The Gomantong Caves
Ancient rainforest, the world’s most valuable birds’ nests and over a million bats pouring out of a limestone hillside at dusk.
Gomantong caves & forest reserve
Edible birds’ nests have been harvested at Gomantong for centuries, and the importance of the ecosystem surrounding this huge limestone outcrop led to its early recognition and protection.
Today, edible swiftlet nests are still harvested twice annually, between February and April and again between July and September, and visitors can witness the perilous process — involving ladders of impossible lengths — from a boardwalk through the caves, as well as enjoying the forest reserve surrounding them.
Visitors interested in exploring the caves and learning more about traditional swiftlet nest harvesting can join an optional morning visit after checking out from Hornbill Lodge (additional cost applies). For the best chance of orangutan encounters and to witness the spectacular bat exodus, we recommend staying for 4D3N and visiting the caves in the late afternoon.
What you see :
- 32 sq km of protected lowland forest around the limestone
- Simud Hitam — the black nest cave, open to visitors
- Two harvest seasons a year for edible birds' nests
- A boardwalk over a living floor of cockroaches and crabs
- The bat exodus at dusk, hunted overhead by bat hawks
Why visit Gomantong Forest Reserve
Wild orang-utans
The forest surrounding the Gomantong caves has been under protection for decades, saving it from deforestation and commercial plantations that claimed much of the surrounding area. Home to red leaf monkeys, orang-utans, a multitude of bird species and more, a visit to Gomantong Forest Reserve offers visitors a chance to explore the Bornean rainforest via a short boardwalk.
It is not uncommon for visitors to see orang-utans in the vicinity of the caves and, aside from Sepilok, Gomantong is possibly one of the easiest places in Sabah to photograph orang-utans.
Brilliant light displays
The cave system at Gomantong is divided into two main parts. Simud Hitam, or Black Cave, is the lower part, and offers visitors easy access to the sights, smells and brilliant light displays via a wooden boardwalk through the cave. Access to the entrance of Simud Hitam is via a short rainforest boardwalk from the car park and is suitable for guests of most ages and abilities.
The upper part of Gomantong caves, Simud Putih or White Cave, is where the most valuable birds’ nests are found. Access is restricted, not only by the number of steps required to reach the cave but also because of the value of the birds’ nests extracted from there.
Edible birds’ nests
You may not have encountered edible birds’ nests before, but they are one of the most expensive products of animal origin in the world, reaching up to $10,000 per kilo. Crafted by the cave swiftlets from their saliva, the nests are prized for their high protein content and rich flavour, and have been used in Chinese cooking for centuries, predominantly for birds’ nest soup.
White birds’ nests consist almost exclusively of saliva and require very little processing prior to sale. Black birds’ nests, in contrast, are mixed with feathers, twigs and dirt, and require far more extensive processing before sale or consumption.
Bat exodus
Weather dependent and only visible in the late afternoon. Arrive early enough to catch the rays of light streaming into the caves, then make your way up a very steep staircase to the top of the limestone outcrop for the best view of the near-nightly bat exodus.
Watch as over 1 million bats pour out of the limestone outcrop and into the claws & jaws of waiting predators – bat hawks & pied hornbills
To catch the bat exodus, book a 4D3N stay at Hornbill Lodge with an afternoon trip to Gomantong Forest Reserve.
Light, Limestone And Wings
Shafts of light through the cave mouth, nest-collectors’ rattan ladders, and a million bats leaving at dusk.
Visiting The Caves
There are two ways to see the caves with us, either in the afternoon as part of a 4D3N stay or in the morning as an optional add-on on your check-out day. Only the afternoon visit includes the bat exodus.
The optional check-out day add-on includes a guided visit of the Gomantong caves, lunch in Sepilok and a guided visit of Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre.
It costs RM300 per person; tours depart daily subject to a minimum of 2 guests. A 25% discount is available for children aged 4 to 12 years old. Pre-booking is recommended as spaces are limited.
You can also choose to visit the Gomantong caves and not join us for lunch or the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre. This option is RM240 per adult.
You can book the Gomantong caves & Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre add-on at the same time as your stay at Hornbill Lodge.
The add-on may also be booked at reception, subject to availability and with a minimum of 24 hours notice.
The add-on is suitable for guests with flights departing Sandakan at 5.30pm or later or those staying overnight in Sepilok or Sandakan.
Wear covered shoes with good grip and stick to the boardwalk
To see the bat exodus itself, you need to book the 4D3N Kinabatangan river safari with Gomantong — the caves visit runs from afternoon through sunset.
The afternoon visit cannot be pre-booked as part of a 2 night stay. You can however enquire at reception to see if there is an existing trip that has space for you to join (additional costs apply)
Around 500 steps to the bat exodus viewpoint (recommended); ground-level viewing also available.
Yes, there is a mountain of guano, aka bat poop in the Gomantong caves. The smell, somewhat similar to fertiliser, is noticeable before you reach the caves and stronger whilst you are inside the caves
We won't sugar-coat it. The Gomantong caves are home to a large population of cockroaches and giant centipedes. They are mainly inside the guano mountain and on the walls of the cave but you will also see them on the boardwalk handrail and boardwalk itself. If you have a phobia of creep-crawlies, consider skipping the cave visit and spending more time in the forest outside.
4.9 on TripAdvisor
73 reviews · #5 of 17 in Kinabatangan District
Verified guest reviews on TripAdvisor.
See the caves and the exodus for yourself
Tell us your departure time from Sandakan and we will tell you which Gomantong option fits.
4D3N Kinabatangan with Gomantong
4 days · 3 nights · from RM2190 pp
4D3N Kinabatangan with Gomantong
4 days · 3 nights · from RM2190 pp
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
- Email:info@example.com
4D3N Kinabatangan with Gomantong
4 days · 3 nights · from RM2190 pp
Three nights on the river plus the limestone caves and their bat exodus.
3D2N Kinabatangan river safari
3 days · 2 nights · from RM1300 pp
3D2N Kinabatangan river safari
3 days · 2 nights · from RM1300 pp
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
- Email:info@example.com
3D2N Kinabatangan river safari
3 days · 2 nights · from RM1300 pp
Four cruises, a jungle walk and two night walks — our most-booked stay.
4D3N Turtle Island & Kinabatangan
4 days · 3 nights · from RM3090 pp
4D3N Turtle Island & Kinabatangan
4 days · 3 nights · from RM3090 pp
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
- Email:info@example.com
4D3N Turtle Island & Kinabatangan
4 days · 3 nights · from RM3090 pp
A night with nesting turtles on Selingan, then two nights on the river.
