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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Deramakot

5D4N Kinabatangan & Deramakot Wildlife Safari

5 days
4 nights
Departs Sandakan
Varied
Price fromRM 5,080
private room throughout, per person, based on 2 pax sharing
Duration5 days
4 nights on the road
DepartsSandakan
Groupmin 2 pax
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About this trip

One of the best wildlife tours in Borneo! A 5 day adventure through Sepilok, the Kinabatangan river and Deramakot Forest Reserve that brings you endless wildlife spotting opportunities. From dawn to dusk and into the night, explore wildlife rehabilitation centres and join jungle walks, river cruises, 4×4 safaris, night walks and night drives! The Kinabatangan river and Deramakot Forest Reserve combined are home to practically anything you could hope to see in Borneo including 8 species of hornbills, orangutans, gibbons, maroon langurs, proboscis monkeys, leopard cats, pygmy elephants, tarsier, colugo, saltwater crocodiles and for the lucky, the elusive clouded leopard! Accommodation during the tour is on a twin-share private room basis and activities include river cruises, 4X4 safaris, night walks and a guided visit to Sepilok sanctuaries.

Highlights

  • 4 river cruises at dusk & dawn
  • Jungle & night walks
  • 4x4 safaris in Deramakot Forest Reserve
  • Sepilok orangutan & sunbear sanctuaries
  • 2 nights Hornbill Lodge, 2 nights Deramakot Forest Reserve

    • Trip facts

    Deramakot, Kinabatangan River, Sepilok
    Jungle walks, Night Drive, Night Walk, River Cruise, Wildlife
    5 days of travel
    Physical difficulty 2 / 5
    Departs from Sandakan
    Minimum 2 pax per departure
    Rates: valid until 31st Dec 2026
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    Day by day

    Day 1

    Sepilok > Kinabatangan river

    Your wildlife adventure will start with pick up from Sandakan hotels or airport between 8am - 8.30am or hotels in Sepilok from 08.45 - 9am. Head first to the orangutan sanctuary to watch the younger, playful orangutans in the nursery before catching the 10am feeding. Around 11am your guide will take you to the sunbear sanctuary to watch the sunbears (the world’s smallest species of bear!) from raised walkways. From there you will travel 2 hours overland to Hornbill Lodge and have lunch on arrival. Check-into your room and take a moment to relax before heading out 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

    Kinabatangan river

    As day dawns, join your second river cruise and watch as the river comes to life. Keep an eye out for bird life including Borneo’s endemic 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 or even orangutans themselves if you are lucky! Enjoy lunch overlooking the river and a chance to rest before joining your afternoon river cruise in search of this area's unique wildlife. After dinner, join your guide for a night walk or add-on an optional night cruise in search of nocturnal wildlife along the river bank. Meals - B, L, D

    Day 3

    Kinabatangan river > Telupid > Deramakot

    Wake up early and join your guide for a final dawn river cruise then return to the lodge and enjoy breakfast overlooking the river before departing at 9am for your 2.5 - 3 hour drive to Telupid. Stop off in Telupid for lunch then continue your journey on a 2 hour gravel road to Deramakot Forest Reserve. Arrive mid-afternoon, check into your accommodation and have an orientation to the area with your guide. Settle in, relax or take a walk to explore the surrounding area. After dinner, embark on a 2 hour 4x4 night safari with your guide in search of nocturnal animals. (B, L, D)

    Day 4

    Deramakot

    Wake up early for a 4x4 dawn drive in search of wildlife and to experience the beautiful sights and sounds of the lush green rainforest in the morning. Return to the lodge for breakfast, and spend the rest of the morning resting or go on a nature walk on the trails in the area if you wish. After lunch, head out for an afternoon 4x4 drive for more wildlife sighting possibilities. After dinner, join your final 4x4 night drive in search of wild cats, slow loris, flying squirrels and more (B,L,D)

    Day 5

    Deramakot > Telupid > Sandakan

    Wake up to the sounds of the forest and take a walk in the area nearby the lodge before departing from Deramakot Forest Reserve after breakfast, your estimated arrival time back in Sandakan is 1.30 - 2pm. (B) Alternative pick up and drop off locations are available on request, additional charges apply. Note: All activities are subject to weather condition and may be rescheduled if necessary.

