Borneo Nature Lodge

We’re a NZ family of four with kids aged 10 and 8, and had the best time at Borneo Nature Lodge. The food was top notch, and the hospitality and air conditioned rooms were lovely. We all slept so well. Our guide somehow spotted so many creatures on the cruise, including rare and beautiful ones. Totally recommend.

I booked a 3n4d package to celebrate my partner’s birthday and spend time in nature. The hotel pickup was on time, and both the driver and the boat driver were very courteous. The boat ride to the lodge was pleasant. Rooms are basic but clean, with a hot shower. There’s no WiFi, which isn’t always a bad thing. We got afternoon tea and nice banana fritters after arriving, then went on a pleasant evening cruise with a knowledgeable guide who talked us through the flora and fauna. The 6am river start the next morning was delayed 20 minutes while we waited for the rest of the group, which was fine. It rained heavily and we didn’t see much. That’s how it goes. After breakfast at 8am we went back to rest. Later, the other group returned from a jungle walk, but nobody had told us about it, and no one mentioned it afterward. That was the first disappointment. I asked about visiting the caves, and our guide checked the price. It was 200RM per person, which felt extremely expensive, so we declined. The evening cruise was going well when the guide said there were elephants nearby and asked if we wanted to see them. It would cost 50RM per person, with seven people on the boat. Before I could answer, someone else agreed and we went. I was very unhappy about that. No one had told me there would be an extra charge, and I had no chance to ask about it. When I questioned how an extra 2km up the river and 10 more minutes could cost the group €75, I was told it covered fuel. I didn’t believe that. Seeing the elephants was great, but the charge left me feeling exploited. The lodge wasn’t cheap, and it felt like tourists were being taken advantage of because they can charge what they want once people are on the boat. They didn’t check with everyone, and at that point, who can say no? That trip should be included in the price or explained beforehand. When we got back, I said I wanted to cancel the extra night because I didn’t like feeling exploited. After that, staff treated us very poorly, almost as if we were being punished for raising the issue. I don’t enjoy leaving a bad review, but these shady practices let the resort down. Better communication and not taking advantage of tourists would make a big difference. They should also be clear about activities and timings. We didn’t get to do the nature walk, and weren’t offered the local village trip that was supposed to be included in the price.

We chose this for a remote stay surrounded by nature, knowing animal sightings would partly come down to luck. The lodge is farther down the river. A free shuttle from Sandakan dropped us at a nearby jetty, then a boat took us to the lodge, which added to the feeling of being out in the wild. Once there, we were welcomed with fresh juice and our bags were in the room. It was clean, with AC and a hot shower. Before the 4pm tour, coffee and cake were offered in the cantine. Our guide was excellent and explained each animal and its habitat. A 10/10 experience. I highly recommend it and wish we’d stayed longer.

We came for nature and got to see the Big 5 in the wild, but we’ll also remember how good BNL and its team were. Booking over WhatsApp was easy and accurate. The rooms match the photos, are clean, and aren’t luxury hotel rooms. The guides, including our guide Hermann, were friendly, shared lots about nature, and helped us plan our days. The chef is gooood. We ate some of the better food we had in a whole month in Malaysia, simple but really nice. The service team was friendly and helpful too. Filtered water is available all the time, and you can buy soft drinks for RM 4 and beer for RM 14.