The 9 Wildlife Tours in Kota Kinabalu That Earn Their Price

1.Bongawan River Cruise: Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Mangrove

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 437 reviews · 8 hours · from $58Our pick

Spend about eight hours visiting Kota Kinabalu’s Floating Mosque and Cocoa Kingdom before cruising Bongawan’s mangroves. Guides such as Timmy, Eddie, Simon, and Zai share local nature stories while you look for proboscis monkeys, macaques, crocodiles, and birds. Tea, dinner, transport, sunset viewing, and fireflies are included.

“The Bongawan River Cruise was a pleasant mangrove adventure in Sabah, with guides Eddie and Simon enthusiastically sharing insights on proboscis monkeys and fireflies. The Sky Mirror sunset and dinner added enjoyable touches, making it a solid pick for nature enthusiasts.”

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2.Bongawan Wetland: Proboscis Monkey and Fireflies Shared Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 137 reviews · 1 day · from $65

Leave Kota Kinabalu at noon for Bongawan Wetland, where you’ll cruise the river for proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques, birds, lizards, and perhaps crocodiles. After dinner and a sunset stop, return by boat to see fireflies glowing in the mangroves. Guides such as Timmy, Eddie, James, Nick, and DanDan are praised for their care and local knowledge.

“The trip was fantastic value for money and was very interesting. Timmy was great and taught us so much along the way! The pacing of the group was ideal which was nice. I’ve done many tours where you spend too long in one place but this was brilliant. We were lucky to see multiple Proboscis monkeys and the beach sunset and the fireflies were beautiful. Highly recommend”

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3.Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 109 reviews · from $81

Leave Kota Kinabalu for Bongawan, where you’ll cruise mangroves for proboscis monkeys and macaques, pose at Superview Beach during sunset, and watch fireflies after dark. Guides such as James, Nick, and Bird are known for helping with beach photos. Pickup, snacks, dinner, and drinks are included, but allow a long afternoon and evening.

“Overall good experience. No message or communication prior to pick up so had to ask reception to call - it turns out they did not have my booking from Viator. They however quickly showed up at the hotel after calling (30 mins late). Good things - Mirror beach was fun, and fireflies were a real highlight. Dinner was a basic buffet but to be expected as in a remote location. Phots the guide took of us on the beach are great Things to improve - very long -Packed mini bus and took 1.5 hours to get there and then a lot of waiting around. The boat ride to see the…”

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4.Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $52Best value

Spend about eight hours from Kota Kinabalu visiting the Floating Mosque and Cocoa Kingdom before a Bongawan River cruise. Guides such as Timmy, Simon, Eddie, and John lead the wildlife search, sunset stop, firefly viewing, and local dinner. Expect a full afternoon and evening, a group of up to 48, and changing wildlife sightings.

“Amazing tour guide Timmy was knowledgeable and funny. Saw more than what was mentioned. Can not fault this tour at all. The locals who helped with the tour were more than accommodating. The dinner served by the local tribe was phenomenal. Could not recommend this tour enough.”

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5.Proboscis Monkey and Fireflies River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 51 reviews · from $81

Leave Kota Kinabalu at 1:30 pm for Weston, about 100 kilometres south, with a guide such as Terence. After tea and local snacks, cruise the mangroves for proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, macaques, monitor lizards, and birds. Dinner follows, then fireflies light the river after sunset. Shared transport and hotel pickup are included.

“Terence unser Reiseleiter hat alles gegeben,uns sein Land,die Natur und vieles mehr näher zu bringen.Dankeschön”

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6.Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise – Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · from $81

Leave Kota Kinabalu after lunch for the Klias Wetlands, where an English-speaking guide helps you watch for proboscis monkeys, nipa palms, village life, and sunset. Enjoy afternoon tea and an Asian buffet at the river lodge, then take a second cruise after dark to see fireflies. Pickup is available from selected hotels.

“It was a good chance to witness the wild life of Borneo just two hours away from the city. We have seen monkeys in their natural habitat and experienced firefly show after the dark. The meal was also fine”

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7.Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · from $58

Leave Kota Kinabalu after lunch for Bongawan’s mangrove river, where a guide helps you spot proboscis monkeys and macaques. The outing continues with a simple Malay buffet, beach sunset and sky-mirror photos, then a firefly cruise. Mimi is especially attentive, while driver Joji adds a friendly touch.

“The fire flies and sun set. It was beautiful and Mimi is extremely helpful and attentive. Highly recommended.”

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8.Full-Day Sepilok Orangutan and Sandakan City Trail from Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · from $131

Fly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan for a long, rewarding day at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and around historic Sandakan. You’ll watch orangutans and macaques feed, walk a rainforest trail, eat a Malay lunch, then see St Michael’s Church, Puu Jih Shih Temple, Sandakan Central Market, and Sim Sim water village. Guide Sahar has earned praise for his kind, helpful service.

“lovely day full of interesting places to visit. The tour guide Sahar, was the nicest, most accommodating man ever. It is a very long day but worthy”

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9.Full-Day Sepilok Orangutan and Proboscis Monkey from Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $188

Spend about 10 hours visiting Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary and the Sepilok orangutan center, with a driver-guide, lunch, air-conditioned transport, and airport or hotel pickup. From Kota Kinabalu, you must arrange your own flights. Confirm the flight schedule with Magunatip Holidays before booking.

“Excellent well organised fantastic guide you gave us load of information.”

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