Borneo Rainforest Lodge

2 hours into the rainforest you will find BRL, it's remote and it's beautiful. The staff at the office in Lahad Datu are welcoming, there are free drinks and snacks on offer and we were given reusable drink bottles to use and take home as a souvenir which was a lovely surprise. The trip out was bumpy (& maybe a bit too fast so was a little uncomfortable tbh!) but we saw some wildlife on the way. ||The rooms are well appointed and spacious, we had 2 big beds, a lounge area, deck looking out to the forest and a private plunge pool. The room includes toiletries, robes, torches (unfortunately most of ours didn't work properly which was a bit of a hassle to discover out on our night walk), plentiful towels and a daily top up of Coke and 100 Plus (the electrolyte drink which was very refreshing!) They offer a laundry service - all you can fit in your basket for 50myr! ||The main area of the lodge is spacious with lots of seating for meals or relaxing. Its open so you look out to the forest and wildlife around you. Meals are a buffet and there is loads of choice which varies daily. The food is very good. Staff are friendly and attentive. ||We went on several walks with our guide while there and one night after the longer Coffin Cliff walk they took us out on little golf cart type vehicles. We also did part of the tree tops walk but half of it is currently closed due to an issue with one of the trees. Note that this walk is not right by the lodge but further up the road. We saw quite a lot of wild life but not as much as we had hoped for - it rained a few times and apparently the wildlife also don't like the rain so much! We did have a good sighting of an orangutan though :D |Overall the experience of the guide was good, he was very knowledgeable but I did find sometimes he wasn't wholly focused on the guest experience (waiting for whole group to be present to explain things for example) and although he did take some great photos he said he would later share with us, this didn't happen. I would have liked to see more but understand that the nature of wildlife is that it is unpredictable so I don't blame the guide for this, rather it is just how I felt. ||A tip for others is that the onsite shop sells rubber shoes - I had sought out a pair in KL but needn't of bothered! 22myr a pair so more than you will pay elsewhere but still cheap! They also sell leach socks. We did a lot of research on leeches before we went and opinion seems to vary greatly. I personally think you can get away without leech socks - just bring long socks (for example football type) to wear over your pants. They seemed to be more present when it was wet though so perhaps more of an issue at certain times of the year. It is very hot so ensure you have a change of clothes for each day you are there as you get sweaty and muddy! ||Overall we had a really good experience staying at the BRL. For us as a family with youngish children the alternative of the field center wasn't really an option and we are glad we made this choice. It's a once in a lifetime so worth spending the $$$ if you can afford it and want a more comfortable experience of the DV. ||Thank you to all the team at the BRL.

I loved every minute of my stay at BRL. To be in the middle of this epic jungle with all its intensity - omnipresent leeches, blind stinging wasps, slick muddy trails, and next level humidity - while still being able to enjoy hot showers, return to the comforts of in-room AC and fresh laundry and savor delicious avocado salad and almond milk cappuccino is my type of luxury. The best part is that my private trekking guide Sabinus (the bird identification race champion) taught me so much about the jungle: slow down and involve all senses! We listened and talked to gibbons, identified the smell of nearby orangutans, sensed heavy movement in the trees, and survived weapon-wielding macaques! A true sense-awakening adventure while being looked after every step of the way. Thank you, Sabinus and BRL!

Fabulous experience at Rainforest Lodge. All the staff were so attentive , nothing was any trouble . My husband has a gluten-free diet. It was so lovely to eat in their restaurant where everything clearly marked. Our Guide Nexter was so knowledgeable and spotted so many things that we would have just walked past. My only regret is that we didn't upgrade our room from the basic jungle chalet. The next step up has a plunge pool on the balcony, which would have been great during times between walks.

