"For centuries, bird nests harvested here are being exported to China where it had been and still is an expensive delicacy."
Located on the Southwest of Sandakan, the Gomantong Caves has considerable historical depth. For centuries, bird nests harvested here are being exported to China where it had been and still is an expensive delicacy. In the olden days, Menangol - a narrow tributary of the Sungai Kinabatangan (Kinabatangan River), is the only way to the caves, but today it can be reached by road.
The Gomantong Caves has two complexes - Simud Hitam and Simud Putih. The easy accessible Simud Hitam, which rises to 90 metres high, produces inexpensive black nests made from hardened swiftlet saliva mixed with feathers, while Simud Putih is harder to reach but produces white nests, which can fetch as much as US$500 per kilo.
During the periods of February to April and July to September when the nests are being harvested, visitors get to see how experience locals with just the use of rattan ladders, ropes and poles, remove the bird nests from the caves' walls.
Last viewed - March 15, 2010
Getting there
Take a boat ride across the bay from Sandakan, then take a four-wheel drive vehicle for a 16km journey through the jungles to get to the Gomantong Caves. The journey to the caves, which can take the whole day, needs to be arranged with the Sabah Forestry Department or a reliable travel agency.
User recommendation
"Beside the bird nest harvesting, watch out for the bats. At about 6-7pm lots of bats will fly out from the cave funnel and it looks like smoke...amazing!" by moose
"Belum pernah menjejaki ke tempat ini. Menurut rakan, gua ini adalah salah satu tempat mencari sarang burung untuk dijual. Harap pihak VM dapat menyediakan satu dokumentasi bagaimana orang mencari sarang burung. " by Fitri Alia
"Sebuah gua yang terkenal yang menjanjikan pengalaman yang menarik. Mungkin kawasan guanya yang terkandung mineral-mineral yang menyebabkan burung suka membiak di sini." by shoana
"In my opinion,it is appropriate to visit Gomatang Cave during the month of Feb to April and July to Sept., because that is a good time and opportunity for us to watch the birdnest being harvest. Most of the Chinese people believed that birdnest is good medicine for our health." by Mama Milah
"Have not been there actually, but heard from some friends that its quite an amazing cave. Looking forward to be there especially during the bird nest harvesting season ...April, August, and October." by imran
"Pakcik aku yg mendapat jodoh dengan orang sana menggalakkan aku buat coverage pasal gua ni..katanya..ia unik..dan aku pasti akan ke sana satu hari nanti" by Iwan
"I've been there once...what wondering me was..how can the birds like to nest there??" by Nawri
