Bilit Rainforest Lodge

Sukau, Kinabatang, Sandakan, Sabah

Bilit Rainforest Lodge is located beside the Lower Kinabatangan River in the village of Bilit, about 2.5 hours drive  from Sandakan. It is set amidst lush tropical forest and offers comfort and peaceful relaxation as well as a base for easy exploration of the incredible diversity of plant, mammal and bird life at the Kinabatangan region.

All chalets and the restaurant are made from local hardwood material and are designed to blend into the nature giving a unique local native ambience. A boardwalk connects the jetty, restaurant and all the chalets.

12 semi-detached and 6 detached chalets with queen size beds. All rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, private bathroom with hot & cold shower

Guest Rooms
Two blocks of single storey timber long house with individual guest rooms. Room are clean and basic. Common verandah facing Kinabatangan river. Each room equipped with twin-beds, ceiling/wall fan, private bath room with hot water shower. Supply of clean towel and soap.

Cliff-Hangar Café
Built along the Kinabatangan River with superb river view, blessed with gentle river breeze. Perfect location to have your meals and exchange news with like-minded guests on wildlife sightings. Extended open deck for you to read or relax and observe wildlife in the vicinity. Barefoot Sukau Lodge is created to provide a differentiated experience for visitors coming to enjoy and learn about the extra-ordinary nature and rich biodiversity of the Lower Kinabatangan River.

The great ambience and personalized service of the lodge is best suited for those looking for a clean and carefree atmosphere, where they can inter-mingle with other guests and the local community, yet enjoy a private space when needed. They can, as the resort's name says, walk around barefooted if they so wish. Barefoot Sukau Lodge is guest's cozy home during their visit to Sukau. Guests will experience the awesome natural environment of Sukau Village along the longest river in Sabah.  

Kinabatangan River
The Kinabatangan River is located in the state of Sabah in eastern Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second longest river in Malaysia, winding through the Sabah land mass from its headwaters in the mountains of Southwest Sabah for 560 kilometers, ending at the Sulu Sea in the east of Sandakan.

A large portion of the lower Kinabatangan River has been gazetted under the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary spreading across 26,000ha (260 sq km) along the lower Kinabatangan river. The river journeys through a flood plain creating numerous ox-bow lakes, and a remarkable environment of wildlife and fascinating habitats such as limestone caves at Gomantong (the largest cave system in Sabah), dipterocarp forets, riverine forest freshwater swamp forestg and salty mangrove swamps near the coast.

The yearly northeast monsoon with its lashing rain causes the river to swell rapidly, and frequently overflows its banks and spreads across the flat land of its lower reaches, creating a huge floodplain. The lower Kinabatangan contains some of Borneo's highest concentration of wildlife, as well as a great variety of birdlife, making it one of the most outstanding wildlife viewing area.

The waterway has played an important part in lives of Sabah people for centuries. The river and its surronding rainforest wetlands also make up one of the richest ecosystems on the planet. The region is home to rare and endangered animals such as the proboscis monkey and orang utan, making it an increasingly sought after tourist destination. The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is being propsoed to protech on eh Sabah's most splendid natural resources for future generations by linking mangrove areas near the coast with existing protected inland areas.

Sukau Village
Kampung Sukau (Sukau Village) is situated on the lower course of the Kinabatangan and on the boundary of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, making it the best starting point to explore the richness of the area. The village is accessible by road and offering a range of accommodation facilities and well-managed nature-interpretation tours. The Sukau area is so rich in wildlife species that on a typical visit, one will be expected to sight a remarkable range of wildlife including primates, birds, crocodiles, snakes and other reptiles. The star attraction is the Prosboscis monkeys, endemic only to Borneo.

From Sukau, cruising by village boats on Kinabatagan and it's tributaries offers one the best opportunity to observe wildlife. Kampung Suaku was an important trading centre in the olden days because of its proximity to the Gomantong Limestone caves which contain the priceless edible birds’ nests. A walk to Sukau village can prove to be an experience for one to absorb and observe the life and pace of a little riverside village. Take a peep at the local school and see how classes are conducted. Enjoy the aroma of Malaysian coffee at a drink shop while learning a few local greeting words. Admire the blooms of exotic orchids and plants hang above the verandah of wooden houses.

The Menanggol River, a tributary of Kinabatangan is a prime area for river cruises for wildlife viewing, here one may find a high concentration of Proboscis monkeys. The trees along the Menanggol are slightly lower than those along the Kinabatangan, making the sighting of wildlife much easier.