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Three-hour small group cruise along the Kinabatangan River at sunset, searching for wildlife such as hornbills, monkeys, and elephants.
Cruise the Kinabatangan River for three hours in a small group, departing from Sandakan and taking in the beauty of Borneo’s ancient rainforest at dusk. As you glide along the chocolate-brown waters, watch for endemic wildlife including hornbills, monkeys, and possibly elephants wandering along the banks.
The experience highlights the rich biodiversity of this area, which is known for its concentrated wildlife sightings. Be prepared for an enchanting evening on the river, which reveals the wonders of nature as the jungle transitions into night.
Reviews
We stayed for three days and two nights. The lodging was outstanding, and the meals provided on-site were also excellent. The guides, along with the entire staff, were fantastic.
The afternoon felt long, as we spent two hours on a boat observing only a few monkeys and birds. The facilities were quite basic, but our driver was punctual. To be fair, wildlife can be unpredictable. Unfortunately, sitting at the front of the boat made it difficult to hear the guide's commentary.
The journey from Sandakan to the resort took us 3 hours and 45 minutes, significantly longer than the typical 2.5 hours due to multiple hotel pickups in Sepilok. Overall, I cannot recommend the day trip that departs around noon; it involves spending 6 to 7 hours on a bus just to go on a boat trip.
Our time with Nomade Tours was remarkable from beginning to end. Adran, our driver to Sukau, was exceptionally kind. We reached the river just in time for the golden hour, enjoyed a quick snack, and then set off on the safari. Our boat guide was fantastic, demonstrating immense patience and skill in spotting wildlife. We encountered various monkeys and birds, and while we didn’t see any orangutans, the experience was definitely worthwhile. Being surrounded by nature was truly special. I highly recommend Nomade Tours; they were responsive on WhatsApp for any inquiries we had before and throughout the trip. Thank you! I would choose them again without hesitation.
We were picked up in Sandakan, with another driver collecting passengers from Sepilok. The travel time was 2 hours and 45 minutes each way, with six people in tight quarters. We arrived for high tea at 2:45, right by the boat departure area. Only small snacks were provided, and the restaurant and restrooms were in poor condition, so we opted not to eat. We ended up waiting until 4:30 to depart. The boat ride lasted two hours, but due to the rain, we didn't encounter many animals, which was unfortunate. On the return, we dined at a different restaurant, which was satisfactory. Overall, the day felt overly long, and the schedule would have benefited from a later arrival closer to the boat's departure.
Reviews are paraphrased traveller feedback sourced from Viator. Original ratings and sentiment preserved.
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