The Kinabatangan River

At 560 km long, the Kinabatangan is Sabah’s longest and Malaysia’s second longest river after Rajang River in Sarawak. Much of the lower Kinabatangan River is gazetted under Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and meanders through a flood plain creating numerous ox-bow lakes and an ideal environment for some of the best wildlife and birdlife found in Malaysia.

History

Due to its vast hinterland of jungle and numerous limestone caves, the Kinabatangan has for many centuries, assumed strategic economic importance as a source of edible bird nests, bee wax, rattan and ivory. Many believe that as China and Borneo has trade links as far back as 631 AD, the origin of the name ‘Kinabatangan’ was derived from Kina (Cina) and Batang (large river). Moreover, based on Chinese records, there existed a Chinese settlement in the area most probably around Sukau.

Also in the 15th century, a Chinese princess from the Kinabatangan married the first Sultan of Brunei. Between 1791 - 1808, the Sultan of Sulu even put his son as a governor of this area and later in 1881, British North Borneo Chartered Company took over control of this area after paying $5,000 per year to the Sultan of Sulu.  

People

The inhabitants of the Kinabatangan region are mostly Orang Sungai of mixed ancestry including Tambanua, Idahan,  Dusun, Suluk, Bugis, Brunei and Chinese.

Wildlife

Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary contains the highest concentration of proboscis monkeys and orang utans in Malaysia. Proboscis monkeys can best be viewed from a boat in the late afternoon when they converge on treetops.

 
Other wildlife include long-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque, silver-red-and grey-leaf monkey, gibbon, Asian elephant, wild cattle, Sumatran rhinoceros, sambar deer, bearded pig, greater and lesser mousedeer, hairy-nosed otter, slow loris, monitor lizard and crocodile. Birdlife include oriental darter, egret, herons, storm’s stork, hawk and eagle, osprey, falcon, pheasant, pigeon and dove, parakeet, coucal, owl, frogmouth, nightjar, trogon, kingfisher, bee eater, swift, hornbill, roller, barbet, woodpecker, broadbill, pitta, swallow, bulbul, forktail, babbler, warbler, flycatcher, flowerpecker, spiderhunter, drongo, oriole, crow and many others. Some 27 species of bats or an estimated 2 million bats, mostly wrinkled-lipped bat roost in Gomantong Caves. Predatory birds include bat hawk, peregrine falcon and buffy fish owl.                                                              

Sukau Rainforest Lodge (SRL)

Sukau Rainforest Lodge is situated at the edge of the sanctuary in a secluded spot on the Kinabatangan River. Set amidst the tropical rainforest, SRL has accommodation for only 40 visitors and offers the rare luxury of perfect solitude and tranquillity with luxuriant vegetation. Built in traditional Malaysian architecture and on stilts to improve air circulation and mitigate river flooding, the lodge is constructed with hardwood species including Belian, Selangan Batu, Merbau, Nyatoh and tropical rattan.  All 20 rooms have solar-powered fan, twin beds, mosquito netting, attached tiled bathroom and solar hot water. Guest facilities include an open dining and lounge area with tropical cane sofas, gift shop, private garden and an open sun deck overlooking the rainforest. Wake up to the call of Borneon gibbons and birds. Cruise up misty KinabatanganRiver at dawn to nearby ox-bow lakes in search of hornbills, snake bird, and otters. In the late afternoon, watch acrobatic displays of proboscis monkeys as they settle in for the night on nearby treetops. In the evening, savour a sumptuous dinner in the open deck using oil lamp and under the moonlit canopy of towering trees as the sounds of cicadas reach a crescendo at nightfall. Drift into sleep on coconut fiber mattress caressed by soft breeze from solar-powered ceiling fan. What pure bliss in the living forest.

 
Power, lighting and water supply

To maintain the ambience of the tropical rainforest, 20 units of the state-of-the-art environmentally friendly Siemens Solar Photo-voltaic modules were installed together with 4 GNB longlife batteries and a 3KW Trace Pure Sinewave Power Inverter to provide a continuous 24-hour supply at 240V AC at 50HZ. This is supplemented by a 15KVA generator only during heavy load period. Hot water is supplied by 2 units of Solahart 300JK systems with a capacity of 132 gallons. Energy-saving appliances are used where possible. At night, kerosene and palm oil lamps are used to create a conducive ambience. Rainwater is collected using 8 units of 400-gallon tank to be filtered and boiled for drinking. Water for the bathroom is supple mented by river water which is treated and passed through sand filter before storage in a 10,000gallon tank. The sediment is piped for gardening purpose.

 
Recreation

River tours are operated by qualified guides using wooden boats built by the local Orang Sungei craftmen, powered by petrol and electric engines to minimize disturbance to wildlife. Jungle walks and night walks can be conducted when weather permits. Two tree platforms (28ft and 52ft high) are also accessible to the more adventurous and bird watchers.

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