Kg. Bilit, Kinabatangan Jalan Sukau - Bilit, 90200 Sandakan, Malaysia
#5 of 32 hotels in Sandakan
Guests' ChoiceBased on 367 hotel reviews
8.1Cleanliness
8.3
Comfort
8.2
Location
8.3
Facilities
7.8
Staff
9.1
Value for money
7.8
Free WiFi
5.3
Each review score is between 1-10. To get the overall score that you see, we add up all the review scores we’ve received and divide that total by the number of review scores we’ve received. We are currently testing a weighted review system in Malta and Iceland (excluding hotel and vacation rental chains). For properties in these countries, the more recent the review, the bigger the impact on the total review score calculation. In addition, guests can give separate ‘subscores’ in crucial areas, such as location, cleanliness, staff, comfort, facilities, value for money and free Wi-Fi. Note that guests submit their subscores and their overall scores independently, so there’s no direct link between them.
You can review an Accommodation that you booked through our Platform if you stayed there or if you arrived at the property but didn’t actually stay there. To edit a review you’ve already submitted, please contact our Customer Service team.
We have people and automated systems that specialise in detecting fake reviews submitted to our Platform. If we find any, we delete them and, if necessary, take action against whoever is responsible.
Anyone else who spots something suspicious can always report it to our Customer Service team, so our Fraud team can investigate.
Ideally, we would publish every review we receive, whether positive or negative. However, we won’t display any review that includes or refers to (among other things):
To make sure reviews are relevant, we may only accept reviews that are submitted within 3 months of checking out, and we may stop showing reviews once they’re 36 months old – or if the Accommodation has a change of ownership.
An Accommodation may choose to reply to a review.
When you see multiple reviews, the most recent ones will be at the top, subject to a few other factors (what language a review is in, whether it’s just a rating or contains comments as well, etc.). If you like, you can sort and/or filter them (by time of year, review score, etc.).
We sometimes show external review scores from other well-known travel websites. We make it clear when we’ve done this.
These guidelines and standards aim to keep the content on Booking.com relevant and family-friendly without limiting expression of strong opinions. They are also applicable regardless of the sentiment of the comment.
Contributions should be travel related. The most helpful contributions are detailed and help others make better decisions. Please don’t include personal, political, ethical, or religious commentary. Promotional content will be removed and issues concerning Booking.com’s services should be routed to our Customer Service or Accommodation Service teams.
Contributions should be appropriate for a global audience. Please avoid using profanity or attempts to approximate profanity with creative spelling, in any language. Comments and media that include 'hate speech', discriminatory remarks, threats, sexually explicit remarks, violence, and the promotion of illegal activity are not permitted.
All content should be genuine and unique to the guest. Reviews are most valuable when they are original and unbiased. Your contribution should be yours. Booking.com property partners should not post on behalf of guests or offer incentives in exchange for reviews. Attempts to bring down the rating of a competitor by submitting a negative review will not be tolerated.
Respect the privacy of others. Booking.com will make an effort to obscure email addresses, telephone numbers, website addresses, social media accounts, and similar details.
The opinions expressed in contributions are those of Booking.com customers and properties and not of Booking.com. Booking.com does not accept responsibility or liability for any reviews or responses. Booking.com is a distributor (without any obligation to verify) and not a publisher of these comments and responses.
By default, reviews are sorted based on the date of the review and on additional criteria to display the most relevant reviews, including but not limited to: your language, reviews with text, and non-anonymous reviews. Additional sorting options may be available (by type of traveller, by score, etc.).
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
End of dialog contentReviewed: 19 September 2024
Tan
Singaporeneed to walk a short distance to jetty if taking th eriver ride.
The breakfast met the basic need and just ok.
Stayed in September 2024
Reviewed: 12 September 2024
Till
GermanyThe Wifi was a bit unreliable, but staff was nice to do what they could in offering hotspots at the restaurant area.
Of course we did not want to miss the chance for a river cruise at the Kinabatangan river during our Borneo roadtrip. But some of the lodges directly at the river front were quite beyond our budget. But here the Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge was a perfect match: just a short walk to the jetty made things more affordable. The bungalows and rooms were nice (we had a triple room in the longhouse) and the restaurant area was like an extended living room. All the staff was really nice and when we arrived we got a quick lunch just before heading out to the afternoon cruise. Dinner was served between the cruise and the night walk, so everything is planned around the activities which were scheduled right at the check-in. The best part here is of course the animal spotting: during our cruise we were really lucky to see a herd of elephants. Also, lots of proboscis monkeys in the trees and not to forget the majestic hornbills! Lots of other monkeys and birds too, even at the lodge we spotted some big birds and very active monkeys (but luckily staff makes sure they are not getting used to come too close to the restaurant and rooms). Our guide (Kai) was very experienced at navigating the boat across the river, avoiding larger logs and spotting the animals at the same time. We would have loved to stay another day to also do some of the hikes, but even just for the 2 river cruises it was entirely worth coming here!