    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
    Chalet accommodation at Deramakot Forest Reserve

    Deramakot Forest Reserve

    Deramakot Forest Reserve, Sabah
    Simple forest chalets managed by the Sabah Forestry Department and reached only by 4WD along a gravel road from Telupid. Each chalet contains 3 rooms with air-conditioning and attached bathrooms with hot showers. Your meals will be prepared by the local community using locally available produce. This is a simple no-frills place with no hotel-style services on site. It's all about the wildlife safaris!
  • Private twin or double roomSimple air-conditioned room with ensuite bathroom.
    • FacilitiesBasic forest park-style chalets with several bedrooms and a communal living area. Fan and air-conditioning, attached bathroom with hot shower. Blankets, pillows, towels, soap and shampoo are provided.
    Good to knowElectricity is available from 10am - 2pm and 6pm - midnight daily. Access is 4WD only. Bring binoculars, insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, leech socks, a raincoat, sun hat, covered shoes with decent grip, a torch and a water bottle. The night drives here are among the most reliable places in Borneo to see wild cats.
    A closer look

    What's included

  • Land transfers as per itinerary
  • 2 nights private river chalet at Hornbill Lodge
  • 2 nights simple private air-conditioned twin or double room with ensuite bathroom at Deramakot Forest Reserve
  • Meals as stated
  • Entry & conservation fees
  • Activities as per itinerary

    • Not included

  • Flights
  • Unscheduled transfers & alternative pick up / drop off locations
  • Malaysian Tourism tax RM10 per room per night (applicable to non-Malaysian passport holders)

    • Prices

    Min 2 paxRM 5080per person, based 2 pax sharing a private room
    Pricing notesSingle supplement for solo traveller in private room, per person — RM900 Peak period surcharge, per person, stays at Hornbill Lodge in April, July, August & September 2026 — RM 200 Malaysian Tourism tax per room per night (applicable to non-Malaysian passport holders) — RM 10
    ChildrenFamilies with children below 12 will require a private tour arrangement during their time in Deramakot, please contact us for a quotation
    Rate validityvalid until 31st Dec 2026

    Frequently asked questions

    Where does this safari take me?
    You begin in Sandakan with the Sepilok orangutan and sunbear sanctuaries, then spend two nights on the Kinabatangan River before heading inland to Deramakot Forest Reserve for two nights, returning to Sandakan on the final day. Deramakot is a mixed-dipterocarp forest spanning over 55,000 hectares in the interior of Borneo and one of the best places in Borneo to see wildlife — in 1997 it became the first tropical forest in the world to be awarded "well-managed" status by the Forest Stewardship Council.
    How do I get from the Kinabatangan to Deramakot?
    On day three you join a final dawn river cruise and have breakfast overlooking the river before departing at 9am for a 2.5 to 3 hour drive to Telupid. After a lunch stop there, you continue along a 2-hour gravel road into Deramakot Forest Reserve, arriving mid-afternoon for check-in and an orientation with your guide. This transfer is included in your package.
    What is the accommodation like?
    Our own Hornbill Lodge on the banks of the Kinabatangan is your home for the first two nights, where all private river chalets and dorms are newly renovated, air-conditioned and have modern ensuite bathrooms and river-facing balconies. Deramakot Forest Reserve offers basic but comfortable Forest Chalets, each with four twin or double private rooms inside and a communal living space; every room is air-conditioned with an attached bathroom. Electricity & air-conditioning at Deramakot is only available from 10am - 2pm and 6pm - midnight.
    Is this a private tour or a small group?
    Our tours run on a small group basis and are designed for visitors who are happy to share a guide to help keep costs down. Solo travellers can join any of our existing trips, subject to a minimum of 2 and maximum of 8 people per departure. If you'd prefer a custom trip, a private guide or a special interest trip, just contact us and we'll be happy to put together the perfect Kinabatangan and Deramakot adventure for you.
    What is not included?
    Flights, unscheduled transfers and alternative pick-up or drop-off locations are not included, nor is Malaysian tourism tax of RM10 per room per night, which applies to non-Malaysian passport holders. Personal expenses, snacks & drinks other than tea, coffee & water are extra.

    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