River Junkie – fuel the addiction
River Junkie – fuel the addiction

River Junkie Tours Sdn. Bhd. — licensed Kota Kinabalu tour operator (KPL/LN5696), MATTA member, running wildlife safaris, Mount Kinabalu climbs and cave trips across Sabah and Sarawak since 2008.

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Bat exodus at Gomantong Caves, Sabah

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Kinabatangan River

4D3N Kinabatangan River Safari with Gomantong caves bat exodus (Hornbill Lodge)

4 days
3 nights
Departs Sandakan
Mid-range
Price fromRM 2,190
dormitory, per person, minimum 2 people per departure
Duration4 days
3 nights on the road
DepartsSandakan
Daily
Groupmin 2 pax
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About this trip

Join us for a 4 day Kinabatangan river safari at Hornbill Lodge in search of wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants and more. Enjoy river cruises at dawn, dusk and night as well as guided walks into the forest with your experienced guide. Explore the boardwalk at the Gomantong caves whilst keeping an eye out for orangutans in the vicinity! As the sun sets, witness an incredible exodus of over 1 million bats exiting the caves in search of food, followed closely by bat hawks looking for a meal of their own.

This tour can be combined with a guided visit to Sepilok orangutan and sunbear sanctuaries (additional charges apply).

Highlights

  • 6 wildlife-rich river cruises
  • Jungle walks & night walks
  • Primate search at Gomantong Forest Reserve
  • Gomantong caves boardwalk & million-bat exodus at dusk

    • Trip facts

    Kinabatangan River
    Birding, Caves, Jungle walks, Night Walk, River Cruise, Wildlife
    4 days of travel
    Physical difficulty 2 / 5
    Departs from Sandakan
    Minimum 2 pax per departure
    Rates: Stays from 1st Jan until 31st Dec 2026
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    Day by day

    Day 1

    Transfer to Hornbill Lodge & first cruise

    Your day will start with pick up Sandakan hotels, Sandakan airport or Sepilok area between 12pm and 1pm. Make sure to have something to eat before pick up or bring some snacks for the journey as the estimated transfer time to the Kinabatangan River is 2 to 2.5 hours. *If you would like to add-on a guided tour of Sepilok orangutan & sun bear sanctuaries before pick up, please let us know * Upon arrival, check-into your room and enjoy tea, coffee and snacks at our restaurant overlooking the river before embarking on your first river cruise at 4pm. Over the next 2 hours, your guide will be on the lookout for proboscis monkeys, long-tail & pig-tail macaques, silver leaf monkeys, orangutans, crocodiles, birds and more! After your river cruise, return to the lodge for dinner before joining your guide on an included night walk. Meals - D

    Day 2

    Dawn cruise, jungle walk & afternoon cruise

    As day dawns, join your second river cruise and watch as the river comes to life. Keep an eye out for bird life including the Kinabatangan river's 8 species of hornbills and have another chance to spot multiple species of primates. Return to the lodge for breakfast then join your guide for a jungle walk looking for signs of orangutans such as nests in the trees and orangutans themselves if you are lucky! Enjoy lunch overlooking the river and a chance to rest before joining an afternoon river cruise in search of more of the area's unique wildlife. After dinner, join your guide for a night walk or add-on a night cruise in search of nocturnal wildlife along the river bank. Meals - B, L, D Optional add-on: night cruise: RM100 per person

    Day 3

    Dawn cruise & Gomantong bat exodus

    Wake up early and join your guide for a dawn river cruise then return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, set out our jungle trail for another chance to spot wild orangutans in the forest and learn more about the flora & fauna of the Kinabatangan river. In the mid-afternoon, head to Gomantong caves to explore Simud Hitam (pictured here) via a wooden boardwalk and learn more about the process of swiftlet nest harvesting, orangutans are often spotted in the vicinity of the caves too. As the sun lowers over the horizon, climb a steep staircase* to the top of the limestone outcrop and settle in for a chance to witness over a million bats, exiting from the caves below, pursued by bat hawks looking for their evening meal. Return to the lodge for dinner and enjoy a complimentary night cruise (min 2 pax per night cruise). Meals - B, L, D * There are around 500 steps to climb to reach the view point above Gomantong caves and a reasonable level of physical fitness is required, the exodus is also usually visible at ground level from the car park. Please note that the bat exodus is weather dependent and, as with all wildlife sightings, cannot be guaranteed.

    Day 4

    Final cruise & departure transfer

    Enjoy a final dawn river cruise or opt for a well-deserved lie-in before breakfast then catch your transfer back to Sandakan airport in time for flights departing at 1pm or later or hotels in Sandakan and Sepilok. Meals - B Transfers to other overland destinations such as Lahad Datu, Semporna or Tawau are available on request and subject to additional charges.

