The mighty Kinabatangan River is undoubtedly one of Malaysia’s best-known and popular eco-tourism hotspots. The river and the forests surrounding it is rich in a variety of flora and fauna, including elephants, crocodiles, and proboscis monkeys. Additionally, the Kinabatangan is also an excellent birdwatching destination. For birders, there are plenty of choices in terms of accommodations, ranging from budget homestays to 5-star resorts. And one option for visiting birders is the Sukau Greenview Lodge.

But is this lodge any good? Spoiler alert: Yes, it is!

Sukau Greenview Lodge Review 

This article is my review of the lodge, targeted mainly for the benefit of birders planning birdwatching excursions to the Kinabatangan River. This review is based on my stay from 27 to 31 March 2026.

Overview

Sukau Greenview Lodge is an eco-lodge that is owned and operated by locals from Sukau village itself. Founded by Mr Jamaluddin Lias, the lodge started off as a B&B in 2008, and has since expanded multiple times and now even includes their own Travel & Tour company. 

Where is Sukau Greenview Lodge?

Sukau Greenview Lodge is located near the small village of Sukau, about 130 km from Sandakan, Sabah. The lodge straddles the northern shore of the Kinabatangan River.

The journey time from Sandakan Airport is about 2.5-3 hours. The lodge has their own fleet of vehicles to pick up/drop off guests at the airport.

Rooms at Sukau Greenview Lodge

During our visit, we stayed in  Room 27. This is one of several units that were recently constructed/renovated in 2025. The room we stayed in has two single beds, with other bed configurations available in other rooms. The rooms are built into a large chalet, with 3 rooms per chalet.

Some observations about our room:

• Being recently constructed, our room was spotlessly clean.
• The room is decorated with modern amenities, including a reclining lazy chair.
• The bed is just perfect, with a comfortable mattress and fluffy pillows
• The air conditioning is powerful enough to make the room comfortable during the heat of midday. This is very important, as it can get quite hot and humid.
• Ample electrical outlets. Our room has a fancy ‘power track’ sliding socket that is very nifty, yet very functional. USB charge sockets are provided, along with universal 3-pin sockets.
• Not enough places to hang clothes.
• The floor of our room slants slightly, probably due to the terrain underneath. Not really an issue.
• The walls are a bit thin, and voices from the adjacent room can be heard, especially during the quiet of night.

Other room facilities

• Ensuite bathrooms with hot water (power shower) and a powerful ventilation fan. The water pressure was good.
• Tea/coffee making facilities.
• Hairdryer

Other Rooms

Other units in the lodge are of similar quality to ours, differing only in bed configuration. The rooms can accommodate between 2-4 guests, depending on room type.

Additionally, for budget-conscious travellers, Sukau Greenview also has two dormitory rooms, one with 8 beds and another with 6 beds. The dorms are mixed occupancy, and are air-conditioned. 

Note: During our visit, Sukau Greenview was in the process of building additional rooms and upgrading the common area.

Common Area

The common area  is located by the banks of the river. It includes:

• Reception area
• The dining area, where meals are served. This is also the area where guests can mingle and share stories at the end of the day. 
• Free Wi-Fi available here. No Wi-Fi in the rooms.
• Jetty. This is where the river cruises depart.

Food

We are pleased to report that the food here is very good. During our stay the lodge was almost full, so the meals were served buffet style. The dishes were primarily local cuisine.

• Breakfast included fried noodles, omelette, sunny-side up eggs, bread, sausages, nuggets, baked beans, juice, cereals, etc.
• Lunch and dinner starts off with a salad and a soup. The mains include white rice, one meat dish (chicken or beef), one seafood dish (fish, squid or prawn), and two vegetable options. Two dessert types and fresh fruits round up the offering.
• Free-flow coffee/tea and filtered water from a water dispenser.
• Ice cream and canned drinks for sale.

Since we were there on a birdwatching package, our breakfast was usually packed. This was because the birdwatching morning cruises lasted longer than the general wildlife cruise. The packed breakfast was identical to the regular one.

Other Facilities

The lodge recently opened a new cafe! Named the ‘River Bean’, this cafe is a western-styled establishment offering hot and cold beverages as well as pastries and other delicacies. The interior is air-conditioned, and tastefully decorated with modern art. There is also an outdoor area with sheltered tables. Plus, the cafe has an excellent view of the river. 

During our visit, this cafe hasn’t officially opened yet. Nevertheless, we still managed to get a small preview, thanks to the generosity of the owners of the establishment. We have no doubt that this cafe will be a smashing success! 

Birdwatching at Sukau Greenview Lodge

For birdwatchers, Sukau Greenview Lodge offers a birdwatching package to cater for even the most hard-core birders. This package differs from the typical wildlife-watching packages:

• Longer river cruises. Morning cruises typically last until late morning (3-4 hours duration). Afternoon and night cruises also last longer (2-3 hours duration)
• A specialist bird guide will be assigned to the boat. For our visit, we were guided by Mr Braun, one of Sukau Greenview’s senior bird guides. 
• The cruises will prioritise searching for the Kinabatangan’s star birds, including the Bornean Ground-Cuckoo, all 8 hornbill species, kingfishers, Storm’s Stork, etc.
• Night cruises will search for owls, frogmouths and sleeping birds, in addition to other nocturnal wildlife.

Other activities at Sukau Greenview Lodge

Most visitors to Sukau Greenview Lodge come for the wildlife encounters. The typical package includes:

1. Wildlife-watching river cruises. These last between 1.5-2 hours and search the riverbanks for various wildlife including the so-called ‘Borneo Top-5’ – Bornean Elephant, Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, Rhinoceros Hornbill and Saltwater Crocodile.
2. Jungle trekking. A jaunt into the jungle to learn about the flora and fauna that inhabit the riverside forests. Typically done after breakfast.
3. Night river cruise. Spotlighting animals on the riverside after dark can be very exciting and rewarding! Lucky visitors may even see one of Borneo’s elusive wild cats, such as the Clouded Leopard.
4. Those with additional time may arrange an excursion to the Gomantong Caves, for an additional fee. 

Final thoughts

Pros:

1. The room was excellent, with powerful air-conditioning, comfortable mattresses and even a reclining lazy chair.
2. The ensuite bathroom was spotlessly clean.
3. Very good food, with varied dishes and a generous helping of vegetables
4. Friendly and courteous staff. Everyone speaks English well.
5. A cafe! 
6. The birdwatching cruises are well-organized, and includes packed breakfast and snacks.
7. Our guide, Mr Braun, knows his stuff very well.
8. Our van transport from the airport was very comfortable.
9. Well-priced tour packages, in the mid-end range. Tours are also customisable.

Cons:

1. No Wi-Fi in rooms (although this isn’t a major issue thanks to the prevalence of mobile data these days).
2. The common areas can feel a bit crowded if the lodge is at high occupancy levels.

Conclusion

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Sukau Greenview Lodge. The rooms were comfortable, the food was great and the staff were friendly and courteous. Our birdwatching trips from the lodge were immensely enjoyable and rewarding, in no small part due to the knowledge and experience of our bird guide, Mr Braun. 

The Kinabatangan River is a must-see destination for birders and nature lovers alike. And we feel that Sukau Greenview Lodge is an excellent choice as a base for visitors to explore the wonders that the river has to offer.