HOTEL REVIEW Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Sukau Rainforest Lodge is the go-to lodge within Sabah’s Kinabatangan River Wildlife Sanctuary in Malaysian Borneo. David Attenborough and his BBC team stayed here in 2011. It is a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World! We stayed here for 4 nights.

Getting there

There are two ways to get to Sukau Rainforest Lodge, by road or by boat.  Both take 2.5 hours. Leaving Sandakan jetty, the speedboat passes villages, fishing shacks, and local fishermen.  Once the water turns brown, then you know you are on the Kinabatangan River. 

Upon arrival at the Lodge, there is a group welcome and briefing, with cold juice and a cold, moist towel. We finally arrived in the Bornean jungle.

Facilities Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Restaurant

You can eat in the Melapi Restaurant, an open-air pavilion set on stilts over the water in buffet style.

Fun Fact: Over 80% of the staff employed is from Sukau’s neighboring villages.

River Safari

Boat safaris are such a great way to witness the magical nature show, and as you’re sitting on a boat all the time, it’s possible for anyone of any age to participate.

Read more about this safari in this special blog post!
» The Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari Cruise

Hornbill Boardwalk

Take a walk on the Hornbill Boardwalk – the elevated and covered walkway stretching in a 500m loop through the jungle throughout the lodge. It was here that we saw a wild Orangutan 2 meters from us!  We keep watching him for an hour, seeing him eat, dangling from treetops, and going into the jungle. A magical moment for me right here! 

Gomantong Caves

Another tour from Sukau Rainforest Lodge is a visit to the nearby Gomantong Caves, featured in the BBC Attenborough Documentary “The Story of Life”.  Here, huge flocks of swiftlets nest against the cave walls, their saliva-strewn nests forming an inexplicable delicacy as birds nest soup. Alongside the shores of the river, you can find small houses that will attract the swiftlets to nest in those houses in order to collect the saliva as well.

Pools

There are two pools, plus an outdoor jacuzzi.

Rooms

There are two room types at Sukau Rainforest Lodge: the original rooms or the newest villas. We stayed in the villas. Down the boardwalk, the villas are arranged in pairs and constructed in such a way as to blend with the jungle.

Fun Fact: Sukau Rainforest Lodge filters and chlorinates its rainwater, and they rely on it 100% for water supply. Organic waste is composted while all other waste is brought back to Sandakan for recycling. Hot water is provided thanks to solar panels.

The small balcony gives you a view of the jungle and who knows what wildlife! Literally in the middle of the jungle.

Fun fact: The eco-friendly villas have air conditioning and a powerful overhead fan.

Fun fact: Listen to the forest’s sounds. The forest is never quiet.

In summary, Sukau Rainforest Lodge is a stylish and luxurious resort in the middle of the jungle and Kinabatangan River, and should definitely be included in your Sabah Borneo itinerary!

Life of a Passion – Travel Blog