1 independent reviews for Kuala Lumpur and Sabah wildlife tour
Reviews for Kuala Lumpur and Sabah wildlife tour
Ian McColl review 22 Mar 2026
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The huge variety of wildlife we saw during the time we spent at Abai Jungle Lodge, and even more, Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
I felt I was well prepared for the conditioins - heat, sun, occasional heavy rain, insects, etc, so I can't offer any particular tips from an experience of 'I wish I had known ...' In fact the one surprise I had was that biting insects were must less prevalent than in other places I have been which I had assumed would be similar. Of course I did use insect repellent, and I did get just two or three small bites, and perhaps I struck lucky in that they might be worse at other times of the year, but I was certainly pleased as well as surprised that they were so much less a problem than I expected. I must offer one word of caution about the excursions I did from Kota Kinabalu. The destinations were further from the city than I had expected and there were traffic jams along the way. I enjoyed them. Mount Kinabalu is spectacular. And the river cruise on the Klias Wetlands was gentle and peaceful, with some wildlife to see - though less than I expected. But both excursions involved more time in the minibus than some people would want for a day out. The other issue to mention is that I came home with some acute back pain, which started during my final three days in Kota Kinabalu. There was no single occurrence which started it, so I wonder whether it was caused by the beds being too soft and I don't know what precautions, if any, other travelers could take to reduce the risk of this.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Our guides were very clear that the income from tourism helps the government to restrict the loss of the rainforest.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A great experience overall, with many unexpected wildlife sightings alongside a glimpse of Malaysian city life. A slight disappointment in that I had fewer sightings of hornbills that I had expected and hoped for. But my final comment must be on the excellent organisation of everything by the local agencies and therir guides. As a single traveler I always knew where I should be and at what time - there were never moments of anxiety. Moreover the meal arrangements at both Abai and Kinbatangan Lodges, where we sat on tables according to the guides we had while staying there, made the whole experience of staying there socially enjoyable.Holiday Reviews
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