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 8 September 2024
Gordana
SerbiaBad smell in the bathroom. Seems to be a problem with most hotels in Sabah.
Very good, friendly and helpful staff. Nice accomodation in a wooden house surrounded by a forest. Short walk to the river bank. Well organized river cruise and night walk.
Stayed in September 2024
Reviewed: 30 August 2024
Jolene
MalaysiaIt's not next to the river - about 10 minutes walk away but sometimes the employees give us a ride to the jetty for the river cruise. The bathroom in one of the rooms we were staying had a bad smell - not sure if that can be helped. Food was average.
Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Big rooms and beds were comfortable. We saw prosbocis monkeys, macaque monkeys, rhinoceros hornbills, loads of birds and a crocodile.
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 30 August 2024
Raul
SpainActivitis not enough sucess
Staff
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 27 August 2024
Sandro
Spaindefinitely something can be improved in the overall organization, we almost missed one cruise cause it started 30' earlier than the programmed time, and we did miss the night cruise cause the boat was not available, but no one was going to notify us until we asked some info 15' before the supposed start. Out of two dinners, one was perfectly pleasant, but the other had flies swarming all over our table and the food - not sure which one of the two would be the average situation.
the river trips are amazing, the room is clean and overall better than I expected from a jungle lodge. Food is basic but good, and the staff is friendly.
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 26 August 2024
Frank
BelgiumThe toll of being one of the very few places easily accessible to view spectacular Borneo wildlife, is the very high number of tourists that clump together on the same stretches of the rivers and canals. Boats are loud and the smell of fuel at times can be pretty annoying. While this is of course out of the hands of the lodge, there is something the lodge could improve on, and that is the quality of the excursions they offer. The rivercruise excursion puts you in the middle of dozens of other boats. We avoided this for a second cruise by hiring a private cruise and a private night rivercruise (both pretty cheap). The night excursion offered by the lodge was pretty lame (we had to show the guide the snakes and most of the other small animals...), a mere 30 minute stroll through heavily degraded secondary forest, as was the excursion to the U lake. For a very superficial glimpse, the excursions were fine, but if you want to have a more profound experience of the enormous biodiversity, better to look for a private guide than the standard tours offered by the lodge.
We stayed for two nights. The accommodation (cabins, with airco), staff and food were all excellent, certainly when taking the price into account. The lodge is well situated near a (tiny) village and a short walk to the river (from where wildlife viewing cruises start). Wildlife watching is excellent (we were lucky to see a large herd of elephants crossing the river, besides four species of primates, hornbills, leopard and civet cats etc). The surrounding area is largely occupied by palm oil plantations.
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 22 August 2024
Enrico
DenmarkNote - there is a short walk of 10 min. from the lodge to the rivers.
Fantastic place and accommodation with very nice and large bungalows with the Forrest and animals right outside the windows. Familiar and very friendly staff, and good food from the chef. Limited numbers of cabins means familiar atmosphere between the guest. Very skilled and knowledgable boat tour guides and great service. We saw the “Big 5” - miniature elegant, orangutaues, monkeys, crocodiles, Nosemonkeys and Hornbill birds.
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 18 August 2024
Elisha
New ZealandBed could do with a bit more padding, very hard wooden bed. Also had a room next to the staff who are up very late and very early and are quite noisy coming and going.
Amazingly friendly staff, great knowledge on the river with all the wildlife, amazing air con, very clean. Meals and accommodation are basic but to be expected in the wilderness. Organised privates transfers for us to/from Sandakan for a reasonable price compared to local transfers!
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 11 August 2024
David
United KingdomThe staff cooking meals and running the accommodation could not have been more helpful, and really sensitive to the needs of guests. The lodge guide (Khai) was amazing really knowledgeable about animals and birds, with an uncanny ability to spot animals in dense jungle!
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 4 August 2024
Orsolya
HungaryIf you want to see animals, find an other place, this lodge is far away from the river (there are lot of lodges right beside, there can you see a lot), the guides in this lodge are not interested in showing animals, just drive you around for short cruises. They have a very old boat, not to count on, one of the cruises was much shorter because of damaged boat, the boats are overcrouded, thats why they are very slow. The food and the rooms are very simple.
The room had aircondition.
