a quote.
Rona Hill –
The Wetlands experience was absolutely fantastic. What an amazing place.
We were very lucky with regards to the animals, we saw everything we wanted to!
Our guide was very charming and knowledgeable.
The accommodation here was first class (although the pillows were very hard).
Excellent food and delightful staff.
Altogether a wonderful experience.
We would thoroughly recommend booking with Borneo Dreams.