Everything travellers need to know about Sabah’s newest wildlife and nature destination 

Trusan Sugut Forest Reserve is Sabah’s newest wildlife safari destination, newly opened to travellers in 2025. Located in northeastern Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, this 8,680-hectare Class I Forest Reserve is an FSC-certified rainforest known for orangutans, banteng, proboscis monkeys, clouded leopards, and over 330 species of birds. 

With minimal visitor traffic, wide-range 4x4 safaris, and a conservation-focused approach, Trusan Sugut is quickly becoming one of Malaysia’s most promising new wildlife and nature travel destinations, offering a raw, conservation-led experience found nowhere else in Borneo.

Key Highlights 

  • Newly opened wildlife destination in Sabah (2025) 
  • Home to wild orangutans, banteng, proboscis monkeys, and hornbills 
  • Up to 7 hours of 4x4 safari exploration daily 
  • A Class I Protected Forest Reserve, FSC-certified, and supported by WWF-Malaysia 
  • Customisable itineraries that you can tailor according to your wildlife interests 
  • Perfect for seniors, families with young children, and wildlife enthusiasts who prefer less trekking 

A Protected Rainforest with High Biodiversity

Trusan Sugut Forest Reserve sits between the Sugut and Paitan Rivers, forming an important ecological corridor in northeastern Sabah. Once part of a production forest, it was upgraded to Class I Protection in 2014 due to its exceptional conservation value. 

Today, it protects a thriving range of wildlife and is quickly becoming one of the most significant lowland rainforest destinations in Borneo. 

What makes Trusan Sugut ecologically unique: 

  • 80+ wild orangutans, the largest known population in northern Sabah 
  • 168 mammal species, including banteng, proboscis monkeys, and clouded leopards 
  • 335 bird species, from hornbills to raptors to elusive ground birds 
  • 365 species of butterflies 
  • A regenerating mosaic of dipterocarp, kerangas, peat swamp, freshwater swamp, and mangrove forest 

This compact yet diverse reserve offers a rare opportunity to explore a recovering rainforest ecosystem as it rebounds into vitality.

Who Trusan Sugut Is Ideal For 

  • Travellers who prefer minimal trekking 
  • Seniors or families with young children 
  • Wildlife enthusiasts focused on nocturnal species or wild cats 
  • Photographers seeking wide-range safari positioning and varied habitats 
  • Repeat visitors to Borneo seeking a new, less-commercialised destination

A New Sabah Safari Experience: Wide-Range 4x4 Exploration

Unlike Kinabatangan River’s boat cruises or Danum Valley’s trail-based trekking, Trusan Sugut offers a 4x4-based safari system designed to prioritise comfort, accessibility, and range. 

What the Trusan Sugut safari offers: 

  • Morning 4x4 safaris 
  • Afternoon 4x4 safaris 
  • Optional night safaris 
  • Up to 45km of trail coverage per day 
  • Routes through remote regeneration zones rarely visited by travellers 
  • Comfortable, low-effort wildlife viewing suitable for all ages 

Daytime safaris offer sightings of orangutans, gibbons, proboscis monkeys, hornbills, and crocodiles. Night drives reveal flying squirrels, civets, owls, slow lorises, and occasionally clouded leopards. 

Guests with specific interests, including wild cats or specific bird species, can request customised itineraries with additional night drives or extended sessions at high-activity zones.

Frederick Kugan Base Camp: Your Remote Wilderness Stay

Accommodation inside Trusan Sugut is located at Frederick Kugan Base Camp, a remote research-style station adapted for small-group tourism. While simple, it offers comfortable essentials for a wilderness-focused stay. 

Accommodation Types: 

  • Three-bedroom chalet (6–9 pax) 
  • Two-bedroom chalet (4 pax) 
  • One-bedroom resthouse (1–2 pax) 
  • Male and female dormitories (6 pax each) 

Facilities:

  • Dining hall serving Malaysian home-style meals 
  • Surau for Muslim guests 
  • Generator-powered electricity (with solar transition underway) 
  • Starlink satellite internet 
  • Clean, air-conditioned rooms and shared/attached bathrooms 

There is no 24-hour reception, room service, or resort-style amenities. This is a field environment rather than a lodge, designed for guests who prioritise nature, wildlife, and conservation.

Meaningful Conservation with Impact

Trusan Sugut is more than a wildlife venue; it is an active reforestation and conservation site supported by WWF-Malaysia and the Sabah Forestry Department. Visitors can participate in an optional tree-planting activity, where: 

  • A native sapling is planted 
  • The tree is geo-tagged 
  • An e-certificate is provided 
  • The tree becomes part of long-term restoration monitoring 

This activity offers travellers a tangible way to support the forest’s recovery and contribute to real conservation efforts.

