It is said that the Chinese Imperial merchants sailed up the Kinabatangan River in search of the precious bird’s nests. Its floodplain is one of the most exceptional areas in Malaysia. Influenced by the tides of the Sulu Sea and rainfall in the interior, the lower part of the river plain floods regularly. Thus over the centuries, 5 distinct habitats have evolved, waterlogged and dry forests, saline and freshwater swamps and limestone forests, each contributing towards some of the most diverse concentrations of wildlife in Borneo.

The River is 560 km long and the Lower Kinabatangan is estimated to have the largest concentration of wildlife in all of Malaysia. In fact, all 8 species of hornbills found in Borneo – the rhinoceros, helmeted, black, pied, wreathed, wrinkled, white-crowned and bushy crested hornbills, have been spotted here. The region is also renowned for colourful tropical birds, crocodiles, huge monitor lizards, wild pigs, otters and several species of monkeys and tree snake. It is a haven to the rare proboscis monkey, orang utan, the oriental darter, king-fishers and more…

A dawn or dusk river ride past swamps filled with mangrove and nipa promises exiting sightings of wildlife. A view that never fails to delight is a glimpse of the playful proboscis monkeys. These huge-bellied, long-nosed primates with long white tails live by the river and are especially active during these hours when they are socialising, crashing through trees or foraging for food.

The unique landscape feature of the Kinabatangan is the unusual oxbow lakes. A crescent-shaped lake lying alongside a winding river, these lakes are formed as erosion and deposits of soil changes the river’s course over time.

An unforgettable experience is the peaceful and serene village-life… as dawn creeps across the river… gentle mists shroud the surreal atmosphere… voices maybe heard across the water as you catch the silhouettes of children floating past in their boats… amidst the birds singing and the animal calls…