23/04/2025
From the Guide’s Eyes – A Night Walk at Tanini Kinabatangan
“They looked terrified… but curious.”
That’s usually how it starts.
I had two guests with me that night—both a little nervous. One of them flinched at the mention of spiders. The other kept asking, “Will we see snakes?” I just smiled and told them,
“Just stay calm. Stay aware. And trust the forest will show us something special.”
Before we entered, I gave the usual briefing. No loud noises, stay close, and don’t panic. I’ve done this dozens of times—but every walk is different. And that night, the forest had its own story to tell.
Even though it rained earlier, we barely felt a drop. Deep inside the jungle, the trees catch the rain like a giant umbrella. That’s when the magic begins.
Just a few minutes in, I spotted it. A huntsman spider, legs stretched wide, hanging from a low leaf. I pointed it out gently. One guest froze. The other leaned in closer with wide eyes. That’s always the moment—their fear meets curiosity. And curiosity always wins.
We kept moving. A long-legged centipede skittered past. A scorpion gleamed under our torchlight. Then a tiny leaf frog, almost invisible, clung to a thin twig.
And then—an elephant trail. Fresh footprints. Big ones. I told them, “We’re not alone in this forest. But they know we’re here.”
We didn’t spot the civet that night. It’s a shy one. But what I did see was even better—my guests walking back with a new kind of silence. The kind that comes after awe. After facing a fear and coming out the other side with wonder.
That’s what I love about this job.
Ever wondered what a real Borneo jungle sounds like at night?
Would you dare to walk it with me?
Let’s find out what the forest wants to show you.
formerly Nature Lodge Kinabatangan 
