Kawag Nature Lodge
Block 4, Ground Floor, MDLD 3286/3287, Lahad Datu 91112 Malaysia
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Dining (6)
About
#3 of 9 Specialty lodging in Lahad Datu
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Kawag Nature Lodge (KNL) is the perfect jungle escapade for travellers seeking to unwind in nature’s warm and loving embrace in Sabah. Located in Kawag Forest, a Class 1 Protection Forest Reserve area, it is only 80 minutes drive away from Lahad Datu town. The lodge is surrounded by lush forest, Bornean wildlife, network of streams and rivers and literally sits on the oldest geological formation of crystalline basement, approximately 200 million years old. Our activities will get you closer to this amazing natural environment. We have river tubing, picnic by the the waterfall, fish spa, jungle trekking and night drive to spot nocturnal wildlife. KNL is equipped with basic hotel facilities and amenities to ensure your stay is comfortable in the wilderness. The lodge restaurant serves local delicacies, has a 24-hour electricity, clean and cosy rooms with air-conditioner and fan, and hot water for showers.
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Property amenities
Free internet
Restaurant
Hiking
Bicycle tours
Kids stay free
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Airport transportation
Concierge
Public wifi
Breakfast available
Complimentary welcome drink
Walking tours
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Clothes rack
Walk-in shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Landmark view
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Malay
Location
Full view
Contact
Block 4, Ground Floor, MDLD 3286/3287, Lahad Datu 91112 Malaysia
Getting there
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46Reviews3Q+A8Room tips
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+1
Our very own mistake was to accept staying here as an alternative to the Borneo Rainforest Lodge (which is actually amazing!!) as there was no availability there. The facilities are poor, worn out, quirky and cheap. The rooms are comprised of cheap furniture, with a single bulb pending from the ceiling as all the light, a mouldy bathroom with less than unappealing brown towels one would never get into voluntarily (pictures attached). The decor is composed of paper tissues cardboard boxes, spare toilet rolls and plastic hangers in the open wardrobe (more pictures enclosed). The restaurant terrace has several wooden sofas (more than uncomfortable) and some tables with plastic bottles a metallic water fountain as all decoration. Seriously, it takes nothing to cheer up those rooms and con una space, plant a little bit more of vegetation between restaurant and rooms (we could see our beds from the restaurant and so could any other guest), dig a pool so people have something else to do than staying at their bedrooms with the air con on - if you get lucky and you get a room with air con, which you’re not guaranteed and believe me, you’re gonna need it. We lasted the several hours our tour operator needed to change us to an amazing resort we finally stayed at. The staff though were more than friendly, wanting to please us all the time and going above and beyond assisting us in getting in touch with our tour operator for the change. Would never recommend unless you’re a Boy Scout.…
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
The Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge is the cheaper option versus the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, however you wouldn’t know it. The service by Alex and his staff is 5 star. I would highly recommend staying here and wish I’d stayed longer than 2 nights.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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The staff here did absolutely everything they could to ensure we had a great time - including giving us an individually prepared breakfast at the top of the observation tower. The food was good - better than we had had at other lodges - but rather large portions. Our guide, Rom, was incredibly knowledgeable and went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable and informed. We could not fault the staff or the location in anything, the only negative was that the rooms are in need of renovation and perhaps this is something the new management, which has only been there a month, will be addressing in due course
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Date of stay: February 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Deluxe means with air con and it’s good and worth it!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
We had an all-too-brief two days here and should have spent several more. The lodge is lovely and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. Our safaris were really successful in finding lots of wildlife, both expected and completely new.
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We intended to be in the Danum Valley, however Kawag is actually on Kawag River, not exactly on the primary forests of Danum Valley as in Danum Valley Research Centre or Borneo Rainforest Lodge. However it is still nice and has many of the attractions. The hotel must put mosquito nets on the windows and balcony door.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
I booked a tour with Borneo Refugia and stayed at Kawag for one night. I could not be happier. The experience of trekking in the jungle was amazing, and our guide Rob was so nice and knowledgable. We didn't see orangutans, unfortunately, but we saw other wildlife such as gibbons, red leaf monkeys, Wild pigs and wild cats, and leartn a lot about the rainforest. The accommodation was new and very comfortable. The staff were helpful and nice, and the food was yummy. Overall, excellent experience, I totally recommend it!
