Things To Do

Cruises at dawn and dusk from our own jetty, jungle trails, night walks and an observation tower over the elephant grassland. Nearly all of it is already in your package.

CRUISE TYPES
4
GUESTS PER BOAT
Max 12
DEPARTS FROM
Our own jetty
MOST ACTIVITIES
Included

Four Ways Onto The River

01

Dawn river cruise

Out on the water as the river wakes up. Proboscis monkeys stirring in the riverside trees, hornbills crossing overhead and the best light of the day. Included in every package.

02

Afternoon river cruise

The second cruise of the day, when elephants come down to the bank to feed and the light turns gold. Two hours on the water with your guide. Included in every package.

03

Night cruise

Spotlights on the water after dark for crocodiles, sleeping kingfishers and owls. An optional add-on at RM100 per person, minimum 2 guests.

04

Jungle & night walks

Trails behind the lodge with a guide — stick insects, frogs, sleeping birds and civets after dark. Rubber boots provided. Included in every package.

Proboscis monkeys silhouetted at dawn over the Kinabatangan River

Dawn river cruise

A 5.30am start, a coffee on the way to the jetty, and the Kinabatangan at its most active. Hornbills, proboscis monkeys and orang-utans as the mist lifts off the water. Included in every stay.
Sunset reflected on the Kinabatangan River near Bilit

Afternoon river cruise

Departs as the light fades, when proboscis monkeys gather at the river's edge to pick a sleeping tree and elephants come down to the bank to cool off. Included in every stay.
Estuarine crocodile on the Kinabatangan River bank

Night cruise

The river after dark, in search of estuarine crocodiles, owls and sleeping kingfishers. An optional extra at RM100 per person, bookable at reception on arrival.
Wild orang-utan mother with baby in the canopy, Kinabatangan

Jungle walks

Forest trails a short walk from the restaurant, explored morning and afternoon with a nature guide. Orang-utan nests overhead, and free rubber boots for the mud. Included in every stay.
Shaft of light inside Gomantong Caves

Night walks

Out on the trails every night after dinner with an experienced guide, looking for slow lorises, tarsiers, civets, sleeping kingfishers and stick insects. Included in every stay.
View of the Kinabatangan River and forest from Hornbill Lodge's observation tower

Wildlife observation tower

A three-storey tower, the only one of its kind in the area, giving a bird's-eye view over the Kinabatangan and the forest canopy. Open through the day and included in every stay.
Guests on a River Junkie boat cruising the Kinabatangan

Extended river cruise

Up to two extra hours on our twin-engine long-range boat, travelling as far as Abai downriver or Batu Putih upriver. RM180 per person, minimum 4 people, prebooked.
Three birdwatchers with binoculars raised in a small covered river boat scanning riverbank trees at dawn

Birdwatching

175+ species on our own 30 acres, all eight hornbills on the river, and a full family-by-family checklist compiled by visiting birders. How birding works here and what to ask for.

How We Run Our Excursions

Sixteen rooms means small boats and small walking groups. Our guides record every sighting, and the engines are chosen so the wildlife lets you get close.

Small groups

A maximum of 12 guests per boat, so everyone gets a clear view.

Quiet engines

Four-stroke outboards — less noise, less fume, closer wildlife.

Sightings logged

Guides record orang-utans, hornbills and elephants on every trip.

What You Might See

Ten primate species, eight hornbills, pygmy elephants and the estuarine crocodile — all photographed on this stretch of the Kinabatangan.

Most of this is already in the price

Cruises, walks, guides and all meals come with every package. Tell us your dates and we will tell you exactly what your days look like.

Activity Questions

What is included, what costs extra and what to bring.

River cruises, jungle walks and night walks all come as standard with every package, along with your guide. The number of cruises depends on how many nights you stay.
The night cruise is RM100 per person with a minimum of 2 guests, and an extended river cruise of up to 2 extra hours is also RM100 per person, minimum 2 guests. The Gomantong caves day trip is RM300 per person, minimum 2 guests.
A maximum of 12 guests per boat. With only 16 rooms at the lodge, our boats never run full in the way larger operators' do.
Insect repellent, a light rain layer, a hat and your camera. Binoculars are useful. Rubber boots are provided for the jungle trails.
No — this is wild, unfenced forest and that is the point. Proboscis monkeys, macaques, hornbills and crocodiles are seen on most cruises; orang-utans and pygmy elephants are less predictable. More nights means more chances.
Yes. The tower looks over the canopy and the elephant grassland and you are welcome to walk up between excursions, at your own pace.

4.9 on TripAdvisor

73 reviews · #5 of 17 in Kinabatangan District

Verified guest reviews on TripAdvisor.

A Perfect Example of Outstanding Hospitality

Wim W. Netherlands · August 2026

Great accommodation, fantastic location, good wildlife sightings

Tanja F. Germany · May 2026

Great Choice

Graham M. United Kingdom · May 2026