Accommodation & Food
Several types of accommodation are available at Danum Valley:
- VIP chalets: Two rooms available - each of which can sleep 2 - 3 people. These are air-conditioned, fully serviced and have an en-suite bathroom, a refrigerator and private balcony. Primarily intended for short visits.
- Resthouse: Seven rooms available, each of which can sleep 2 - 3 people. These are fully serviced, have en-suite bathrooms and overhead fans. Primarily intended for short visits.
- Annex: Four rooms available, each of which can sleep 2 - 3 people. These are fully serviced, have en-suite bathrooms, overhead fans and balconies.
- Scientists' chalets: Three self-contained duplex chalets and 1 single room chalet are available. The duplexes can sleep up to 4 people. They include a kitchen, living room, separate bedrooms, a bathroom and a veranda. Basic cooking equipment and utensils are provided. All of the chalets have their own refrigerator and washing machine. Intended primarily for long-term scientists - especially those who wish to self-cater.
- Hostel: There are two adjacent hostels at Danum Valley, each of which can sleep 48 people at one time (96 in total). The hostels are sub-divided into separate 'rooms', with 2 bunk beds in each. Bathroom and toilet facilities are shared. Each hostel has a prayer room for Muslim residents. The hostels share a large kitchen and dining area with excellent views over the forest. Intended primarily for students on field courses and for scientists and other visitors who may be on a tight budget.
- Campsite: Sleeps up to 20 people (in hammock style beds). This is a built campsite with open-sided, zinc-roofed structures and includes basic on-site toilets, showers, cooking facilities and a dining area. Intended mainly for students and other visitors who may be on a limited budget - or for those who prefer a more 'natural' living environment.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner can all be taken at Danum and is served in a dining room and on a veranda adjacent to the resthouse - which has wonderful views over the forest. Food is simple, Malaysian home-style cooking using fresh ingredients (all Halal) purchased locally in Lahad Datu. All meals are served as self-service buffets. Breakfast is often Western-style with cereal, toast, fried or scrambled eggs and sausages - though an Asian breakfast of fried noodles is sometimes served. Lunch usually consists of either fried rice or sandwiches. Dinner includes several vegetable, chicken, beef and/or fish dishes accompanied by steamed rice.
The Danum catering staff are well used to preparing vegetarian meals, and accommodating other dietary requirements, though visitors with serious food intolerances or allergies may wish to consider self-catering; given the relatively limited facilities available for food preparation at Danum, the complete exclusion of specific food groups (e.g. nuts, fish products) cannot be guaranteed.
The charges for accommodation and food at Danum Valley can be found in the costs section. Bookings at Danum Valley are made via Yayasan Sabah - please see the contacts page.
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