Hornbill Lodge

27/08/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬. 🌿

The real magic of this protected forest reserve comes alive in the afternoon.

Climb the 500 steps to the bat exodus viewpoint and take in panoramic views across the surrounding forest. Then, as thousands of bats emerge from the caves at dusk, watch bat hawks and pied hornbills swoop in pursuit — one of the most spectacular wildlife moments in Sabah.

And the surprises don’t stop there. Orangutans and red leaf monkeys are regular visitors to the reserve, while the late afternoon light illuminates the caves and surrounding forest in a completely different way.

Gomantong is more than a cave visit. It's a wildlife experience available to guests as part of a 4D3N or longer stay.


junkie

11/08/2026

18/06/2026

𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤: 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬
Native to Borneo, these small nocturnal primates are sometimes spotted on night walks around the grounds of Hornbill Lodge. A specialised gland on their inner elbow produces a toxin that, when mixed with saliva, can deliver a venomous bite—making them the world’s only known venomous primates.

10/06/2026

𝐉𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐠
A common frog rarely spotted by humans! The jade tree frog lives on leaves high up in the canopy, only descending to the ground to breed. A lovely treat for our night-walkers at Hornbill Lodge.


📸 Thanks to our in-house guide Apek for the photo!

21/05/2026

Here are a few shots from this past week at the Kinabatangan river including pygmy elephants, slow loris, proboscis monkeys, maroon langurs and a juvenile saltwater crocodile 😍

Photos courtesy of - May 2026

05/05/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐞 (or Estuarine Crocodile, Crocodylus porosus) is considered the Kinabatangan river's most formidable predator, regulating fish populations and scavenging. They are often seen basking on muddy banks or lurking near the surface, preferring to hunt in the early morning and late afternoon.

Thanks to for the photos!

01/05/2026

A huge thank you this Labour Day to all our wonderful staff, without whom Hornbill Lodge just wouldn’t be the same! Your dedication, passion, and hard work create the experiences our guests cherish every day. We truly appreciate everything you do—today and always. 💛

27/04/2026

𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫.
A magical time to observe and photograph proboscis monkeys as they settle in for the night.

16/04/2026

These past couple of days, our in-house guide Adam .sal13h swapped his boat on the Kinabatangan river for a safari vehicle in Deramakot Forest Reserve, leading to incredible encounters with both a clouded leopard and a large male elephant. Whilst clouded leopard sightings are rare, Deramakot Forest Reserve remains the best place to try to see one whilst in Borneo!

Hornbill Lodge is only a few hours drive from some of Sabah's other incredible forest reserves and we recommend you check them out whilst you're here! Just email [email protected] to talk about your options 💚

06/04/2026

As the sun sets for the day, the colourful birds of the Kinabatangan river find a safe perch for the night and enjoy a well deserved rest.