Sepilok

Located near Sandakan in eastern Sabah, Sepilok is primarily known for its Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Established in the 1960s, it provides care for orphaned and injured orangutans, teaching them the skills needed to return to the wild.

Visitors can watch orangutans at the feeding platforms, accessed via boardwalks through the forest. These semi-wild orangutans have been rehabilitated, and they are free to roam the surrounding reserve but often return to the platforms for food. Sightings are not guaranteed, but morning and afternoon feeding times offer the best chance.

Next door, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre houses the world’s smallest bear species in forest surroundings. The bears are rescued from captivity and live in large enclosures designed to mimic their natural habitat.

Wooden walkways wind beneath tall trees in the lowland forest, with the constant background noise of cicadas and birds. The Rainforest Discovery Centre, just outside Sandakan, offers a good introduction to the area’s biodiversity. It is home to the largest canopy walkway in Borneo, giving visitors the chance to observe birdlife and the rainforest from above. At dusk, witness flying squirrels leap from their tree-top nests and glide through the evening sky. The centre also includes botanical gardens and an exhibition hall focused on conservation and local ecosystems.

Night guided walks provide an opportunity to spot some of Sepilok’s more elusive nocturnal residents. From slow lorises and civets to owls and the tiny Bornean tarsier, one of the region’s most mysterious primates, these after-dark excursions offer a fascinating glimpse into the rainforest’s quieter side.