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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A nice, fairly new place. Rooms are clean, but prepare for basic infrastructure. The dining area is lovely and friendly, enjoyable. Thanks for the chef, food is really good. You may find couple of trails but prepare for millions of leaches. Quit annoying to check your body all the time. They made hard to enjoy trekking. But the staff, was very VERY nice and kind. I wish to meet all around such people. A big thanks all of you.
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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+1
The resort has an interesting design which allows you to observe nature from an elevated boardwalk, you can even take photos of birds and other wildlife from your breakfast table. The service staff are very friendly, professional and attentive to your needs and the food was very good. My guide Rom was very knowledgeable in all aspects of the jungle and patiently explained all the interesting things we saw on the hikes and night drive. We saw lots of birds and small animals even though the region was in the middle of a drought. There were very few mosquitos at the lodge, probably because of all the small bats which come out at night to eat them. My guide was also happy to change my itinerary to suit my plans/interests. On a slightly negative note, one of the other senior guides there seemed to have little understanding of wildlife observation etiquette - they were about 50m ahead of us on a jungle hike & we could hear him shouting and laughing, which would scare away any wildlife around. He also refused to let my guide and I hitch a ride with his vehicle one morning to travel to the forestry worker's quarters to look for an orangutan (even though there were spare seats), so we had to walk 20min or more to get there, by which time the orangutan had already left.…
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Date of stay: September 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Fan room is fine as it cools down quite fast at night
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Borneo_Refugia, Marketing Officer at Kawag Nature Lodge
Responded 15 Oct 2019
Hello wilcirrus, Thank you for staying with us at Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge and for taking the time to share your valuable review. Concerned with your comments, we had made an investigation and would like to take this TripAdvisor reply corner to explain this little misinterpretation. Wildlife observation etiquette – For this matter, a guide has their own way to entertain their guests and some of them presented their cheerful and energetic personalities to ensure that their guests will not feel bored during the jungle activities. Refuse to hitch a ride – For this matter, we already communicated with our guides. We found that the issue here was on the time arrangement of the activity. The morning walk activity usually starts at 0500 hrs and our vehicle will depart at that particular time. As informed by our guide, your morning walk activity was re-time to later at 0600 hrs. Therefore, the other guide and his guests had left at 0500 hrs to use the vehicle. Any inconvenience caused is much regretted and we will take these comments for our future improvement.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed here for the 3D / 2N package. It was a great experience. The food was plentiful and good. Our guide for all the nature treks was fantastic, very personable and knowledgeable about all the life in the forest. We spotted a wild orangutan and gibbons in the forest with the help of our guide. Popular destination for serious bird watching. The rooms are simple but comfortable. It is very hot and humid so definitely recommend a room with air con. Free unlimited drinking water refills. Very limited wifi service so enjoy unplugging while having an authentic nature experience.
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Date of stay: September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Borneo_Refugia, Marketing Officer at Kawag Nature Lodge
Responded 5 Sep 2019
Hi Herbie Thank you for choosing us. We are glad to know that you had a great experience at Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge. Thank you for taking a moment to recommend us to others. Your good ratings are greatly appreciated, and we hope you won’t hesitate to let us know if we can serve you again in the future!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
The complex is nice but with low maintenance, and the staff need some things to learn. 1) no briefing about the park, the forest and the animals. 2) no pictures of them at the wall...only two books 3) the guides are.not interconnected, to inform about animals location 4)the trek are.nice but the guide was tired and not really ecxting 5)the.room not cleaned everyday(she sad i mist ask for that🙄) 6) no passion to share from them about the forest or animal Finally its expensive 700 euros for a couple 2 nights for a low cost experience....(kinabatangan river is much much better with 300)
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge
LOCATION
MalaysiaSabahLahad Datu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Kawag Nature Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Kawag Nature Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, airport transportation, and kids activities.
Which room amenities are available at Kawag Nature Lodge?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, blackout curtains, and a desk.
What food & drink options are available at Kawag Nature Lodge?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, breakfast, and a free welcome drink during their stay.
Does Kawag Nature Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Kawag Nature Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Kawag Nature Lodge?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Malay.