2D1N Bilit Rainforest Lodge - Sepilok Orangutan / Kinabatangan River / Gomantong Cave / Sandakan Print

The best bits of Sandakan jam packed into one fantastic itinerary. Wildlife wonders along the Kinabatangan river, intricate cave system of Gomantong Caves, monkey business in Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and a tour of the historic Sandakan City!

Second largest city in Sabah and born along the north-eastern seaboard of Sabah, Sandakan is the gate-way for eco-adventures as it offers unrivaled beauty in all its natural glory. Though it lacks the cosmopolitan pulse of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan throbs with plenty of wild wonders.

Blessed with a naturally endowed hinterland, the Kinabatangan flows from its headwaters in southwest Sabah to the Sulu Sea east of Sandakan. The river flows through a remarkably varied terrain within Sandakan that includes limestone caves, dry-land dipterocarp forest, riverine forest, freshwater swamp forest, oxbow lakes and saltwater mangrove swamp which makes for a long list of things to see and do on your Borneo holiday.

About Gomantong Caves : Concealed within an enormous limestone hill, The Gomantong Cave is Sabah’s most extensive cave systems, well-renowned for bats, swiflets and scattered with prized swiflets’ nest. There are two cave complexes - Simud Hitam (Black Cave) soaring up to 90 meters high and the more accessible of the two, and Simud Putih (White Cave), where the more valuable nests are found. Simud Hitam is a five- minute walk from the registration Centre. A well-maintained boardwalk gives you easy access to do some exploring or watch the skilled harvesters at work.

About Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre : Sun bears are amongst the smallest and rarest bears in the world and can only be found in the Southeast Asia region. They are called sun bears due to the white or golden patches on their chest, which is said to represent the sun. They can be easily identified due to their glossy, black coat, which also protects them from overheating and the elements that come with tropical weather. With threats of deforestation and illegal hunting, sun bears are becoming increasingly vulnerable in their own habitats. Efforts to help them have come from both international and local conservation organisations, with the hopes of saving them from the brink of extinction.

Situated on the river bank of Lower Kinabatangan River, approximately 2 hours drive from Sandakan Town, the lodge is built on stilts from local hardwood materials and are beautifully designed to blend into nature giving a unique local native ambience in the midst of the tropical rainforest. A boardwalk connects the jetty, restaurant and all the chalets. It offers comfort and peaceful relaxation as well as a base for exploration of the incredible diversity of plant, mammal and bird life at the Kinabatangan region.

Birdlife is especially rich here including eight species of hornbills, kingfishers, egrets, darters, owls, kites, eagles, broadbills, doves, storm storks, herons, hawks, ospreys, falcon, pheasants, parakeets, bee eaters, woodpeckers, pittas, bulbuls, forktails, babblers, warblers, flycatchers, orioles, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters, among others.

A chance to get close with the wildlife of Borneo here including the endemic Borneon pygmy elephant, endemic proboscis monkeys, gibbons, macaques, orang utans, Sumatran rhinos, estuarine crocodiles, wild boars, sun bears and many others.

Lodge Facilities

• 12 semi-detached and 12 detached chalets. 
• All rooms come with two queen size beds while 6 detached chalets come with a king sized bed.
• All rooms equipped with air-conditioning, private attached bathroom with hot and cold shower facilities, towels and toiletries. 
• The restaurant comes with a bar by the riverside provides an ideal setting for dining and relaxation. 
• Internet facilities and WIFI facilities are available at the restaurant.
• The lodge provides a family lounge, gift shop, an enclosed garden and river jetty.
• Hair Dryer
• Laundry Services
• Amenities 

Daily Activities

• Guided jungle trekking
• Jetty fishing
• River cruises along the Kinabatangan River. River tours are conducted by boats powered by electric motors and four stoke outboard engines.
• Lodge programs