Kabulongou Waterfall
What and where is Kabulongou Waterfall?
Kabulongou is a 1,000-acre stretch of rainforest in the Sapulot region of interior Sabah, near Pagalungan in Nabawan district, and the waterfall at its heart is one of the most rewarding in Malaysian Borneo. Three falls, ranging from 30 to 100 feet, drop down the Kabulongou river through forest that the local Murut community is bringing back to life.
The area was heavily logged about 30 years ago. Rather than leave it degraded, villagers from Balantos, Salung and Saliku formed the Kabulongou Earth project to replant native trees, restore the rivers and rebuild the ecosystem that once sustained their communities. Kabulongou is part of Orou Sapulot, the wider community eco-tourism project in Murut country, and every visit directly funds the restoration work.
Things to do at Kabulongou
The forest offers far more than the falls. Guests choose from the activities below and the community guides shape a package around them:
- Swim in the natural pools beneath the three waterfalls along the Kabulongou river
- Trek five jungle trails ranging from easy 2-hour loops to full 7-hour journeys
- White-water raft 2 hours from Saliku Village to Kabulongou, or take the full 5-hour run to Balantos Village
- Fish along the banks of the Pampangon river, or hand-feed the fish being restored to the Kabulongou river
- Watch birds from three purpose-built hides and photograph butterflies deep in the forest
- Join the agroecology programme: fruit trees, medicinal plants, vegetables, beekeeping and free-range chickens
- Plant endemic seedlings with the community silviculture team and visit the salt licks being restored for wildlife
Nearby, the same guides run trips to Batu Punggul and Pungiton Caves, and longboat journeys toward the Kalimantan border.
The three waterfalls
The Kabulongou river steps down through three distinct falls inside the forest, from a 30-foot cascade to the main drop of around 100 feet. Clear plunge pools sit beneath them, and your guide will advise which are safe to swim on the day. After rain the falls run at their most dramatic, and because the camp sits beside them you can visit at first light before the day warms up. For the wider picture of the region's falls, see our guide to waterfalls in Sabah and the month-by-month weather guide.
Staying at Kabulongou Waterfall Eco-Camp
Accommodation is the Kabulongou Waterfall Eco-Camp, built beside the falls so the sound of water is the last thing you hear at night. Guests sleep in tents pitched on raised, covered platforms, with shared camp buildings for meals and long evenings; coffee, tea and homemade buns on arrival are something of a camp tradition. It is simple, comfortable and completely surrounded by recovering forest, with birdlife returning a little more each year.
Getting to Kabulongou
Kabulongou is reached through Sapulot, the base for Orou Sapulot trips. From Kota Kinabalu the road crosses the Crocker Range to Keningau and continues south to Sapulot; a 4WD then takes you to the Saupi hanging bridge over the Pampangon river, and from there it is a guided 40-minute forest walk to the camp. Everything is arranged as part of your package, from Kota Kinabalu pickup to the final walk in. The Sapulot travel guide covers the route in detail.
Why Visit Kabulongou?
Kabulongou is one of the few places in Borneo where a visit measurably rebuilds a forest. The 1,000 acres being restored here are held under Native Customary Rights by the villages of Balantos, Salung and Saliku, and tourism income is what makes the replanting possible: guests fund it, and many join the planting themselves. Birdwatchers are already recording the return of species that vanished after the logging years. If you want to understand how this model works, read about community-based tourism at Orou Sapulot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Kabulongou Waterfall?
There are three waterfalls along the Kabulongou river, ranging from about 30 feet to around 100 feet. All three sit within the 1,000-acre Kabulongou forest area.
Can you swim at Kabulongou Waterfall?
Yes. Natural plunge pools sit beneath the falls and swimming is one of the highlights of a stay. Guides advise which pools are safe on the day, especially after heavy rain.
How do you get to Kabulongou Waterfall?
Visits are arranged as packaged tours with Borneo Outback Tours via Sapulot in Sabah's interior. A 4WD brings you to the Saupi hanging bridge over the Pampangon river, followed by a guided 40-minute forest walk to the camp.
Where do you stay at Kabulongou?
At the Kabulongou Waterfall Eco-Camp beside the falls. Guests sleep in tents on raised, covered platforms with shared camp buildings for meals.
Is there white-water rafting at Kabulongou?
Yes. A 2-hour run goes from Saliku Village to Kabulongou, and a longer 5-hour run continues to Balantos Village.
What is Kabulongou Earth?
The community reforestation project behind the destination. Villagers from Balantos, Salung and Saliku are replanting the 1,000-acre forest, and the Kabulongou Earth tour packages, from 2 days 1 night to 7 days 6 nights, fund the work.
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