KINABATANGAN RIVER

It's amazing to think that simply cruising along in an open boat on the Kinabatangan River in eastern Sabah can offer one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in Southeast Asia. This 560-kilometer river flows through various habitats, supporting a diverse range of wildlife such as proboscis monkeys, orangutans, Bornean pygmy elephants, and many species of birds. Despite some logging in the upper reaches, the lowland forests and mangroves have largely survived.

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 2005, protects a 27,800-hectare area along the river, creating a wildlife corridor. Conservation efforts are ongoing, with NGOs and researchers working to preserve the environment and its inhabitants.

Comfortable wildlife lodges offer visitors a chance to explore the area, with tributaries like the Tenegang, Menanggol, and Resang rivers known for their Proboscis Monkeys and bird species. Oxbow lakes, such as Kelananap and Kelandaun, provide unique ecosystems within the region, surrounded by untouched freshwater swamp and lowland rainforests.