01 Quick Facts
02 🌲 The Vibe
Pogun Jo Campsite is a riverside nature campsite on the Kokol–Tombongon road above Kota Kinabalu, Sabah — about 30 minutes from Menggatal and an hour from the airport. A clear river runs right in front for swimming, surrounded by forest and hill views that are perfect for star gazing at night. The owner, warmly called 'Uncle', is repeatedly praised for hospitality. Pricing is excellent: RM5/person day visits and RM7/person overnight [OFFICIAL], with tent and gear rental on site. The honest catches: weekends get loud with campers partying past midnight and weak curfew enforcement, the access road is winding, hilly and slippery in the rain with no streetlights at night, and mosquitoes demand serious repellent. Arrive before 5pm and book ahead — capacity is limited.
03 🚗 Getting There
Getting there — [OFFICIAL] Route: Jalan Kokol - Tombongon > Kg Tombongon > Pogun Jo; ~30 min from Pekan Menggatal, ~1 hr from Kota Kinabalu airport; all car types can reach the campsite. [CAMPER] Road is winding/hilly ('level 3 crooked'), very slippery after rain (park outside entrance if raining), no streetlights at night and easy to miss the signboard - arrive before 5PM; limited parking and no U-turn space inside.
04 🛏️ Staying at Pogun Jo
Book via WhatsApp 017-852 6429, 2–3 days ahead. Day visit 6am–5pm; overnight check-in 1pm, check-out 12pm. Arrive before 5pm — the road has no streetlights.
- Arrive before 5pm - The access road has no streetlights and the signboard is easy to miss in the dark.
- Pack repellent - Mosquitoes are relentless here — body and site repellent both.
- Bring your own BBQ grill - BBQ area is provided, but grills are not — and keep in mind mixed-use hygiene.
- Earplugs on weekends - Groups often play music and karaoke past midnight; weekdays are much quieter.
05 🛠 Facilities
🚻 Toilets — Decent campsite bathrooms, though rental rooms and the bathroom building were still being finished.
🔌 Electricity & sink — Plug points (a little far from some plots) and sinks for dishwashing.
💧 Filtered water — Air paip bertapis tap water available on site.
🏪 Sundry shop — Small kedai runcit at the entrance for essentials.
🏕️ Gear rental — Tents, mats, hammocks, gas stoves, canopy, floats and cooking gear for rent [OFFICIAL].
06 💬 What Campers Are Saying
"Beautiful location with a clean campsite and a river right in front... Unfortunately, if you're looking for peace and nature, this isn't the place. Campers were blasting music and karaoke until 1:30am, and the management didn't enforce any real curfew..."
"The road is level 3 crooked and hilly road... if its rainy day its better to park car outside before the entrance, the road very slippery after rain. For the ambience its cool though! Nice & relaxing. WARNING! make sure to bring a lots of your mosquito repellents..."
"Nice camp. Uncle are very friendly too. Nice view. We even dipped into the river at 2am. Toilet are so-so. Plugpoint ✅ Sink ✅. Also got bbq place just need to bring your own bbq grill... One slight improvement suggestion from me is they need to upgrade the tent that they rented to customers."
Pogun Jo Campsite sits beside a clear river on the Kokol–Tombongon road above Kota Kinabalu, wrapped in forest and hills. Entry is budget-friendly — RM5 for a day visit, RM7 overnight [OFFICIAL] — and nearly everything is rentable on site: tents from RM15/day, mats, hammocks, gas stoves, even floats. The owner 'Uncle' is the soul of the place, and the river, the star-filled sky and the quiet of a weekday visit make it easy to see why campers return. Weekend nights can be loud with party groups, the access road is steep and slippery after rain, and the nearest shop is far — so bring food and arrive before dark. Book 2–3 days ahead on WhatsApp 017-852 6429.
07 💰 What to Budget What you pay
| Day visit | RM5/person [OFFICIAL] |
| Overnight | RM7/person [OFFICIAL] |
| Tent rental | RM15/day (1–2 pax) or RM20/day (3–4 pax) [OFFICIAL] |
| Overnight entry | RM7/person [OFFICIAL] |
Confirm current prices and availability with the camp before booking. Among the cheapest proper campsites around Kota Kinabalu: RM5/person day trip or RM7/person overnight [OFFICIAL], with tent rental from RM15/day and most gear rentable on site. Book 2–3 days ahead via WhatsApp 017-852 6429 — capacity is controlled.
08 🏕️ The Camp Tip
- Pogun Jo sits by a river — a Naturehike quick dry towel makes river sessions easier, and a Wellhike pillow keeps everyone dry between swims.
- Rainforest nights get humid — a Ise Mount water tank upgrades the tent, and a Blackdog grill keeps water flowing at your lot.
- Families camp here all weekend — a Wellhike mattress keeps the kids comfortable, and a Naturehike backpack handles the everyday gear.
09 ❓ FAQ
Q1How much does it cost at Pogun Jo Campsite?
RM5/person for a day visit (6am–5pm) and RM7/person overnight [OFFICIAL]. Tent rental is RM15/day for 1–2 pax or RM20/day for 3–4 pax, with most gear available to rent.
Q2Is the road accessible by normal car?
Yes, all car types can reach the campsite, but the road is winding and hilly — 1.3cc and above is recommended. It gets very slippery after rain; consider parking outside the entrance on wet days.
Q3Is there electricity at the campsite?
Yes, plug points are available, though they can be a little far from some campsites.
Q4How is the noise level?
Weekends can be very loud — groups play music and karaoke past midnight with weak curfew enforcement. Weekdays are much quieter.
Q5How do I book?
WhatsApp 017-852 6429, ideally 2–3 days ahead. Capacity is controlled and parking is limited.
10 🔗 You Might Also Like
- Tawai Rainforest Camp - Another nature camp in Sabah — rainforest riverside vibes (read our full review)
- Papas Eco Camp & Homestay - More eco camping in Sabah worth comparing (read our full review)
Researched 23 Aug 2026 — fees and policies from the camp's official channels and Google reviews.