Our Kinabatangan River Cruise was one of the greatest trips we've done in our lifetime. The whole experience gives you a true appreciation for our earth and the incredible wildlife that lives on it in a genuine jungle experience.
Seeing animals like pygmy elephants, orangutans and rhinoceros hornbills in the wild is something you can really only do in Borneo, and with a bit of luck you may even spot all of the famous Borneo Big 5.
If you want to see our full experience, you can watch our Kinabatangan River vlog here.
Why We Chose The Kinabatangan River
When researching Borneo, the Kinabatangan River was the experience that stood out the most to us. The chance to see wildlife in its natural habitat rather than in a zoo or sanctuary felt incredibly special.
The Kinabatangan River is one of the best places in Southeast Asia to spot wildlife in the wild, particularly proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, crocodiles and orangutans.
We chose to stay with Sukau Greenview and booked their 3 day, 2 night package, which if anything still didn’t feel long enough.
Why We Chose Sukau Greenview
Sukau Greenview, for us, stood out as professional and ethical in the way they conduct their tours, and they completely lived up to expectations.
Our package included 4 river cruises with incredible guides who not only spotted wildlife we would never have seen ourselves, but also explained the animals and surrounding ecosystem throughout the experience.
There is also a 5th sunrise cruise available on the final morning for an additional charge, and we would highly recommend booking it early as it fills up quickly. Unfortunately, we found that out the hard way.
You do 2 jungle walks during your stay, which are less focused on wildlife sightings and more about understanding the jungle itself and how people have lived from the land in Sabah for generations.
We were shown how to shot and use medicinal plants, survival techniques, food sources and even ways to find fresh drinking water directly from the jungle.
You can view and book the tour here: 3D2N Kinabatangan River Cruise with Sukau Greenview.
How To Get To Kinabatangan River
Getting to Sukau Greenview is very easy. They organise minivan transfers from Sandakan Airport or directly from your hotel in Sandakan.
We would definitely recommend spending at least one day in Sandakan either before or after your cruise so you can visit places like the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, which is absolutely worth seeing.
What The Accommodation Was Like
The accommodation at Sukau Greenview honestly exceeded our expectations considering it is located in the middle of the jungle.
The rooms are air-conditioned, the beds were comfortable and the bathrooms were much nicer than we expected for such a remote location.
The thing we were probably most worried about before arriving was the food, but we genuinely never went hungry once throughout the trip.
The meals were large, delicious and very consistent with the amazing food we experienced throughout Borneo and Malaysia as a whole.
You can choose between dorm-style accommodation with single beds or private rooms, which is what most couples on the trip selected.
At night, we were very comfortable, and with our eSIM we even had service in the middle of the jungle.
We personally use Airalo when we travel and are happy to recommend it. If you choose to purchase an eSIM through our affiliate link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, helping us continue creating free travel guides and content.
The River Cruises
The river cruises are the highlight of the experience and take you along the Kinabatangan River and through smaller branching waterways where wildlife often gathers.
Each cruise usually explores a different section of the river unless guides receive updates about exciting wildlife sightings nearby.
That exact situation happened to us and led to one of the most unforgettable moments of the trip — watching a family of pygmy elephants crossing the river right in front of our boat. This was one of those moments where everyone went silent and just appreciated the beautiful sight in front of us
The night cruise can be a little quieter in terms of sightings, with sleeping birds and owls being the main attractions, but the atmosphere of being surrounded by complete jungle darkness and hearing the sounds of the rainforest is difficult to describe.
The Jungle Walks
Expect plenty of mud, humidity and a bit of effort, but also a fascinating insight into the jungle itself.
The daytime walk focused heavily on the environment and how much the jungle naturally provides. It completely changed the way we look at places like this when hiking.
The night walk was much more intense, with most of your focus going into where you were stepping while trying not to slip in the mud. You only really looked around once you found somewhere stable to stop and catch your breath.
Very different experiences, but both incredibly fun in their own ways.
What Animals Did We See?
One of the most important things to understand before booking a Kinabatangan River Cruise is that wildlife sightings depend heavily on luck.
You will almost certainly see monkeys, including the incredible proboscis monkeys, but beyond that everything depends on timing and the animals themselves.
During our stay we saw:
- Proboscis monkeys
- Pygmy elephants
- A crocodile
- Rhinoceros hornbills
- An orangutan (or at least its arm hanging out from some leaves)
- Macaque monkeys
- Owls
- A kingfisher
Our guide actually told us we saw more than what Sir David Attenborough reportedly saw during his visit, so the animals definitely don’t play favourites.
Is The Kinabatangan River Worth It?
Absolutely.
Even with the unpredictable nature of wildlife sightings, this was one of the most incredible experiences we’ve ever done and something we would happily do again if we returned to Borneo.
The combination of the wildlife, jungle atmosphere, river cruises and guides made this feel like a genuine adventure rather than just another tourist activity.
If you are planning a trip to Borneo, we genuinely think the Kinabatangan River should be near the top of your itinerary.
Final Thoughts
The Kinabatangan River Cruise gave us a genuine appreciation for the natural world in a way that very few travel experiences ever have.
Seeing wildlife in the wild is something that feels incredibly special, and Borneo is one of the few places left where experiences like this still exist.
If you can fit this into your budget and itinerary, we truly don’t think you’ll regret it.
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