Deramakot Accommodation | Lodge & Chalet Rooms

Deramakot Reception Centre accommodation building at night

Where You'll Stay

The Deramakot Reception Centre

Every safari is based at the reserve's own Reception Centre — a clean, well-maintained forestry headquarters set in landscaped grounds in the heart of the forest. It is simple, comfortable, and has everything you need and nothing you don't.

What matters most is where it sits. Unlike lodges on the reserve boundary, you are staying deep inside the forest itself — which is why wildlife turns up outside your door, and why the night drives start and end at your accommodation rather than an hour away.

For the story of the reserve itself, see our complete guide to Deramakot Forest Reserve.

The Practical Detail

Rooms, Power and Meals

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Rooms with Air Conditioning

Clean rooms with air conditioning and en-suite or shared bathrooms, with hot water. Rooms are functional rather than furnished — beds and bathroom, not a sitting area. There is a communal sitting room in the building.

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All Meals Included

A resident cook prepares three freshly made meals daily — breakfast, lunch and dinner — served in the communal dining hall. Dietary requirements are catered for with advance notice.

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Electricity

Generator power normally runs through the night, so you can charge camera batteries, torches and phones between drives. It does occasionally drop out — this is a remote forest reserve — so bring a power bank and a head torch and you'll barely notice.

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Birding on the Doorstep

The headquarters sits in landscaped grounds with a large dining hall, and guests have singled out the bird watching in the gardens themselves — worth having binoculars to hand over breakfast.

"Think comfortable forestry lodge, not luxury resort."

Deramakot is a working forest reserve, and the accommodation reflects that. There is no pool, no spa and no room service, and the drive in is long and rough. What you get instead is a comfortable, clean base in the middle of one of the best wildlife forests in Borneo — and the ability to be out on the road within minutes of an animal being spotted. Guests are consistently surprised by how good it is given the remoteness.

In Guests' Own Words

What Visitors Say About the Accommodation

…"The large, neatly landscaped forest headquarters offer rooms in clean, comfortable chalets (with A/C, hot and cold water and 24 h power), a large dining hall, and superb bird watching in the gardens."…

klwtravel Excerpt · Read on TripAdvisor ↗

…"The accommodation was surprisingly good – air-conditioned rooms with ensuite bathrooms. There was no furniture in the rooms beside the beds, but I pillaged the communal sitting room in the building for a chair and table."…

HGHF Excerpt · Read on TripAdvisor ↗

…"The food was just amazing with both local and more european cuisine."…

JensH135 Excerpt · Read on TripAdvisor ↗

Read All Guest Reviews

Getting There

How You Reach the Reserve

Fly into Sandakan (SDK) — the closest airport hub to Deramakot.

Travel to Telupid town — approximately 2 hours by road. We can arrange a private transfer from Sandakan on request.

Meet us at Telupid at 2pm — we meet all guests here before heading in.

Transfer by 4WD into the reserve — a 2–3 hour drive on forest roads, arriving in time for the first night drive.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you stay at Deramakot?

Guests stay at the Deramakot forest headquarters, in clean chalet-style rooms with air conditioning and hot water. Power comes from a generator, with a move to solar planned. There is a large dining hall and a communal sitting room. It is a comfortable forestry lodge, not a luxury resort.

Are meals included?

Yes. A resident cook provides all three meals daily, and all meals are included in the tour price.

Is there wifi or phone signal at Deramakot, and is there a pool or room service?

Wifi and mobile phone signal are now available at Deramakot. There is no pool, spa or room service. It is a working forest reserve, and the accommodation is simple but clean and well maintained.

How do I get to the Deramakot accommodation?

Fly into Sandakan airport (SDK), then travel about 2 hours by road to Telupid town. Guests are met at Telupid at 2pm and transferred by 4WD into the reserve, a 2-3 hour drive. A private transfer from Sandakan can be arranged on request.

What is the maximum group size?

A maximum of 6 guests per 4WD vehicle, to keep noise low. Private trips are available on request.

Deramakot Forest Reserve Accommodation