To be honest, I don't even know what to begin with. I am too impressed and truly amazed. ||Perhaps, I will start with my arrival at Lahad Datu (LD) Town. The moment I stepped my foot at the Lahad Datu Airport and was welcomed my Mr. Frendo, I was already "wow"-ing. It was so warm, so full of sincerity. ||Then we reached the BRL's Office in LD Town for the briefing of our Journey to the Lodge itself. This office is not just an office, it is a Lounge. Very comfortable, the staff were attentive and so welcoming. ||We left the BRL Office around 9am on 22/11/2024 and reached the Lodge at around 11.40am, with some stops for toilet breaks and some photo-taking. It was on a gravel road, but Mr. Frendo was more than competent at handling the wheel. Kudos!||During our 3D2N stay there, it was nothing short of a whole new adventure for us and it was the BESTEST Top Notch 5 STAR Hospitality Experience! From the CEO himself, Mr. Freddie Coleman who was all smiles and very welcoming. Mr. Freddie Jude Julani, the new Lodge Manager who was all the time there attending to our needs. What a perfect combo of Freddies! ||Special shoutout to Ms. Cassy and Mr. Gilven - the Nature Guides assigned to our team. They definitely have done their job perfectly. No questions were left unanswered. ||I managed to have a brief chat with one the senior Nature Guides by the name of Mr. Sabinus Sadah, who is the Champion of the Internation Bird Race, recently held in Sandakan. His sharing on his experience of recognizing birds in this North Borneo Island has got me going like -"ohh, i seee, ohhh niceeee" .||The F & B Team, lead by Mr. Allias (I hope I got the name right). The food was fantastic, we were so spoiled by choices! I have never tasted grilled lobsters that were soooo soooo goood!! Well done to the Head Chef, and the team.||Our room was of the Jungle Chalets. It was J9. Seriously, I couldn't even remember if they did ask bout my room & my bagpack. The next thing I knew was, the bags were already in our room upon entering our room. Wow!!! What a mind-blowing!!||Last but not least, Danum Valley is a Pristine Forest. A dense forest. So animals sightings are based on luck. It rained almost every evening while we there. But still, God knew how desperate we were to be able to see some wild animals in their habitats. God was so good. We managed to see Orang Utan, Red Leaf Monkey, Rhinoceros Hornbills, Owls, Fox, a flying frog, a Samba Deer and some birds that can only be found in Borneo. We were so so blessed, despite the downpour! Leeches are everywhere though, so it is very advisable for you to put on your leechsocks.

My second time visiting and it still mesmerises me. From the start to the end, everything is wonderful and carefully designed.|The journey in and out from Lahad Datu to BRL offers its challenges, but the comfortable 4WD and the experienced drivers (Alwie and Ambrose) beat them. |The lodge itself is beautiful and comfortable, giving us time to be immersed in the rainforest while experiencing luxury.|The ever flexible guide Nexter who allowed us to choose our own timing and activities to do, your knowledge during the tour is diverse and your eyes are fast to spot the hiding wildlife.|The awesome F&B team who crafted the delicious Asian and International cuisines - I think I gained extra kgs, hahaha!||Worth mentioning Maria (KK office) who helped me select the suitable date for my trip, Ina (Lahad Datu office), guest service Eric, FO team Stephanie, Debbora, and Elizabeth, F&B team Didie, Irene, and Alistair, Housekeeping team Shahrul, and of course all staff who took care of the lodge's cleanliness.||BRL is worth recommending to others❤️|We will be back again!

If you wish to go into the rainforest in Borneo, this must be one of the best, if not the best, resorts to stay at. The restaurant is excellent as are the staff. The guides are knowledgeable and friendly when walking you through the forest. Whether during the day or at night, the guides have a great ability to spot animals, birds and insects however large or small. This was truly a wonderful experience.

Location:||A good two hours away from the office close to the airport in the middle of a conservation are with primary forest, so nature all round, nice nestled around a river.||Rooms.||They differ a lot so I can only write about a private villa. Large, very bright, perfect lookout over the river into the jungle and with a lot of birds nesting directly underneath s a lot of them to see. Large outdoor shower and bath a plunge pool which is refreshing (but not cold) and ample stowing space. What we found funny was the small area behind the bed, which we di not find any use for. I would not take a jungle view room, as this is also a good way to look at cars and people passing by. And ors needed a better cleaning in some areas. ||Public areas: ||No pool, but you had a very practical part in which you could drses for the hikes and shower and dry shows and Gear afterwards and above a nice restaurant and bar with a nice view of the river as well. Barefoot only. Everything clean and neat and nicely decorated.||Food:||Both the euopean as well as the asian dishes were nice, well tasty, some prepared fresh in front of you. Avoid thing that have staid longer in the open like fries or beef but the curries were always excellent. Large choice so always enough to find and enjoy. One minus here: We did expect expensive beers (by far the most expensive on Borneo) but what we did not expect was a list of some 15 cocktails of which 10 could not be prepared due to a lack of ingredients.||Staff:||Well, they are in the same league as the Mandarin Oriental Singapore. Always smiling, always willing to help, always going the extra mile, Deborah and Nevin you as personal caretaker and guide are upfront but everybody was in the top league. Every time we came back form a walk during which Nevin did spot a lot of animals (see below), we were greeted by Debborah with a nice drink. ||Seeing animal is ou course a matter of luck (plus patient, plus silence plus more luck). but we did see Orang Utans giving as a nice show, so we are happy.||Some things:||The reception hall in the town is freezing. At least in our room category, laundry without limit was included so a good opportunity to reduce clothing for the trip. Leach socks were as well, so no need to bring them in from the outside. And yes: you do need them. And even the light hikes are done in 30 Celsius and 80 humidity.

The best experience I’ve ever had thus far. Wonderful staff, tasty food, and the chance to be in a primary rainforest…breathtaking. Must do the coffin trail hike and basically everywhere! So worth the drive. Stay at least 3 days. 2 is not even close to enough.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge is a stunning place in the Middle of the Malaysian part of the Borneo Rainforest.