Spending two full days and nights at Bilit Adventure Lodge allowed us time to trek in the jungle and take multiple river cruises in search of wildlife and birds that frequent this area as part of the rich ecosystem for which the area is renowned. Getting on a trip up the Kinabatangan River at dawn and dusk is the best time to see the diverse inhabitants of the area. The Bilit Adventure Lodge is one of many home stay type lodges in this area that offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with nature and the ensuing wildlife. These lodges allow for easy exploration, as the area offers an incredible diversity of plant, mammal and bird species. Although the rooms were simple and pleasant we stayed in air conditioned comfort and did not want for anything else in the jungle surrounds.

The Kinabatangan River is the largest and longest river in the Malaysian state of Sabah. It has a main channel length of about 560 km and covers almost 23% of the total land area of Sabah. The lower basin of the Kinabatangan River is the largest forest-covered floodplain in Malaysia, covering an area of almost 4,000 square kilometres. The river and its surrounding rainforest wetlands make up one of the richest ecosystems on the planet. The floodplain itself is a rainforest wetland, and it is the largest remaining forested floodplain in Sabah. The region is gaining increasing international fame for its biological diversity.

The Kinabatangan is one of only two known places on earth where 10 primate species can be found. The most famous attraction is the "Biggest Nose of Borneo" The Proboscis Monkey, endemic only in Borneo and recognisable by the male's long, distinctive pendulous nose and a peculiar mix of colours - grey legs, white belly and tail, and an orange coat. In addition to this you can also see silver leaf monkeys, red leaf monkeys, langurs and macaques. The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to 200 species of birds including all eight species of hornbills, kites, crested serpent eagles, egrets, blue-banded and stork-billed kingfishers and oriental darters. I had dreamed of capturing a glimpse of an orang-utan or proboscis monkey in the wild but never imagined my dream could come true but it did on our first night. The Kinabatangan area truly is a special place for a wildlife adventure in Sabah.