Sandakan 3D2N Kinabatangan Wild Forest Lodge – Far from Crowds

Place is awesome location to see Animals. They Have great guides and River Cruises are great. Its very rudimentary location, so doesnt suite for those looking for luxury, but those who care about nature and want experiences, this is very good place. Nightwalks are extraordinarily great experiences. But of course, sleeping on a mattress, without Air Con is not for everyone.

Food was good and there was enough of it. And I usually eat a lot.

There are leeches, so having leeche socks IS great idea. Though i was biten only once.

I cannot express enough how amazing this place is. The camp is nestled inside the forest reserve, with hornbills eating their breakfast as you eat yours and orangutans hanging out on branches right above where you sleep. The camp is basic, fully eco friendly and sustainable in the way it's been built - which is proven by the fact that it's brimming with wildlife. The rooms are very simply yet comfortable, and after a long day of activities you will go to sleep with all the many jungle sounds. More importantly though, the people running the camp are just amazing. It is run by KOPEL, a co-op which fully belongs to the local community who decides how to run it. KOPEL runs the camp business but its bigger focus is on local conservation - educational activities, activism, reforestation. Everyone seems so dedicated to the preservation of wildlife that I left the place feeling quite emotional. I am very grateful for having an amazing guide, Faijan, as well as for having learnt a little about tree planting (and laughed A LOT) from Nor Saleh. I cannot recommend this place enough but at the same time I wish it didn't get too popular so it can stay as it is. As for the practicalities, l stayed for 4D3N and I could have stayed much longer - on the last day I had a chance to visit the burial site (for me pretty impressive, especially when Faijan explained all the stories behind) do some work in the tree nursery, which was super fun. If you are short on time then do stay at least 2 nights. In terms of facilities, the room has a mattress with bedding, mosquito net and a towel, and there is eco-friendly soap in each bathroom so you don't need to bring these. That's it. Thanks to the whole KOPEL team for doing such an amazing job, it is very impressive what you have managed to build!

We had such a fantastic time completing a 3D2N tour -we even wish we booked for longer! The company was excellent from the start. They had always been quick to respond to our questions before we had arrived and our guide, Azman, was brilliant. The camp is picturesque - we slept in a small cabin with: mattresses, our own bathroom, and a great view of the lake.

The trekking and river cruises are full of wildlife with lots of information given by Azman. Food is also amazing for being in the jungle - the vegetarian options were always good too!

The conservation work is inspiring to see and all the work Kopel does is for the community. The trip is great value for money and would highly recommend it to anyone! 5 stars from us!

We spent 3 days and 2 nights at the camp and we had an incredible and unforgettable experience!
We recommend this camp for nature lovers who want to discover the jungle, outside of time.
We slept very well and ate (hearty and not spicy with local dishes) The camp is very clean and the staff lovely!
We highly recommend Azman as a guide who was caring, gave very good advice and allowed us to see orangutans in the wild!
We recommend without hesitation!

If you set your expectations correctly this place is a wonderful place to stay. Yes, accommodation is rustic (even more so when the solar power is not working!) but it has what you need for a brief stay in the rainforest. We saw lots of wildlife and birds. The semi tame Civet and monitor lizard that visit the dining hall at great to see. Night hikes and river cruises were very good but just sitting on the deck watching the lake in early morning was worth the trip