If you’re wondering what to pack for Borneo in September (a great month weather-wise, and a good general list for most other months!) here’s the short answer: lightweight short and long sleeves, breathable pants, serious bug spray, quick-dry everything, fully body rain gear, and a dry bag. But that’s just the beginning!

Borneo is hot, humid, muddy, and wildly unpredictable, and packing wrong can be the difference between “this is the coolest wildlife experience of my life” and “why am I damp in places I didn’t know existed.”

When I went to Malaysian Borneo in September to look for orangutans and pygmy elephants on the Kinabatangan River, I pictured misty jungle mornings, but also humidity, sudden downpours, and bugs that saw me as an all-inclusive buffet. It might sound like overkill, but I was comfortable — and if you use this packing list, you could be too.

I created this based on my September trip, but you can use it as a good general packing list no matter when you’re going (with a few small adjustments). To help you plan your trip, be sure to check out my month-by-month guide on the best times to go for comfort, wildlife, and weather after you finish this blog.

Don’t board a flight to Sandakan with a backpack full of cute (but impractical) things. Here’s exactly what to bring and what most people will regret leaving home.

This guide is part of my Borneo safari series, where I unpack Kinabatangan river safaris, costs, packages & ecolodges, timing for seeing the incredible wildlife in Sabah! If Borneo’s on your bucket list, you’ll want to explore the rest of the series before you book!

Borneo safari packing list

What to pack for Borneo in September

Rain & Jungle Protection (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

• The thing that should top your list for what to pack for Borneo in September is a heavy-duty rain jacket, not a flimsy shell or something water-resistant. I ended up buying a full-body poncho from the lodge I stayed at after arriving and seeing boats on the river and people getting SOAKED! If you want the breakdown on the awesome place I stayed and the exact package I booked (all-inclusive with my ecolodge, cruises, meals, etc) you’ll find it here.
• Rain pants if you don’t have a full-body poncho (you will sit on wet boats be stuck with a wet behind for hours)
• Leech socks (many lodges will rent these to you or have them available to purchase, but make sure you check before you show up without them if you plan on doing any jungle hikes)
• Dry bag (again, the sky can open up at random and you don’t want to be caught out there with no dry place to stash your belongings!)

Clothing (Breathable, Functional)

• Long-sleeve and short-sleeve breathable shirts (quick-dry). I often wore short sleeves in the morning and long sleeves in the evening, with a fleece in my day pack if it was chilly. I got most of my quick-drying clothing here and the quality is excellent!
• Lightweight long pants, waterproof if possible (mosquito & sun protection, good for sitting on wet boat benches)
• Lightweight fleece or layer (cool mornings on the river)
• Sleepwear you’re okay sweating in (our lodge had AC, but it still got humid in the room)

Skip:

• Cotton
• Denim
• Anything “cute but stiff” or not functional

Footwear

• Waterproof hiking shoes or trail runners
• Sandals or flip flops for lodge downtime
• Extra socks (you’ll go through them, especially when you get rained on)

Wildlife Viewing Gear

There are no guarantees with wildlife, but Borneo has some of the best in the world! If you’re wondering how likely you are to see the Borneo Big 5, check out my blog about what wildlife can you see on a river safari in Borneo and how to increase your chances of seeing different animals!

• Binoculars (huge upgrade to the experience if you have them! Check if your guide rents them, and if not be sure to bring your own)
• Camera with weather protection (I just used my iPhone and GoPro, but I had a dry bag with me just in case of a heavy downpour)
• Extra batteries (humidity drains them)
• Lens cloths (constant moisture)

Health & Comfort

• Mosquito spray (DEET or picaridin) 
• Anti-itch cream
• Personal meds
• Electrolyte packets for hot days
• Hand sanitizer & wet wipes

Daypack Essentials

• Lightweight daypack WITH RAIN FLY or dry bag.
• Refillable water bottle
• Bug spray with deet (I love the idea of natural, but with dengue and malaria, deet is absolutely necessary)
• Sunscreen (SPF 50+)
• Sun hat (the boats I went out on were not covered with any kind of shade structure, so this is a must-have. I didn’t see any boats with shade on the river)
• Binoculars (these can be rented from the lodge, but I recommend bringing your own if you have them)
• Seat pad (most people would be fine without this, but you’re out there for several hours. So if sitting on the hard bench would be tough with you for that long, bring a small foam pad to sit on!)
• Power bank
• Small notebook (you’ll want to remember sightings)

Things People Forget (But Regret)

• Copies of documents (you never know, and if you get wet you’ll want to have backups!)
• Earplugs (jungle noise is LOUD at night)
• Patience — wildlife runs on its own schedule

I hope this blog helped answer your questions about what to pack for Borneo in September!