Sepilok is where most Borneo wildlife itineraries begin. Just 30 to 40 minutes from Sandakan airport on the edge of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, this small forest settlement packs three of Sabah’s best wildlife experiences into walking distance of each other — and sits conveniently on the road to the Kinabatangan river.
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Opened in 1964, Sepilok is one of the world’s oldest and most respected orangutan rehabilitation projects. Orphaned and rescued orangutans learn to climb, forage and fend for themselves before being released into the surrounding reserve. Feedings at 10am and 3pm bring semi-wild orangutans swinging in from the forest to the feeding platform, and the outdoor nursery — where youngsters practise on ropes and platforms — is often the highlight of the visit.
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Directly opposite the orangutan centre, the BSBCC cares for rescued sun bears, the world’s smallest bear and one of its least known. Viewing platforms look down into the forest enclosures where bears dig, climb and forage exactly as they would in the wild.
Rainforest Discovery Centre
A ten-minute drive away, the RDC’s steel canopy walkway runs 620 metres through the treetops — one of the most accessible places in Sabah to look for flying squirrels at dusk, and a birding hotspot where Bornean bristlehead is recorded regularly.
How Sepilok fits your trip
Most of our Kinabatangan river safaris can include a guided Sepilok visit on the first morning — see the 3D2N Sepilok & Kinabatangan River Safari — and Turtle Island packages pair naturally with an afternoon here. Tell us what you want to see and we will build it in.
