Tabin wildlife reserve is Sabah’s largest nature reserve and is a must-see for wildlife enthusiasts! Comfortable river & hillside chalets, mud volcanoes that attract larger mammals, great bird watching opportunities, jungle trails and night safaris make this a number one choice amongst visitors to Sabah. Not only have all 8 species of Borneo’s hornbills been recorded here but lucky visitors can wake up to the sounds of gibbons, spot orangutans along the jungle trails and come face to face with civets, flying lemurs and leopard cats on 4×4 sunset & night safaris. The entry point to Tabin wildlife reserve is Lahad Datu, a small town on the east coast of Sabah which can be reached by bus/private transport from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Semporna as well as by plane from Kota Kinabalu.
Things To Do In Tabin
A guided walk along the Elephant Trail leads to the active Lipad mud volcano, a mineral salt lick that attracts wildlife and birds – look out for the multitude of animal footprints in the bare mud here. After dinner, join a 4X4 night safari drive in search of nocturnal animals. Early morning bird walks (or an optional dawn drive) offer a chance to see some of Tabin’s almost 300 recorded bird species, and the route to the core area passes a Birdwatching Tower. A guided walk on the Lipad trail through lush rainforest leads to Lipad Waterfall, where you can take a dip in the natural pool. Along the way is the Tabin Giant Tree, a majestic Mengaris tree over 50m tall and estimated to be more than 150 years old. In the afternoon, try the Tabin Rainforest Foot Soak, made with a natural blend of herbs to relax tired muscles after jungle treks. As the sun sets, dusk drives look for nocturnal wildlife & birds coming out to feed, and after-dinner night walks explore the nature trail near the resort. On longer stays, jungle walks with a nature guide and further night safaris offer more chances to spot wild cats, flying squirrels, colugo, tarsier and slow loris. Around the lodge itself, keep an eye out for gibbons, civets and a variety of birds.
Accommodation Options
Tabin Wildlife Resort is the only accommodation in Tabin Wildlife Reserve and offers a total of 6 Hill Lodges & 10 River Lodges with air conditioning, hot showers & private balconies. River Lodges are located at ground level, in front of the restaurant, and their balconies overlook the river. Hill Lodges are located on a small hill behind the restaurant with forest-view balconies; the furthest Hill Lodges require climbing around 150 steps to reach, while the nearest are on shorter staircases of only 20-30 steps. Room types are River Lodge (10 units, 2 single beds that can be pushed together), Hill Lodge Double (2 units, 1 double bed) and Hill Lodge Triple (4 units, 3 single beds). Electricity is provided by generators, with short interruptions when the generators change over. Most visitors stay for 2 or 3 nights to fully enjoy the surrounding area and maximise their wildlife spotting opportunities; a shorter 2D1N option is available too, except during July and August when the lodge is at its busiest.
Additional Information
What to bring: binoculars, insect repellent, long sleeve shirts & long pants, raincoat, sun hat, swim wear, comfortable trekking shoes, torch light, water bottle & personal toiletries. Leech socks are available for sale at the lodge. Tabin Wildlife Reserve is about a 1.5 hour drive from Lahad Datu, which is served by domestic flights from Kota Kinabalu, and can also be reached overland from the Kinabatangan region, Semporna, Sandakan and Tawau.
