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Sepilok

From Wikitravel

Asia : Southeast Asia : Malaysia : East Malaysia : Sabah : Sandakan : Sepilok

Get in
See
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Get out

Sepilok, is in Sabah, Borneo. Situated 26 km from Sandakan, the famous Orangutan Sanctuary is situated here [1] in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve.

[edit] Get in

Most travellers travel to Sepilok via tour group, taxi, hire car or bus from Sandakan.

The road from Sandakan is well signed making for an easy journey for those self-driving. Arrangements can be made in advance with your accommodation in Sepilok for a car to meet you at the Sandakan airport (35 MYR one way per car as at July 2007).

[edit][add listing] See

Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre [2] and [3] is situated on the edge of a forest reserve. Established in 1964, its purpose is to rescue orphaned and abandoned juvenile orangutans and to teach them to fend for themselves.

There is an entrance fee and a camera fee (30 MYR per adult and 10 MYR per camera). The centre is open daily and the ticket office opens at 9am - note it closes for lunch.

The best time to visit is at feeding times (approximately 10am and 3pm) as this is the probably the only chance of seeing the orangutans and other monkeys (such as the long-tailed macaques) which appear for the free feed of bananas and sugar cane. Note that if it is raining, the feeding times may be delayed as the rangers prefer not to sit out in the rain.

Within the reserve, the visitor is restricted to the boardwalks and these are under construction/repair (July 2007) so there is not more than about 15 minutes of board walks available at present. The visitor is also restricted to what they can bring into the Centre - small backpacks are permitted, but neither handbags nor water bottles (unless inside your backpack) nor insect repellent are allowed. It is best to go with as little as possible i.e. no bags, backpacks, water bottles. There is a shop selling water and other food items in the carpark.

Since the Centre is situated inside a tropical jungle, you should expect biting insects (spray yourself before you go in as repellent is not permitted inside). Also expect to get rained on. There is no shelter at the viewing area and thus a poncho is a good investment. Umbrellas aren't really useful as the rain can be absolutely torrential side ways at a relentless pace for over an hour complete with thunder and lightening. Besides umbrellas block views of others. It can be dark inside the jungle with difficult lighting at the viewing area if it is overcast so consider this if you are the avid photographer.

Given the Centre is a popular tourist destination, expect that the morning feeding time will be crowded with a good half to dozen tour buses fresh from the morning flights from Kota Kinabalu. The hundreds of sweaty visitors will keenly jostle for that perfect photo. The afternoon feeding time is possibly a quieter choice for those with the luxury of time with the added delight of seeing a larger number of the animals in a more personal, peaceful atmosphere.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

The fundraising shop at Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre sells postcards, fluffy monkey toys and other touristy merchandise.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Sabah Vegetables are a local specialty. When stir-fried with garlic or other herbs/spices these ferns are tasty and have a texture like crunchy bok choy or asparagus.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Both Sepilok Nature Resort and Sepilok Jungle Resort sell beer and other beverages.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

The two principle places to stay, both within 5 minutes walk, are:

Sepilok Nature Resort [4] - chalet-style accommodation

Sepilok Jungle Resort - for the more budget minded traveller. Accommodation varies from clean and basic double aircon rooms to dorm-style. An open-air dining area serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Beer, soft drinks and bottled water are sold. Note that this accommodation venue is not suitable for those who are mobility impaired. Transport to and from Sandakan town and airport is available (35 MYR per vehicle at July 2007).