Abai Jungle Lodge

Location
Abai Jungle Lodge is located on the banks of Kinabatangan River, about 47 kilometres from the river mouth. The lodge is only accessible by boat, around an hour from Sandakan jetty or Sukau. Tucked beside the small riverside village of Kampung Abai and surrounded by secondary rainforest, it’s far from busy tourist trails and well away from any palm plantations. The setting feels remote and unspoilt, with boardwalks leading straight into the forest.

Rooms
There are 30 rooms spread across timber chalets, either two- or three-bedroom. Every room comes with an attached bathroom, ceiling fan, hot shower, netted windows, and 42-inch wide beds with thick, comfortable mattresses. You’ll also find a safety box, smoke detector and a simple emergency action plan in each.

Amenities
Power is provided 24 hours a day via diesel generators. Rainwater is harvested and stored in large tanks, and supplemented by filtered river water during the dry season. Hot water is supplied via safe, external storage heaters. Walkways throughout the lodge are made of local Belian hardwood and kept flat for ease of access. The restaurant, perched above the riverbank, serves local fish, prawns, vegetables and tropical fruits and can cater for larger groups if needed.

Activities
There’s excellent wildlife viewing on both land and river. River safaris go in search of proboscis monkeys, hornbills, crocodiles, elephants and orangutans, with night cruises offering the chance to see fireflies lighting up the trees. Back on land, there’s a network of forest trails and a birdwatching tower — where langurs, wild orangutans and even clouded leopards have occasionally been spotted. Cultural visits to the village or tree-planting experiences can also be arranged.

Sustainability
The lodge was built to relieve pressure on busier wildlife areas like Sukau, and its remote, roadless location helps keep its footprint low. It operates using collected rainwater, filtered river water and solar elements in the village. Boardwalks were built using durable, sustainably sourced hardwood, and the team uses environmentally-friendly toiletries across the property. Supporting local communities is central to their ethos, and longer stays here directly benefit both the rainforest and the villagers next door.