MY · Sabah · 5.35°N 117.41°E

deramakot forest reserve

Night drives for civets, slow lorises and, with luck, clouded leopards in a forest beyond Telupid.

Best time
The drier months, roughly March to September, make the gravel roads and night drives easier. Rain can stop a drive any time of year, so book more than one night.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Sandakan (about 2 hours 40 minutes); the reserve is about 4 hours by road from there. From Kota Kinabalu it's about 7 hours. Either way the last stretch from Telupid is gravel and needs a four-wheel drive, which comes with your booking.
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MY · Sabahderamakot forest reserve5.35°N 117.41°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Night drives for civets, slow lorises and, with luck, clouded leopards in a forest beyond Telupid.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingDeramakot Forest ReserveMY, Sabah
KLderamakot forest reserve
≈ 1,760 km from KL, as the crow flies

A big forest reserve in central Sabah that has been logged carefully, under strict rules, since the late 1990s. It has become one of the best places in Borneo to see wild cats. Most of the wildlife watching happens from the back of a four-wheel drive at night, with a spotlight sweeping the trees, so it suits patient people with binoculars.

Makan

  1. Nasi campur in TelupidThe lunch stop on the way in, before the gravel road.Map ↗
  2. Base camp mealsThere's no restaurant or shop. Your operator arranges the catering, so mention dietary needs when you book.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Night drivesA couple of hours on the forest roads after dark, spotlighting for civets, leopard cats, slow lorises and, with real luck, a clouded leopard.Map ↗
  2. Pre-dawn drivesAn early start to catch night animals heading home as the forest wakes up.Map ↗
  3. BirdwatchingHornbills and other forest birds in the canopy around the base camp. Bring binoculars.Map ↗
  4. Morning walksShort guided walks near camp while it's still cool.Map ↗

Good to know

  • There are no walk-in visits. Book through a tour operator, who sorts out the forestry permit, vehicle and rooms at the base camp; the best dates go months ahead.
  • Sightings are never guaranteed, even of the common animals. More nights give you better odds.
  • Bring a light jacket for the night drives and a rain cover for your camera.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.