Tawau Hills and Kinabatangan wildlife safari | Borneo

📍 Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia

4.9 ( 116 reviews)

See them in the wild

Habitat restoration

Community support

Conservation research

Tawau Hills and Kinabatangan wildlife safari | Borneo

From

Duration5 days

FitnessModerate

Cancellation70% refundable 16 days before start time

🚗On-demand departure

🎨Free trip design

⏰<4h response

🏅Conservation Charity

Overview

Kinabatangan is perhaps one of the best places to see wildlife in Borneo. During the river cruises, you’re likely to encounter all of the ‘Borneo Big Five’: orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, rhinoceros hornbills, and saltwater crocodiles. For this trip, we usually collaborate with local homestays. However, Kinabatangan’s incredible wildlife viewing comes at a cost: logging and palm oil plantations have caused much of the forest to be lost, leaving wildlife confined to a very narrow stretch of forest, which makes them easier to spot. The economics of palm oil, however, are complex. That’s why we recommend combining this trip with a safari in Tawau Hills Park, a primary rainforest that is incredibly rich in biodiversity. The team has recorded 338 species of birds, 109 species of mammals, 57 species of snakes, and 87 species of frogs there. Through this route, you’ll gain an understanding of the nuances of palm oil, see how both a highly disturbed forest (Kinabatangan) and a primary rainforest can support wildlife, and learn about the important work local NGOs are doing. This tour is designed to give you a deeper appreciation of how conservation is carried out on the ground and in an Asian context.

wildlife highlights

Why you'll love it

🔹 A biodiversity hotspot

The jungle of Borneo is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. For many visitors, the island's lush rainforests and rich wildlife are the biggest draw, and they frequently serve as a backdrop in David Attenborough's documentaries. It's one of the few places where one can still see orangutans in the wild. But conservation in Borneo is not just a story for TV, it's lived daily, shaped by complex social and economic realities.

🔹 Learn about Conservation on the ground

Palm oil plantations are often portrayed as the primary cause of deforestation and biodiversity loss. While they do play a role, the picture is far more complex. Conservation in Borneo requires a nuanced understanding that balances human needs with environmental protection. That's why we work with local NGOs and guides who are conservationists and ecologists. We work together to expose pangolin trafficking, and the tours are also great opportunities to monitor wildlife in the jungles.With our Borneo itinerary, we endeavour to show you not only the incredible wildlife on this land, but also to unpack how conservation is practised in an Asian context.

What you will be doing

Day 1: Arrival & Kinabatangan River Cruise

Arrival at Kinabatangan before lunch for the afternoon river cruise. Night cruise optional

Day 2: Morning Cruise & Departure for Tawau Hills Park

Kinabatangan morning cruise and private transfer to Tawau Hill Park. Night walk at Tawau Hills

Day 3: Tawau Hills Park

Our morning wildlife walk will be at 7:00 before breakfast. Then you’ll have some free time to do the longer trails on your own. The late afternoon wildlife walk is at 16:30, then we’ll have dinner and the night wildlife walk

Day 4: Tawau Hill Park

Similar itinerary to Day 3

Day 5: Departure

Morning walk, and free time until departure for Tawau airport

Things to know

AccessibilityChildren friendly

Fitness levelModerate

Tour languageEnglish

Licence requiredNone

The trip is all inclusive apart from flights and drinks.
If you like several of the trips in Borneo, please let us know as some can be combined into one longer itinerary.
Check with your government guidelines on vaccine requirements.Please note that some vaccines can take several months to complete the course.
We recommend you take your own travel insurance in case of flight cancellations or other unexpected events
You will need to be reasonably fit as the climate can be humid, and some of the trails can become muddy after rain, and there will also be uphill hikes
Bring comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing
As this trip is booking on-demand, we will do our best to accommodate additional requirements. Please let us know in the booking form.
Please let us know your dietary requirements in the booking form.
Bring your own medication.
It is best to bring your own torchlight and binoculars. You can borrow from us without charge.
You can hand wash your laundry at Tawau Hills Park but the weather here is damp so it will take time to dry
There are some accommodation choices at Tawau Hills Park, which we will provide you with further information based on your scheduled travel dates and availability. The Research Centre has shared shower and toilets and no hot shower. It has all the basic amenities such as towels, power sockets, blankets. You can choose a room with air conditioning or one without. The Chalet at Tawau Hills Park has no hot shower but all the basic amenities including air conditioning, mini fridge, filtered water and kitchenette.

Inclusions and Exclusions

✅ Included

Tour transport
Pick up and drop off transport
Meals
All activities
Accommodations
Tour guide

❌ Not included

Flights
Gratuities

Where we'll meet

Meet up/Pick up location: Your hotel in Sabah

Instruction: We will pick you up from the airport

ReturnThis trip returns to meeting point.

Tell us your travel plan, and we'll send you a personalised itinerary and quote. There is no obligation to book.