With regards to a Sukau Kinabatangan River Cruise, many backpackers and impartial vacationers are questioning if it’s attainable to go to this unbelievable place with out an costly organized tour. This Kinabatangan River weblog goals to assist reply the widespread questions and information you thru what you should know earlier than heading to Sukau and down the Kinabatangan River.
How To Get to Kinabatangan River
At the start, how do I get to the Kinabatangan River? In the event you’re trying to spend a few days right here, then the most effective place to remain is the small village of Sukau.
Sukau is situated on the banks of the Kinabatangan River and smack-bang in the midst of the Kinabatangan Conservation Space. Because it’s on location so to talk, Sukau is a superb place to e-book a day-to-day Sukau Kinabatangan River cruise for wildlife recognizing.
There are a myriad of the way in which you’ll be able to attain Sukau and the Kinabatangan River that doesn’t require an organized tour, although they aren’t that apparent with none analysis.
BUS: Buses operating from Kota Kinabalu to Semporna go by the Sukau Junction. You may get off right here and hope for a van to take you down the lengthy dust highway into Sukau. Alternatively, buses additionally run from Sandakan to Semporna and Lahad Datu, which you’ll be able to bounce on and get off on the similar junction.
MR CHOY: Probably the most direct and most cost-effective choice is to get shared transport by a Sukau native man often called Mr Choy. Mr Choy does each day journeys from Sandakan for 50 Ringgit and may choose you up from Sepilok on the way in which. His Whatsapp quantity is: 019-536-1889.
GRAB CAR: Simply the costliest choice. Count on to pay round 300 from Sandakan. I’ve been informed that drivers even ask for extra since they’ll should drive all the way in which again too.
For extra data on the way to get right here, I’ve additionally written a Kinabatangan River weblog publish right here.
Kinabatangan River Lodging
Sure, it’s attainable to remain on the Kinabatangan River, particularly in Sukau. There are additionally choices that cater to each funds.
BUDGET RAINFOREST LODGING: RB LODGE
The most cost effective Kinabatangan River lodging you’ll discover in Sukau. That is the place I stayed. The rooms are a bungalow fashion and situated proper on the sting of the river. Breakfast is included and a double room prices lower than $14 USD per night time.
BACKPACKER VIBE: SUKAU BACKPACKER’S B&B
Positioned a couple of hundred meters from the RB Lodge, this B&B prices a couple of additional {dollars} however has extra comfy and cleaner rooms. The breakfast can also be a buffet fashion.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SUKAU RAINFOREST LODGE
The Sukau Rainforest Lodge must be the good place to remain on the Kinabatangan River. The lodge is situated on the banks of the river is the primary ecotourism firm within the space. The lodge homeowners are constructed on conservation and amenities embody communal halls, lounge, restaurant, boardwalks, a pool, and a bar. They’ve additionally received a number of tourism and sustainability awards.
You too can examine all Sukau and Kinabatangan River lodging choices on Reserving.com.
DON’T MISS THE SUKAU CAVE HIKE: READ THE GUIDE
What to do in Kinabatangan River
One of the best factor to do within the Kinabatangan River is to take a Sukau Kinabatangan River cruise. In the event you’re already in Sukau, these are comparatively cheap and positively a must-do exercise. However hey, that’s why you’re studying this Kinabatangan River weblog proper?
Boats cruise down the river and deep into the Kinabatangan Conservation Space to get a uncommon glimpse on the distinctive Sabah Bornean wildlife.
River Cruise Value: 50 Ringgit Per Individual
Staying on the river implies that you don’t want to purchase a pre-booked package deal on check-in. All lodges and accommodations in Sukau. On the RB lodge, the place I stayed, the host provided open journeys the place we might select to hitch in on morning, afternoon or night time cruises.
Most Sukau Kinabatangan River cruises rent native fishermen to information you down the river, which is nice since you’re contributing on to native communities.
READ MORE: SABAH ITINERARY 7 DAYS – THINGS TO DO IN SABAH BORNEO
Sukau Kinabatangan River Cruise Itinerary
Questioning about what to anticipate on the river? Right here’s a fast itinerary of choices it’s important to select from and how much animals you may be fortunate sufficient to identify.
Kinabatangan River Wildlife
I’ve stated it earlier than and I’ll say it once more, the Kinabatangan River is without doubt one of the most biodiverse locations that I’ve ever visited. Right here’s a fast abstract of a number of the Kinabatangan River Wildlife you would possibly see based mostly on how uncommon they’re.
Widespread
I’m not a biologist by any means, however I’ve categorized these species as widespread based mostly on what I used to be informed by the information and which species we noticed on each journey.
