A 30-minute drive west of Sandakan, the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre is a nature reserve that provides rehabilitation and care for young orang-utans, previously held in captivity. This prepares them to live alone in the forest. Boardwalk trails take visitors to the feeding areas. Enjoy the rare and thrilling opportunity to see an orang utan up close. Situated in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve which sprawls over 4,300ha, this sanctuary serves to rehabilitate orphaned orang utans as well as educate the public on the importance of wildlife conservation. 

These highly theatrical apes exist at three levels here: tame, entirely in the care of zoologists; semi-tame, living within reach of the sanctuary?s feeding points; and wild, having moved off to remote parts of the forest away from their prying human cousins. Many of the orang-utans are as curious as the visitors. They have flashy tastes, preferring to snatch at bright objects rather than dull ones. They also have a good sense of parody. Watching someone put up an umbrella in the rain, they will immediately mimic this, using leaves and twigs. Optimistic figures put the number of orang-utans at around 11,000 in Sabah, making it an endangered species. The viewing gallery gives an opportunity to see the orang utans being fed by rangers.

Opening hours: 9.00am-120pm & 20pm-4.00pm

Feeding times: 10.00am and 3.00pm

Admission fee:

Malaysian = RM5 Adult, RM2 (below 18 years)

Non-Malaysian = RM30 Adult, RM15 (below 18 years)

A fee of RM10 will be charged for cameras.