Gomantong Caves
Gua Gomantong
Sabah's largest limestone cave system, its ceiling home to millions of swiftlets and bats, where nest collectors climb rattan ladders and ropes to harvest edible bird's nests.
Gomantong Caves lie within the Gomantong Forest Reserve and form the largest cave system in Sabah, famous for its edible bird's nests. Visitors can follow a wooden walkway into Simud Hitam (Black Cave). The cave ceiling rises about 90 metres and is home to huge numbers of swiftlets and bats. During the harvesting season you can watch workers climb rattan ladders and ropes several dozen metres high to collect nests. In the evening, bat colonies often stream out of the cave, attracting bat hawks that come to feed. The cave floor is covered in bird droppings and cockroaches, and the smell is strong, so wear non-slip closed-toe shoes and a hat. Foreign visitors pay about RM 30 for entry, and visits are usually scheduled on the same day as a Kinabatangan River trip.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Kinabatangan River Cruise (Sukau)
- Puu Jih Shih Temple
- Sandakan Central Market
- St. Michael's and All Angels Church
- Sam Sing Kung Temple
- Sandakan Heritage Trail
- Agnes Keith House
- Buli Sim Sim Water Village