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 4 August 2024
Mahomed
United KingdomStaff who made us feel at home 😊. All staff were fabulous and they made our stay extra special and memorable. A big thank you 🙏🏽 to all - Sity, Rowena, Tina and her twin sister, Farah, Imran, Kai to name a few - I cannot remember the names of other staff including our chef amongst others.
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 2 August 2024
Daniel
NetherlandsYou can hear your neighbours talking thought the thin walls. If you are disabled ask for a room down the hill. Not to much food available,basic food (the vegetarian food was perfect).
Friendly staff. Perfect vegetarian options/menu.
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 31 July 2024
Richard
United KingdomParking was at the bottom of a (rather steep) hill to our room. Staff confusion over the duty roster meant there were two boat loads of us kept waiting for over half an hour for our early morning river cruise.
Meals were good—and catered for vegetarians (like us). Staff friendly. Some reasonable forest opposite with Hooded Pittas, although you're not encouraged to visit on your own.
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 29 July 2024
Audrey
Australia- shame it’s not on the river but still feels like you’re in the jungle
Intimate - limited number of guests
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 26 July 2024
Katarina
SloveniaWe had problems with the toilet in one room, but they fixed the problem immediately.
We spent 2 nights with family and friends. We had two rooms in the cottage. The rooms are clean, spacious, comfortable beds. The staff is very friendly, always ready to help and advise. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it. They serve beer and wine. The location is a 10-minute walk to the river, which was no problem. A very nice walk through the village, the locals are all very friendly, greeting, smiling. We had a great time.
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 26 July 2024
Małgorzata
PolandQuite loud air condition, need to turn off for night, shower without any glass or curtain - water in whole bathroom.
Everything was very good, nice staff, they waited with dinner for us until around 9pm, perfectly organized river cruises. Nice, cozy wooden houses. Remember it’s not 4 star hotel. Good time spend close to nature.
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 25 July 2024
Jenny
United KingdomCold shower, Wi-Fi not working
Staff were lovely, close to wildlife, it was quiet apart from jungle noises, offered river cruises and walks
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 19 July 2024
Michelle
United KingdomA little dated. Our double room was ok but my family’s triple room was below average. Clean, but just needs upgrading .
It was fun to stay in a wooden hut surrounded by jungle. Nice restaurant/reception area. Staff very helpful with arranging cruises/batik painting
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 19 July 2024
Sonja
SloveniaThere was no internet. Each time we came to the diner, we had to ask for the hotspot. Kettle was available only upon request. We stayed there for four nights and our room was not cleaned once. We got fresh towels only because we asked for them. The jetty is about 15 mins away from the lodge.
Food was absolutely delicious. My daughter and I don't eat sea food and I'm GF and there were always special meals prepared for us. The guide who took us on cruises was just excellent. He knew a lot about animals and tried really hard to find as many as he could. Rooms and bathrooms are big and comfortable, the lodge is quite well mantained. There's a beautiful pond and a nice hiking trail.
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 9 July 2024
Naveed
United KingdomA little remote and having to walk 10mins to jetty to get the boat for water safari. Set meals were disappointing, especially when you are travelling with fussy kids. A 1 night stay would probably suffice for most people for the jungle experience.
Great staff. Rooms are comfortable and clean.
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 8 July 2024
Aranzazu
AustraliaRun out of water. Staff could have explained the possibility of not enough water ahead of time.
Friendly people trying their best to help have a good stay. Food was very tasty. The river trip was exceptional and the guided very knowledgeable
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 7 July 2024
Tamara
AustraliaFood was hit or miss - one dinner was great, then next night average. A bit tricky for vegetarians - not many options.
Good for a short stay near the river - room was clean and comfortable
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 29 June 2024
Tanja
SloveniaIt was as expected. You’re in a jungle lodge you cannot expect luxury here. But is right spot if looking for adventures like in National Geographic :)
The room was basic but as expected. The food was simple Malaysian, but very delicious. They prepared no spicy options for kids. The tours were fantastic (river cruise), we saw lots of animals like elephants, crocodiles, orangutans, probiscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, macqaque, lizzards, birds… Between the tours we joined the Batik paintings which was also very interesting. Staff was very kind.
Stayed in June 2024
Booking.com is part of Booking Holdings Inc., the world leader in online travel and related services.
We have more than 70 million property reviews, and they're all from real, verified guests.
1
The only way to leave a review is to first make a booking. That's how we know our reviews come from real guests who have stayed at the property.
2
When guests stay at the property they check out how quiet the room is, how friendly the staff are and more.
3
After their trip, guests tell us about their stay. We check for naughty words and verify the authenticity of all guest reviews before adding them to our site.
If you booked through us and want to leave a review, please sign in first.
End of dialog content