Tourists at Tanini Kinabatangan preparing for a river cruise despite recent floods in Kinabatangan.
KOTA KINABALU: While severe floods in Kinabatangan have forced some lodges to close, not all operators have been affected, with more than half of the lodges in Kampung Bilit still running as usual.
Kinabatangan Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association (KiTA) president Alexander Yee, who owns Tanini Kinabatangan, one of seven lodges in Bilit, said his business remains unaffected as it is located on higher ground.
“For us, it is business as usual. When the Sukau-Bilit road was closed, we used the jetty in Sukau, so all our guests arrived via boat from the Sukau jetty. Everything is running smoothly, and wildlife sightings for the morning river cruise continue as usual,” he said.
Yee noted that out of the seven lodges in Kampung Bilit, four are built on higher ground—two of which are not even located beside the river.
“This means more than half of us were not affected. Only three lodges were impacted by the rising water levels,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bilit Adventure Lodge owner Johnny Lim, who previously described the floods as the worst in Bilit’s history, said the situation has continued to improve.
“The water level has receded even more today, and I am now optimistic that we may be able to operate in two or three days,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Kinabatangan remains a prime ecotourism destination, with its lodges’ main attraction—a river cruise along the Kinabatangan River—still offering visitors the opportunity to spot proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, hornbills, and even the elusive orangutan in their natural habitat.
