Gomantong Caves

Gomantong Caves near the Kinabatangan River are vast limestone chambers famous for swiftlets, bats and traditional bird’s nest harvesting. Wooden boardwalks lead into the dark where guano scent, fluttering wings and shafts of light create an intense spectacle of Sabah’s cave ecology. Visit with closed shoes, a torch mindset and realistic expectations about smell and humidity—then look up for nesting platforms and evening bat emergences when timing allows. Pair the caves with Kinabatangan river wildlife cruises for a classic eastern Sabah nature day that mixes geology, wildlife and living harvest culture.