Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort

Today you’ll be met at the airport, or your accommodation and transferred to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. After an introduction to their work, you'll have the unique opportunity to visit the free-roaming area feeding platform. It's a remarkable experience, allowing you to witness the Orangutan, our closest relative, undergoing rehabilitation to thrive once more in their natural habitat. During your visit, you'll enjoy a captivating stroll through the lush Tropical Lowland Dipterocarp Forest of Borneo, immersing yourself in the vibrant ecosystem.

Your journey continues with a visit to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. This remarkable centre has made tremendous strides in improving the living conditions of rescued sun bears and providing them with the space to exhibit their natural behaviours within a 2.5-hectare enclosed forest. It's a morning filled with awe-inspiring wildlife encounters and conservation efforts in action.

Late morning you’ll transfer to the Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty and depart on the midday boat journey to Abai. This one-and-a-half-hour journey is a captivating voyage of discovery, commencing from the tranquil waters of the Sulu Sea in Sandakan Town and leading you through the awe-inspiring scenery of the Mangrove Forest and the Abai villages. The cruise offers views of the different types of vegetation found along Sabah’s mighty Kinabatangan River. Photo opportunities shall vary from the usage of telephoto lenses for wildlife such as Macaques, wild Orangutan, Proboscis Monkeys and the unique mudskippers, to wide-angle lens for landscape shots of Nipah palms stilts of Rhizophora trees and mangrove forest.

On arrival you’ll settle into your simple but comfortable chalet accommodation and enjoy lunch whilst your skipper conducts a briefing on the upcoming activities for your stay. Relax and enjoy a mid afternoon snack before heading off, around 16.30 for an afternoon river expedition in search off wildlife, this time in a smaller open top boat. If you are lucky, you’ll hopefully spot wild Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants, Proboscis Monkeys, and other wildlife. After a few hours, head back to the resort and enjoy a tasty dinner and possible night stroll along the boardwalks on a lookout for nocturnal animals and interesting insects.

Early this morning, around 06.30 you’ll cruise to the nearby Oxbow Lake, Danau Pitas, to observe the wildlife and birdlife in this unique spot. You’ll enjoy some breakfast snacks en route. After a few hours, continue to visit a local fishing village, Kampung Abai, where you’ll have a chance to interact with local Orang Sungai river people and observe the daily activities in this tiny settlement.

Return to the resort for a full breakfast, after which we have included a visit to Kulamba Field Centre, a 45-minute boat ride away. Here you’ll have a chance to get involved with a tree planting initiative, try your hand at crab catching and enjoy tea overlooking the river at the floating house.
Return to the lodge, enjoy lunch, and relax for the afternoon. At 16.30 you’ll head off for another afternoon cruise in search of more wildlife. Cruise back to the resort for dinner and head out on a night river safari.

After breakfast you are free to explore the nature board walk to view wildlife around the lodge. Cruise back to Sandakan and transfer to the airport for your onward journey.