Widely recognized for its wildlife conservation centers, Sepilok is probably the easiest way to see orangutans in the wild in Sabah. Located near the town of Sandakan, this area further boasts some other attractions well worth visiting. Think about proboscis monkeys, sun bears, and incredible birdlife to name a few. Keep on reading to discover all about it.
Sandakan in short
With a population of around 400.000, Sandakan is the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu. The city is located on the east coast of Sabah, overlooking the Sulu Sea and the Philippine Archipelago. As the former capital of British North Borneo, Sandakan has a rich history and is known for its colonial architecture and historical sites. Also, it is in close proximity to various nature and wildlife reserves such as Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River. Due to that, the Sandakan area is a must-visit when traveling to Sabah.
As part of Sepilok, popular attractions to visit are the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Visits to Sepilok are often combined with a trip to the Kinabatangan River. This river, renowned as one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems, is a popular destination to discover wildlife in its natural habitat via river cruises.
Brief history of Sandakan
During British colonial rule, Sandakan was the capital of British North Borneo (now Sabah) until the capital was moved to Kota Kinabalu in 1946. Due to the strategic location of its port on the Sulu Sea, Sandakan quickly developed into a trading center for commodities such as timber, sago, rubber, and palm oil. As the city was occupied by the Japanese for three years during World War II, most of the city was destroyed by heavy Allied bombing. As a result, the British moved the capital to Jesselton, now Kota Kinabalu, as rebuilding Sandakan as capital was deemed impractical due to the effects of the war.
Nowadays, Sandakan plays an important role in Sabah’s economy. The city’s port remains a major hub for trade and transportation in the region, particularly in agriculture, palm oil production, and timber processing. Due to its proximity to the Sepilok and Kinabatangan River, Sandakan has become a popular tourist destination and serves as a hub for major tourist areas in East Sabah.
More information on Sandakan can be found on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandakan
Quick facts
Population; 400.000 (11th biggest city in Malaysia)
Other names for Sandakan: Elopura (meaning beautiful town), Little Hong Kong, for the Chinese presence and similarities with Hong Kong, as well as Kampong German.
Meaning of Sandakan; The place that was pawned (in Sulu language)
Sepilok in short
Sepilok is an area 25 kilometers west of Sandakan and best known for its various nature and wildlife reserves. The area is on the edge of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Highlights to visit in this area are the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. However, also the Rainforest Discovery Centre is well worth visiting for its forest trails, 620-meter canopy walk, and extensive birdlife. Lastly, the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is a little less-known place but equally worth the visit to see an abundance of proboscis monkeys. This sanctuary is 21 kilometers northwest of Sepilok in the mangroves of Labuk Bay.
What to do in Sepilok and Sandakan
Dive further into the activities in and around Sepilok and Sandakan below. Prices are for international adults. Locals, as well as children, often get a discounted rate.
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (SORC)- RM30
Founded in 1964, this center aims to rehabilitate orphans and injured orangutans. Observe them during feeding times at 10 AM and 3 PM at the feeding platform and visit the outdoor orphanage. Best season to see the orangutans is outside of June to August, as this is the fruiting season in which the orangutans are mostly able to find their own food in the forest. There are around 60-80 orangutans living in and around the center.
Opening hours: 9 AM – 12 AM and 14 PM – 16 PM
Website: https://www.wildlife.sabah.gov.org
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSCC)- RM50
Adjacent to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre focuses on the conservation of sun bears, the smallest bear species in the world. Explore the facility and learn about these fascinating creatures. There are plenty of guides to speak to.
Opening hours: 9 AM – 3.30 PM
Website: https://www.bsbcc.org.my/
Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) – RM30
Located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, this center offers a wide variety of trails to explore the rainforest as well as a 620-meter canopy walk through the trees, Sabah’s longest. also, there are various observation towers, most notably the ones named Bristlehead, Hornbill, and Trogon. Every year in September the Borneo Bird Festival attracts many birdwatchers from around the world. Also recommended is taking a night walk between 8 and 9 PM, costing an additional RM30.
Opening hours: 9 AM-5 PM (night walks 8 – 9 PM)
Website: https://www.rainforest-discovery-centre.business.site/
Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary – RM60
Witness the unique proboscis monkeys in their natural habitat at this sanctuary. The sanctuary provides a feeding platform for visitors to observe these distinctive long-nosed monkeys up close.
Opening hours: 8.30 AM-5.30 PM, 365 days a year
Website: https://www.proboscis.cc/
Agnes Keith House – RM15
The former home of American author Agnes Newton Keith is now a museum showcasing her memoirs about her time in North Borneo and offers insights into the region’s colonial past.
Opening hours: 9 AM-5 PM
Website: https://museum.sabah.gov.my/exhibition/72
Sandakan War Memorial – free
Pay a visit to this significant historical site 11km out of Sandakan that commemorates the prisoners of war who suffered during World War II. The park includes gardens, memorials, and exhibitions detailing the history of Sandakan during the war.
Puu Jih Shih Temple
On the hilltop of Sandakan Bay, this beautifully constructed Buddhist temple provides panoramic views of Sandakan and the surrounding area.
Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 16:30 PM
Turtle Island (Selingan) – tour packages only
Approximately 40km and a 1-hour boat ride off the coast, Selingan is a safe haven for the endangered Green and Hawksbill turtles. Witness the egg-laying process, collecting of eggs, and the tagging of the mother turtles, as well as the planting of turtle eggs in the hatchery.
Opening hours: only available via packages with a 1-night stay on the island.
Website: https://turtleisland.com.my/
Kinabatangan River
Explore the wildlife of one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems.
Read more about the Kinabatangan River and what to do here.
When to go
As a main tourist destination, Sepilok can be quite busy during the high season from June to September. However, this period usually falls during the fruiting season, when orangutans find their own fruit in the forest. Hence they are less likely to show up at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. For a quieter experience with fewer visitors, it is recommended to visit during the shoulder months (April to May and October) when the weather is generally good but visitor numbers are lower.
How to get there
Sandakan can be reached both by flight or by road going via Mount Kinabalu. Sepilok is around a 20-minute drive from Sandakan. Although most people take a taxi to Sepilok, it is also possible going there by (public) bus.
By flight
There are multiple flights from Kota Kinabalu on a daily basis to Sandakan via either AirAsia or Malaysian Airlines, taking approximately 55 minutes. Sandakan Airport is around 13 km / 20-40 minutes drive (depending on weather and traffic) from the city center of Sandakan, and 17 km / 20 minutes from Sepilok. Flight prices are often very affordable and can go as low as US9 one-way.
Besides Kota Kinabalu, there are multiple daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan, which take approximately 2.5 hours. From within Sabah, there are daily flights between Sandakan and Tawau (1 hour), as well as Lahad Datu (35 minutes).
By road
Sandakan is approximately a 6+ hours drive from Kota Kinabalu, and 8 hours going by bus. The road follows the inter-state AH150 highway and is mostly well-maintained. Going by road gives the perfect opportunity to visit some of the highlights along the route;
- Mount Kinabalu Park – 90km from Kota Kinabalu
- Ranau Paragliding Park – 113km from Kota Kinabalu
- Poring Hot Springs – 125km from Kota Kinabalu
- Sabah Tea Plantation – 127km from Kota Kinabalu
After Sabah Tea Plantation, it’s a long 3 hours drive without (m)any interesting places along the way to Sepilok or Sandakan. In Telupid, a town along the way, there is a large roadside restaurant where buses stop for a break.
From the direction of Lahad Datu and Tawau, it is approximately a 6-hour (Tawau) or 2-3 hours drive (Lahad Datu).
How to get to Sepilok
By bus from Sandakan
From Sandakan there are usually four public buses that go directly to Sepilok (at 9:00, 11:30, 14:00, and 17:00) and four returning back to Sandakan (at 06:00, 10:30, 12:30, and 16:00). The bus journey takes around 45 minutes.
Many of the hotels around Sandakan can also arrange shuttle services.
By taxi from Sandakan (airport)
A more convenient alternative to taking the bus is taking a taxi. From Sandakan airport, it takes around 20 minutes and costs approximately 50RM. Suggest using either Grab or Maxim.
By bus from Kota Kinabalu / south of Sabah
Alternatively, if you come by bus from Kota Kinabalu or the south of Sabah towards Sandakan, ask the bus driver for a drop-off at junction ‘Jalan Sepilok’. This roundabout is a 2.5 km walk from the main area in Sepilok and 3.5 km from the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
Where to stay
There are a variety of lodging options in both Sepilok and Sandakan. The advantage of staying in Sepilok is that the main sights are nearby, while the drive from Sandakan to Sepilok takes about 20-30 minutes.
In Sepilok:
Sepilok Nature Resort
Within walking distance of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, this eco-friendly resort offers chalets surrounded by lush tropical gardens.
Nature Lodge Sepilok
Situated near the Rainforest Discovery Centre, this lodge offers chalets as well as well-maintained dormitories for backpackers. Its (buffet)restaurant is pretty good.
Sepilok Forest Edge Resort
Within walking distance of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, this resort offers chalets nestled within a rainforest setting.
Sepilok Jungle Resort
Within walking distance of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, this resort offers chalets amidst a lush tropical setting. It provides a peaceful atmosphere and is a convenient base for exploring Sepilok’s attractions.
Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat
Located above Sepilok this retreat offers traditional wooden chalets. From here it is a 5-kilometer drive to reach the main Sepilok attractions.
In Sandakan:
Sabah Hotel
On a hill overlooking the city, this hotel provides a pool and a restaurant. It offers a peaceful retreat while still being within reach of Sandakan’s attractions by car.
Nak Hotel Sandakan
a budget-friendly option in the city center and provides easy access to local attractions, markets, and dining options. In the same block, Balin Roofgarden Bistro & Bar offers a nice rooftop view of the city.
Sandakan Backpackers Hostel
The most vibrant hostel in town faces the sea and has a nice rooftop. As well it is close to many restaurants.
There used to be a Four Points by Sheraton in Sandakan. However, during Covid, the hotel closed down.
