Gomantong Cave

Anyone passing through the Kinabatangan district will notice a colossal limestone structure of Gomantong cave. Situated in the Kinabatangan district, the cave is estimated to be 3,297 hectares and is managed by the Sabah Wildlife Department.

It is also known as a valuable source of edible bird nests that hang on the walls of caves. Bird nest, made from swiflet bird’s saliva is believed to be highly nutritious and an expensive delicacy in the Southeast Asia region.

There are two cave complexes – Simud Hitam (Black Cave) and Simud Putih (White Cave). Simud Hitam cave is more accessible, with the ceiling of the cave entrance reaching up to 300 ft. Simud Hitam opens its door to the public and is about ten minutes walk on the boardwalk from the registration centre. The boardwalk enables visitors to have easy access to do spelunking adventure and watch the skilled harvesters at work.

Meanwhile, the more valuable nests are found in Simud Putih. Hence, it is a restricted area and only accessible on the platform.

The resident creatures of the caves include swiftlets and bats, among other. On the cave floor, it is infested with bat guano, creepy crawlies and dare we say uncountable cockroaches. So wearing covered shoes or boots is highly recommended for this visit. Other species can be spotted outside, including serpent eagles, bat hawks, and kingfishers, making it a perfect place for birdwatching. Wild orang utans are known to be spotted around Gomantong cave too.

Although the scent from the cave can be unpleasant, we recommend staying until around 6 p.m. to anticipate the bat exodus. Millions of bats will come out hunting and swiflets returning to the cave. The dancing-like display in the air is quite an entertaining sight to see.

Most tour packages to Kinabatangan offer an optional tour to Gomantong Cave. Alternatively, independent day-trippers can hire e-hailing service or self-drive to this place, approximately 2 hours from Sandakan city.

Further Information
Birds’ nests are collected twice annually. Hence, the ideal time to visit is between February and April and between July and September.

Visiting Hours
Monday -Thursday, Saturday-Sunday: 8.00am – 1.00pm (morning) , 2.00pm – 5.00pm(afternoon)
Friday: 8.00am – 11.30am (morning) , 2.00pm – 5.00pm(afternoon)
*Last entry is at 4.00pm

Entrance fees

Malaysian : RM 5 (Adult) , RM 2.00 (Under 18 years old)
International: RM 30 (Adult), RM 15.00 (Under 18 years old)

Camera & Filming Fees
Video camera for personal use: RM 50.00
Camera for personal use: RM 30.00
*Please inquire permission and permit for commercial/professional photography and filming purposes.

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