    Where you'll stay

    Hornbill Lodge

    Hornbill Lodge

    Kinabatangan River, Sabah
    A small riverside lodge on the lower Kinabatangan at Bilit, wholly owned and run by River Junkie Tours. Guests stay in river-facing chalets with private balconies, air-conditioning, ceiling fans and ensuite hot-water rain showers. The lodge manages 30 acres of private riverfront for wildlife, replanting forest, maintaining salt licks and restoring elephant grassland. In addition to daily river cruises, guests also have the opportunity to explore the rainforest on foot on a network of jungle trails only accessible from Hornbill lodge.
  • DormitoryShared dormitory beds, available until 5 November 2026. After that date dormitories are replaced by Family River Chalets and only private rooms are offered.
  • River ChaletPrivate chalet on the riverfront with 1 King size bed & 1 single bed in each room. Sleeps up to 4 people with an extra bed.
  • Family River ChaletPrivate chalet on the riverfront with 1 King size bed & 1 set of bunk beds in each room. Sleeps up to 5 people with an extra bed.
    • FacilitiesLicensed bar and restaurant with river views. Private jetty for river cruises. Jungle trails with complimentary rubber boots. Information corner on local flora and fauna. Free onsite parking.
    Good to knowStarlink wifi in communal areas only, and there is no mobile phone signal. The lodge is built into a hillside, so there is no step-free access to the rooms: the nearest are 10 to 20 steps up and the furthest around 85. Tell us at booking if you need a room close to the restaurant. No plastic bottled water is sold, so bring a refillable bottle. No seafood is served, as there is no sustainable local supply.
    A closer look

    What's included

  • Scheduled return road transfer from Sandakan, Sepilok or Medan Selera (Kota Kinabatangan)
  • 3 breakfast, 2 lunch & 3 dinner
  • 3 nights accommodation in dorm or river chalet at Hornbill Lodge
  • River Junkie nature guide on shared basis
  • 6 river cruises (3 morning & 2 afternoon & 1 night cruise)
  • 2 guided night walks
  • guided trekking
  • Access to in-house wildlife observation tower
  • Gomantong forest reserve, caves & bat exodus
  • coffee, tea & water refills

    • Not included

  • Tourism tax (private rooms only- RM10/room per night)
  • tips (optional)
  • flights, personal expenses, drinks from the bar at Hornbill Lodge

    • Prices

    4D3N Hornbill Lodge DormRM 2190per person
    4D3N Hornbill Lodge River ChaletRM 2490per person (twin/triple share)
    Pricing notesSingle supplement (chalet) — RM 750 Peak period supplement (all room types), per person per night, all nights in April, July, August & September — RM 100 Tourism tax (private rooms only) per room per night — RM 10 Optional add-ons Guided visit of Sepilok orangutan sanctuary and the Borneo Sun bear conservation Centre with lunch on day 1, per person, min 2 pax — RM 300 Additional night cruise, per person, min 2 pax - RM100 Land transfer: Semporna, per person (min 2 pax) — RM 300 Land transfer: Lahad Datu, per person (min 2 pax) — RM 225
    ChildrenChild 4 - 12 years old: 25% off from adult rate if sharing a private room with parents (no child rate is available for dormitory beds)
    Rate validityStays from 1st Jan until 31st Dec 2026

    Frequently asked questions

    What time does the trip start, and when will I be back?
    Pick-up is from Sandakan hotels, Sandakan airport or the Sepilok area between 12pm and 1pm on day 1, and the transfer to the Kinabatangan River takes around 2 to 2.5 hours. On day 4 you transfer back to Sandakan airport in time for flights departing at 1pm or later, or to hotels in Sandakan and Sepilok.
    How fit do I need to be for the bat exodus, and is it guaranteed?
    There are around 500 steps to climb to reach the viewpoint above Gomantong caves, so a reasonable level of physical fitness is required. The exodus is also usually visible at ground level from the car park if you would rather not climb. Please note that the bat exodus is weather dependent and, as with all wildlife sightings, cannot be guaranteed.
    Can I book if I am travelling on my own?
    There is a minimum of 2 people per departure, solo travellers are welcome to join our existing departures.
    Is there step-free access to the rooms?
    No. Due to the lodge's hillside location there is no step-free access at Hornbill Lodge; the furthest rooms require climbing around 85 steps and the closest 10 to 20 steps. If you need a closer room, tell our team when you book and we will do our best to place you near the restaurant and reception area.
    Is this tour suitable for children?
    Yes, as long as your child can remain safely seated and relatively quiet for a 2 hour river cruise then they can join this tour. Child life jackets & rubber boots are available to borrow. Discounts are available for children 12 & below. Please see the pricing section above or email us for a quotation for your family.
    Can I book this as a private tour?
    Yes, all our Kinabatangan river safaris at Hornbill Lodge are available to book on a fully private basis and we recommend this option for families with very young children, wildlife photographers, avid bird watchers and anyone who would like the freedom of their own boat & guide. Surcharges apply, please contact us for a quotation

    Photos from this trip

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    Ready to book, or still deciding?

    Tell us your dates and we will come back with availability, the total cost and honest advice — including when a different trip would suit you better.

    Getting between destinations: we also run private van and 4X4 transfers across Sabah and a daily Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan shuttle — ask us to add either to your trip.

    WhatsApp / phone: +60 11 1265 8581
    Email: info@river-junkie.com
    Hours: 8am–5pm, Monday to Sunday
    Office: Wisma Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

    ★ 4.7 / 5 from 288 traveller reviews on TripAdvisor