Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Tour
Activity Schedule
Key Highlights
- View orang utans close up in their natural habitat at the world′s largest orang utan sanctuary
- See a truly inspiring nature conservation program in action
- Enjoy a city tour and visit a local village built on stilts
- Complimentary hotel pick-up and drop-off
Overview
Meet gentle shy orangutans in their natural habitat at a unique wildlife sanctuary on this delightful tour.
The Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Sandakan is located in the middle of the lush Sepilok Forest Reserve. Spread across 43 sq km of land, it is the largest orangutan sanctuary in the world.
The Center specializes in caring for baby orphan orangutans and teaching them the survival skills they would have learnt from their mothers under normal conditions.
The orangutans are not kept in captivity, but rather come and go as they please while becoming used to living in the wild again after being held in captivity by various people. Dozens of other wildlife species are also treated here, including sun bears, gibbons, Sumatran rhinos and the occasional injured elephant.
You will have the chance to see the appealing orangutans close up and to watch the fun of feeding time.
You can take this tour as part of a larger group or opt for a private tour for a more personal experience.
Itinerary
The Sandakan Orangutan Rehabilitation tour is available in two options – coach and private. The private option offers greater flexibility and the convenience to do the tour at your own pace. Air fares are not included in the tour price.
Early morning, board a plane for historic Sandakan, one of Sabah's earliest settlements, where you can visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. A guide will go with you. If it is raining and the road condition is bad, a 4WD will be used.
You will arrive at the Center where registration of names will take place. A boardwalk leads you to the Viewing Gallery and Feeding Platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas twice a day at 10am and 3pm by the rangers. Feeding time also attracts long-tailed macaques to the area. See young, orphaned orangutans being taught survival skills so that they may eventually return to their natural habitat.
At the Center visitors are restricted to walkways. Some of the apes have become accustomed to human presence but touching them is strongly discouraged. Though orangutans are naturally shy and gentle, the more mischievous ones may try to grab your camera or hat, in which case you should call for a ranger as trying to wrestle the 200 pound apes may not be a good idea!
During your visit you can either walk along a nature trail to see vegetation and animal life in the tropical rainforest area of the Centre, or watch a nature video at the Nature Education Center in the Sanctuary.
After departing the Center you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Sandakan.
In the afternoon you will be taken on a city tour of Sandakan. The tour includes a visit to the Central Market, Buddhist Temple and a drive to the Water Village to see the houses of local tribes perched on stilts above the water.
After the Sandakan city tour you will be dropped at the Sandakan Airport for your flight to Kinabalu.
Inclusions
- Sandakan Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Return airport transfer in Sandakan
- Entrance fee for the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
- English-speaking guide
- Lunch
Exclusions
- Video/Camera fee at Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary approx (RM 10.00)
- Return trip air fares
Please note
Voucher Information: Sorry, but we will need you to print a paper version of your booking voucher (we're working on changing this). At this time no refund can be given for customers without a printed copy of their voucher.
Return airport transfers is to and from Sandakan only, and not Kota Kinabalu. For those who are staying in Kota Kinabalu, make your way to Sandakan Airport.
Kota Kinabalu hotels will be imposed surcharge approx. MYR 45.00 per person (imposed surcharge for out of hour transfers).
Air fares are not included in the tour price.
You are advised to book the return flight SDK/BKI: MH3094 (7pm). Flight schedules are subject to changes without prior notice.
A surcharge might be applicable if your pick-up and drop off locations are not centrally located.
Additional info
Customer Reviews
-
David Robertson
Exciting and informative tour
This trip really added to our experience of Sabah by giving us access to a less developed area of the country, a bit of an adventure with a turboprop plane trip to a little...
United Kingdom 01/27/2013 -
Dr Ian G Pearson
A very special day
Our Sepilok Orang Utan tour was a very memorable one. We elected to take a private tour, as we tend to be independent travellers, and tours are generally not our thing. We were...
Australia 10/11/2011 -
Barrie Parker
Great tour made excellent by Ken, our guide
Because we had booked the early morning flight from KK, returning early evening, we had about 9 hours for our individual tour of Sepilok and Sandakan, which maybe with another...
Australia 06/26/2011
travel inspiration from guidebook
-
AdventureAll You Need To Know Before Your Visit To Florence
The city of Firenze, as Italians call it, Florence has been touted as the birthplace of the Renaissance. Brimming with art, culture,… The post All You Need To Know Before Your Visit To Florence appeared first on The Guidebook - isango!.
-
Adventure
7 Best Things to do in Singapore: A Comprehensive Guide
Popularly known as the Lion City, Singapore is a city-state known for its unique tapestry of experience and the perfect blend of… The post 7 Best Things to do in Singapore: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on The Guidebook - isango!.
-
Adventure
Budapest Travel Tips: 10 Awesome Tips For Your First Trip To Budapest
Pronounced Boo-Da-Pesht and not Boo-Da-Pest, Budapest is a treasure trove of unparalleled architecture, healing thermal baths, and breathtaking landscapes. It is unlike… The post Budapest Travel Tips: 10 Awesome Tips For Your First Trip To Budapest appeared first on The Guidebook - isango!.