Tabin Wildlife Resort
Tabin Wildlife Reserve · Malaysian Borneo
The only lodge inside Sabah's largest wildlife reserve - twenty rooms above the Lipad River and a working mud volcano.
Enquire about this LodgeSet aside in 1984 to protect Sabah's last great lowland forest, Tabin remains the only place to stay inside its 122,500 hectares - a working mud volcano at its heart.
Sabah's Largest Protected Lowland Forest
Tabin Wildlife Reserve covers 122,500 hectares northeast of Lahad Datu, and Tabin Wildlife Resort is the only accommodation permitted inside it - a genuine wilderness stay rather than a lodge on its edge.
The reserve was set aside in 1984 to protect what was then one of the last strongholds of the Sumatran rhino in Malaysia; the rhino is now gone from the wild here, but the clouded leopards, sunda leopard cats, pygmy elephants and varied birdlife including magnificent hornbills the reserve was built to protect remain.
Clouded Leopard in Tabin Wildlife Reserve.
A Closer Look at Tabin Wildlife Resort
River lodges above the Lipad, a working mud volcano, and forest trails inside Sabah's largest reserve.
The Lipad mud volcano, along the Elephant Trail.
The Lipad Mud Volcano
A guided trek along the Elephant Trail leads to Tabin's active mud volcano - a mineral-rich clearing that draws elephants, banteng and birdlife to its salt licks, and one of the reserve's most reliable wildlife-watching spots.
Night safaris and dawn visits to the mud volcano give the best chance of elephant sightings, while the reserve's 300-plus recorded bird species keep the daylight hours busy too.
What Moves Through the Reserve
Part of the Borneo Big Five, and one of Sabah's richest lowland forest bird counts.
River Lodges & Hill Lodges
Twenty rooms in two settings - ten along the Lipad River, ten set into the forested hill above it.
River Lodge
Set along the Lipad River with a private balcony over the water - the sounds and sights of the jungle close enough to reach out and touch.
- Private balcony over the river
- En-suite bathroom with hot shower
- Easy access
Hill Lodge
Built into the forested hill above camp, trading river frontage for privacy and elevated views into the canopy.
- Elevated jungle views
- En-suite bathroom with hot shower
- Secluded
A Day at Tabin Wildlife Resort
Trails, the mud volcano and the reserve's own dark hours all shape a stay here.
The Mud Volcano, at First Light
An early trek along the Elephant Trail to the Lipad mud volcano, timed for the reserve's best chance of an elephant sighting.
Jungle Trekking
Guided trails through lowland forest, tracking hornbills, primates and the reserve's dense birdlife.
Rest Above the River
Lunch and quiet hours on a private balcony, the Lipad River moving below.
Night Safari
A guided night drive through the reserve, searching out civets, owls and the jungle's other nocturnal residents.
Before You Go
Fly to Lahad Datu, then 45km by road
A road transfer into the reserve itself - the resort is the only accommodation permitted inside it.
Year-round, driest March-October
Wildlife is active throughout the year; the driest months make trekking to the mud volcano easiest.
Resort dining room, jungle views
All meals included, served with a view onto the forest surrounding the lodge.
The only lodge inside the reserve
A genuine wilderness stay - no other accommodation exists for miles inside Tabin's boundaries.
Continue Your Borneo Journey
Other Safari Acacia addresses worth pairing with Tabin Wildlife Resort.
Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Primary rainforest, a private canopy walkway, and one of the wildest luxury addresses on earth.
View Lodge →
Lankayan Island Dive Resort
One island, one resort, and a protected reef - the natural end to a Sabah rainforest itinerary.
View Island →Begin Your Tabin Journey
We arrange every detail - the transfer from Lahad Datu, the right lodge, and treks timed to the reserve's best light.
Enquire About Tabin Wildlife Resort