Widespread wildlife consists of:
- Lengthy-tailed Macaque Monkeys (there are hundreds)
- Proboscis Monkeys (endangered)
- Hornbills
- hawk eagles
- owls (night time cruises)
- stalks
- Kingfishers
Much less Widespread
Much less widespread species are those who we have been informed are fairly uncommon, however these you’ll have an honest likelihood of seeing for those who take a couple of Sukau Kinabatangan River cruises.
- Leaf Monkeys (and completely different species variants)
- Bornean Gibbon
- Flying squirrels (night time)
- Saltwater Crocodiles
- Turtles
- Black Leaf Monkey
- Pythons
- Wild Boar
- Wild Deer
- Orangutans
- Irrawaddy dolphins
- Monitor Lizards
Tremendous Fortunate
- Pygmy Elephant
- Otters
- Tarsiers (night time cruise)
- Sluggish loris
- Freshwater Sharks
- Sumatran rhino
- Solar bears
In fact, since that is only a Kinabatangan River weblog publish and never a wildlife encyclopedia, it doesn’t checklist each single animal you would possibly encounter. For extra data from precise wildlife professionals, you possibly can try this web site.
Dawn Cruise
The morning cruises are my favourite. Although you won’t spot as many monkeys, the sunshine appears to penetrate the bushes on the river banks revealing a great deal of hidden reptiles and likewise fowl species.
We have been additionally informed that it’s the next likelihood to identify extra birds, however I feel we noticed simply as many within the afternoons.
Sundown Cruise
A Sukau Kinabatangan River cruise for sundown often begins round 4:30 PM and is just like the morning cruise. Nevertheless, you’ll have extra likelihood of seeing completely different monkey species’ as they make their method to the river banks within the afternoon.
Have in mind although that the possibility for rain is greater throughout this time. Your information will in all probability drop you again simply after sundown.
Night time Cruise
The night time cruises are essentially the most distinctive journeys. You’ll be armed with a torch to identify nocturnal species together with tarsiers, possums, squirrels and naturally, the glowing eyes of 4 meter plus crocodiles.
After three days on the river, we did 5 journeys to maximise our probabilities of recognizing the rarer animals like Orangutans, rhinos, and Pygmy Elephants. Sadly, we didn’t spot any of those. Nevertheless, we noticed greater than our fair proportion of animals, a lot of that are extremely uncommon.
Ideas For the Kinabatangan River
Listed below are some fast suggestions that may serve you properly in your journey to Sukau. You probably have any extra questions on impartial Sukau Kinabatangan River cruises or the rest, you possibly can throw down a remark under or electronic mail me. I’d be very happy to assist.
Convey Meals and Snacks
The village could be very distant and also you received’t have entry to basic consolation meals or snacks. Most eating places reap the benefits of the shortage of providers and cost a hefty premium.
Finances Restaurant
There’s one small restaurant situated roughly 500 meters downstream from RB Lodge which serves comparatively low cost native meals. Right here, you possibly can keep away from the hefty costs and nonetheless get an honest Nasi Goreng or Mie Goreng for 7 Ringgit.
Convey Money
Right here’s the place I tousled. Since Borneo had been a way more costly vacation spot than what I used to be used to, I merely didn’t notice that I hardly had any money left on me after I arrive in Sukau. I rapidly discovered that there aren’t any ATMs inside an hour’s drive.
Fortunately, Choy, our driver from Sepilok, was sort and reliable sufficient to take my debit card to the ATM on his subsequent morning run to withdraw some money for me. Severely although, keep away from the embarrassing scenario and ensure you convey enough money to your lodging and Sukau river cruises.
Convey a Dry Bag
The Kinabatangan River is a significantly moist place. That is very true within the moist season. I’d advocate bringing a dry bag to retailer your electronics in and to convey additional dry garments since something moist will seemingly stay that means.
Mosquito Repellant
You’ll thank me later.
Stroll the Elephant Path to Sukau Cave
In Sukau, there’s one explicit path that I consider is a should. The path winds by way of the thick rainforest into an enormous cave system. This one isn’t on any journey guides or books and is an area gem.
Test Out the Kinabatangan River Fireflies
In the event you can courageous the rampant mosquitos, you’ll have the ability to spot fireflies flying round virtually in all places in Sukau at night time time. If that is one thing that you simply’ve all the time needed to see, then simply come out at night time and go for a glance.
Extra Photographs From Sukau and The Kinabatangan River
Hopefully, this Kinabatangan River weblog will show you how to uncover your inside Nat Geo photographer.
After some extra wildlife inspo? Listed below are some extra snaps from the Sukau river cruise and the Kinabatangan River.
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