There’s something inherently magical about waking up at the break of dawn, especially in the middle of the Bornean jungle. The way the soft pastel glow of the rising sun casts a gentle light upon the skies, the calm river, and the verdant valleys in the distance. Nature’s eerie ode of quietude prompts you to accept its imperfection and all its soft yet unpredictable beauty – in a way, you can’t help but feel humbled.

But this morning light will slowly reveal to us that Mother Nature, in all her unpredictability, is all-powerful and rather terrifying.

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Our second day in the tropical rainforest saw us greet the morning at 5:20am. The early birds have it easy as they awaken at the sound of feet pitter pattering on the wooden floor. As for the night owls, it took us a minute or two to shake the grogginess away.

Half asleep, I dragged myself to the bathroom to wash up before heading out to the restaurant for a much needed wake up tonic: coffee. A few minutes downing the caffeinated drink and that certainly got us marching to a different morning beat than a minute ago.

The crocodile drawing quite a crowd. 
Credit: Leon Kuan | Instagram

We departed at 6am with our morning river cruise taking us upriver this time. With the morning fog surrounding us, the chill got to us quick. But this river cruise was one that we will remember for a long time to come.

We came across a few proboscis monkeys but when we turned around a bend a few minutes into the cruise, we were met with a gathering of boats to which we naturally gravitated to. And what did we find? A crocodile in the middle of devouring its half-eaten boar carcass!

The crocodile keeping a close watch on us. 
Credit: Leon Kuan | Instagram

From the colour of the carcass, we assumed that it was at least a few hours since its death and that the crocodile had already devoured it halfway before we came along. Another reminder that we’re in their territory now and that we’re not watching a National Geographic documentary from the comforts of our living room.

A white-bellied eagle watches the crocodile from up high. 
Credit: Leon Kuan | Instagram

The beginning of a courtship between two hornbills.
Credit: Leon Kuan | Instagram

A crown of kingfishers.
Credit: Leon Kuan | Instagram

And we had company! With us completely fixated on the crocodile, an eagle was perched on a branch atop one of the towering trees and watching the whole ordeal. From the looks of it, it could be a white-bellied sea eagle. Once again, if it hadn’t been for the guides, we would’ve easily missed it!

The calm and murky waters of Sungai Kinabatangan.
Credit: Leon Kuan | Instagram

Alas, it was time for us to bid Kinabatangan a hesitant farewell and head on a 7-hour journey back to Kota Kinabalu. Some of us may have experienced phantom waves as we went to sleep that night, as if we were still on the boat witnessing with our own eyes a 6-foot crocodile guarding its food. Going on this trip made us realise that we know so little of home and being able to see the animals in their natural habitats, we came back to our urban lives with a sense of humbleness and a newfound curiosity to learn more about the natural world.

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Are you planning to take a trip down the Kinabatangan River? Stay at the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort and choose from the two packages below!

Visiting Sandakan, the Nature City, is also a must-do! Browse the various packages that we offer below.