Kinabatangan River, Wildlife watching river corridor in Sabah, Malaysia
The Kinabatangan is a major river system in Sabah that flows from the Crocker Range mountains down to the Sulu Sea, passing through different forest types and wetland areas. The water moves through a network of mangrove forests, primary rainforest, and open zones, creating a varied landscape that shifts as you travel downstream.
Chinese traders settled along the river starting in the 7th century and exchanged goods like beeswax, rattan, and bird nests. These trading activities connected the region to wider commercial networks and shaped how communities developed along the waterway for centuries.
The name comes from the Dusun language and means "river of Chinese traders," reflecting the settlers who established communities near the river mouth centuries ago. This connection to the past shapes local identity today and appears in the stories that people along the water share.
The lower section between the towns of Sukau and Abai has eco-lodges and tour operators offering boat trips for wildlife watching. The drier months are the best time to visit, when animals are easier to spot and the waterways are more accessible.
The river system is home to populations of ten primate species, including orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and various types of langurs and macaques. This remarkable concentration of primate species makes it one of the few places on Earth where you can see so many different types in one location.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