What Wildlife You May See at Trusan Sugut

The diversity in Trusan Sugut is one of its strongest draws for travellers seeking new wildlife destinations in Malaysia and Borneo. 

Mammals 

  • Orangutans 
  • Proboscis monkeys 
  • Long-tailed macaques 
  • Bornean gibbons 
  • Banteng (rare but present) 
  • Civets and flying squirrels 
  • Clouded leopards (extremely rare but possible at night) 

Birdlife 

  • Seven species of hornbills including Helmeted and Rhinoceros Hornbill 
  • Great Argus 
  • Kingfishers, bee-eaters, barbets 
  • Raptors such as Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle 

Riverine Wildlife 

  • Saltwater and freshwater crocodiles 
  • Egrets, herons, darters, and storks 

This balance of forest and river habitats makes Trusan Sugut a strong alternative to Kinabatangan, Deramakot, or Tabin for travellers seeking less-visited wildlife destinations in Sabah.

Fidelis Tip Viewpoint

Fidelis Tip is one of Trusan Sugut’s most rewarding canopy observation points. From this elevated vantage: 

  • Orangutans are often spotted moving through the canopy 
  • Birders can observe hornbills, raptors, and high-canopy species 
  • Photographers enjoy sweeping views of regenerating rainforest 

Its placement within the reserve makes it a natural hotspot for primate and bird activity.

How to Get to Trusan Sugut

Located in northeastern Sabah between Beluran and Paitan, Trusan Sugut is accessed from Sandakan via: 

Overland + Boat Route (Scenic) 

  • Drive to Beluran 
  • 1-hour motorised longboat ride along Sugut River 

Full Overland Route (Adventurous) 

  • Drive to Paitan 
  • Approximately 3.5-hour 4x4 journey into the reserve 

Both access methods offer different ways to experience Sabah’s landscape, from riverine environments to remote forest edges.

What a Typical 4D3N Trusan Sugut Experience Looks Like

Day 1 

Arrival in Sandakan → transfer to Trusan Sugut → lunch → orientation → night safari 

Day 2 

Morning safari → afternoon safari → optional tree planting → night safari 

Day 3 

Morning and evening safaris → Fidelis Tip viewpoint → optional night safari 

Day 4 

Final sunrise safari → return to Sandakan 

Wildlife behaviour varies throughout the day, so multi-session safaris increase sighting opportunities.

Recommended Clothing & What to Bring

Wear: 

  • Long-sleeved breathable shirts 
  • Outdoor pants in earth tones 
  • Trekking or rubber-soled shoes 
  • Hat or cap 
  • Lightweight jacket 
  • Flip flops for camp 
  • Leech socks (provided) 

Bring: 

  • Extra clothes 
  • Sunscreen and insect repellent 
  • Raincoat 
  • Dry bag 
  • Headlamp 
  • Power bank 
  • Binoculars 
  • Camera 
  • Passport and travel documents 
  • Personal medication

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Trusan Sugut suitable for seniors or families with children? 

Yes. Most wildlife viewing is done from 4x4 vehicles with minimal trekking, which makes Trusan Sugut a good choice for seniors, families with young children, and anyone seeking accessible rainforest safaris. 

Is Trusan Sugut worth visiting? 

Yes. As Sabah’s newest wildlife destination, it offers raw, quiet forest experiences and excellent wildlife potential. 

How new is Trusan Sugut as a tourist destination? 

It opened for conservation-led tourism in 2025, making it one of Malaysia’s newest nature destinations. 

Is Trusan Sugut safe and legitimate? 

Yes. It is managed by the Sabah Forestry Department with conservation oversight from WWF-Malaysia. 

Is it good for seeing orangutans? 

Yes. The reserve is home to over 80 wild orangutans in regenerating habitat. 

How does it compare to Danum Valley or Deramakot? 

Trusan Sugut is less developed and less visited, offering a quieter experience with wide-range 4x4 safaris rather than trekking or river cruises. 

Final Takeaway 

Trusan Sugut is a rare opportunity to explore a protected rainforest at the very start of its tourism journey. With thriving wildlife, wide-range safaris, and meaningful conservation involvement, it has all the makings of Sabah’s next major nature destination, yet remains peaceful, wild, and largely unknown. 

For travellers seeking something new, authentic, and deeply connected to nature, Trusan Sugut is one of Sabah’s most exciting new frontiers.