TK 03 - Selingan Turtle Island & Kinabatangan Experience

Great introduction to jungle in Malaysia
The staff at the lodge are very welcoming g and accommodating. My bungalow was very comfortable and the air conditioning worked very well.I was relocated to this property because the tour I booked which included other activities ended up being full at my original accommodation.

Awesome experience
I stayed here during November 2023 for a 3D2N trip and it was great! We stayed in the bigger dorms which had 3 bunk beds and to be fair they were clean, with mosquito repellent. The bathrooms could be better though as it was a shared one between the us and the other guests and was semi-outdoors. It didn't have water sometimes but was never fixed despite informing the staff about it. We went on a 6am morning cruise every day and an afternoon one, with breakfast included. The breakfast is a typical buffet with lots of food options. Our guides Mohammed and Omar were exceptionally good at spotting animals such as crocodiles and hornbills, and we stopped once in a while to see them, however we were not lucky enough to see the pygmy elephants. The receptionist was really friendly - she talked to us a lot and her daughter was the sweetest kid you'll ever meet! Overall this experience is great for animal lovers and photographers as it was interesting to see Borneo's wildlife, but don't expect a luxury experience at the lodge - the rusticity makes it better!

Amazing.
We stayed here for 2 nights. We were picked up from Sandakan by Alan, a really nice friendly driver, who took us on to Sepilok. There we had lunch (as we didn’t do the orangutan and bear sanctuaries with the company the lunch was not covered). We then had a two hour drive to the jetty on the Kitabanangan River.

When we arrived after a short river crossing we were amazed by the place itself. They’ve done so well to incorporate the place into the jungle, it really did feel as though we were right in the heart of the forest.

The river safari was incredible. Our guide Raswan was so knowledgable, interesting and he was great at spotting animals. Within minutes he was showing us proboscis monkey groups, macaques, various bird species and amazingly an orangutan after only about 20 minutes! The night walk was equally if not more incredible, as again was Raswan, pointing out amazing nocturnal animals like whip scorpions, snakes, a slow loris and civets, and telling us about them.

We stayed in a dorm, which was perfectly nice! To our surprise there was also air-con which was definitely needed for us! The lodges themselves are nice, with various chill-out spots where you can chat with fellow guests.

The food was also delicious, with 3 meals included within the price of the booking.

If you want to visit, which I highly recommend, ensure you bring plenty of powerful mosquito repellent, as they are absolutely everywhere, particularly on the daytime jungle walk. Also bring some kind of waterproof (poncho etc) as it does rain a lot and as long as there isn’t strong lightening the river cruises still go ahead!

Review of stay
Lovely staff, fantastic location to the main attractions like the jungle centre and good value for what you get - beautiful scenery also- the room was a good size for the two of us and nice shower and comfy bed I was here for two nights and I would come back

nice location
Clean and spacious room, friendly staff, free water dispensers, basic breakfast, delicious diner options. Nicely located surrounded by the jungle and at walking distance of the Orangutan Rehabilitation center and the Sun bear conservation center.

Does the job!
Decent dormitory rooms with a few plug sockets. Towel and blanket provided. Showers are great. Good base location to see the local sights, we were part of an Intrepid Tour and they looked after us a group well. Laundry service helpful! Air Con is good.

Bring insect repellent!

Very welcoming!
Very welcoming. Quiet area. Close by to more tourists attractions. Staff very accommodating. Toilets and bathrooms clean. Bedrooms tidy on arrival. Launder services available. Will recommend to others if in the area. Would come back when visiting again!!

Peace of mind
Good place to find peace of mind from the hustle and bustle of city live. The staffs are friendly, especially the receptionist. Good water pressure for bath.
Absolutely, i will come back for my next visit. I love the nature and the sounds of cicaddas.