How to Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo

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It goes without saying that no visit to Borneo is complete without a visit to the famed Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo. We have had the luck and privilege to visit the only two places on this planet where you have a chance to encounter and observe Orangutans in their natural habitat.

We visited Sumatra in June 2014, where we trekked for 2 days into the jungle and had several first hand encounters with the Sumatran Orangutan. More recently, we visited Malaysian Borneo in search of our second opportunity to see the great red apes.

Part of being a traveler that loves to observe wildlife is being a responsible and educated traveler.

Our first encounter happened while on our wildlife safari on the Kinabatangan River in Sukau, where we observed an adult Bornean Orangutan hanging high up in a tree.

We were not able to get close, but it was amazing to see this animal living peacefully in it’s natural environment.  After leaving the pristine rainforests, we headed to Sandakan where we stopped over for a few days and made a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo.


Visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Sabah Borneo

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Having the opportunity to see Bornean Orangutans in their natural habitat is a special experience and one of the only places to do this in Sabah is at the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo.

This center is located outside of Sabah’s second largest city, Sandakan. Animal lovers from all over the World travel to this remote region for the chance to see these endangered primates during two of the centers scheduled feeding times on platforms within the reserve.

Located on a 43sq km equatorial rainforest reserve, the rehabilitation center focuses their efforts on preserving the endangered populations of the Orangutans in this region.

The Orangutans are wild and free to come and go as they please. You will not see cages or enclosures during a visit here and you are permitted to follow marked paths to the various viewing areas at the front part of the reserve.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Sabah Borneo

Understanding the Rehabilitation Center’s Purpose

While you may see some adult Orangutans during a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo, the main purpose of the center is to rehabilitate young orangutans that have been orphaned due to illegal logging and deforestation and those who have been held illegally and kept as pets. The focus of this center is not tourism and there are some things your should understand about this before you make a visit.

This is not a zoo and sightings of the Orangutans is not guaranteed. While they do have specified feeding times, and it is likely that one or more Orangutans will show up for a brief visit, your visit could still be a gamble. 

But this is the best part about the work that they are doing. As travelers and tourists, we need to understand the purpose of this facility and what the chances of not seeing them really means. For that, I will explain further.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Sabah Borneo

The young Orangutans that are taken into this center undergo complete health checks before being entered into the rehabilitation program. Once this process is completed, the long road to rehabilitation is started which can take up to seven years for each Orangutan that comes through the program.

Due to being separated from their mothers, they have not learned the necessary and vital skills of survival which requires 24 hour care from the staff at the rehabilitation center, much like that of a human child.

When they have learned enough skills and maintain stable health, they are introduced to their peers and begin learning about social interaction and acquiring physical skills, such as climbing, swinging and foraging.

When their skills have reached an acceptable level, they have free reign in the reserve, yet they still occasionally rely on the feeding schedules they are used to and return to the center for meals.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Sabah Borneo

~ Juvenile Viewing Area ~

The ultimate goal of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is to successfully save and re-integrate the young Orangutans back into the wild so they may continue to help grow the endangered populations of Borneo.

So, why it is important to know all of this?

If you are someone that happens to pay a visit to the rehabilitation center during your travels and you do not see any Orangutans, you are witnessing the huge successes of the program at work.

This means the program is working and the Orangutans have been successfully re-integrated to the wild and no longer rely on the people or the centers schedule to survive on their own.

While it may be disappointing, it is actually a really beautiful thing and something that we kept in mind during our visit, despite the fact that we saw several young Orangutans during both feeding times.

After speaking to the Liason officer during feeding times, it was nice to have a background on what Orangutans we were seeing, how long ago they were released and how often they actually come in for the scheduled feedings.

After witnessing both feeding times, we were delighted to learn that we only saw one single Orangutan twice over the two scheduled times.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Sabah Borneo

What You Can Do to Help

The Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo is currently run by the Sabah Wildlife Department and does receives some funds from them but a large portion of funding comes from the entrance fees charged to the tourists who are allowed to visit the center and witness the feeding times. 

Funds are limited and in past years the center has been unable to replace much of its outdated or overused equipment and staffing levels are often at a minimum.

The Orangutan Appeal UK, currently the only approved NGO (Non-Government Organization) approved to provide assistance to the rehabilitation center, has some great information on establishing fundraisers to help the cause and has ongoing projects that accept donations if you are looking to help.

Another popular way to help out and be interactive is to adopt a baby Orangutan. This route is more interactive, you can choose which baby Orangutan you wish to adopt based on their profiles.

Much like human babies, they all have different personalities and behaviors, so you can choose the one that you relate to best. With an adoption, you receive personal correspondence, updates on your Orangutan and many other bonuses.

It’s a great way to donate to the cause and follow the progress on these little guys.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Sabah Borneo

Planning a Visit of Your Own?

You certainly shouldn’t miss a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo if you are planning a trp to Borneo. Being able to catch a glimpse of these humble red apes is a special experience and by visiting the center, you are contributing to sustaining their species for future generations.  Below is all the information you need to plan your own visit:

Location: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center sits on the edge of the Kabili forest reserve, located 25km from the city of Sandakan where most people stay. Tours, buses and taxis make getting to Sepilok really easy.

Getting There: We took the local bus and made the visit on our own. There is a local bus that leaves from downtown Sandakan to Sepilok daily, this will drop you off right at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.  Be sure to catch Bus 14, which leaves hourly from the minibus station from 9:00 to 14:00. The last bus leaves the park at 16:oo, leaving you time to view both feedings if you catch the first and last bus. The bus costs 4MYR ($1.25USD) one way, per person.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Sabah Borneo

Public Center Hours: The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is open from 9am-4pm daily and tickets are valid for the whole day. This means you can see the morning feeding and then have time before the next feeding to check out the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center or the Rainforest Discovery Center that are both within walking distance.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Admission Cost:

  • Non-Malaysian Adult: 30MYR ($9.50USD)
  • Non-Malaysian Child: 15MYR ($4.75USD)
  • Camera Fee: 10MYR ($3.00USD)
  • Ticket Office Hours: 9:00AM-12:00PM & 2:00-3:30PM

Orangutan sanctuary Borneo

Feeding Times: These are at 10am and 3pm, make sure you get there 15mins before hand so you have time to walk along the boardwalk to feeding. You also want to be early if you are a photographer or videographer to ensure you get a good spot, with good light and no people in your frame.

Photography & Video Tips: The feeding platform gives you a wonderful opportunity to film these endangered primates. However, you won’t be the only one there and if you are looking for an intimate experience with the red apes, think again.  Here are some tips to help you capture better photos during your visit:

  • Be early- more than the recommended 15 minutes, you want to beat the crowds and get setup before they start arriving. There is plenty of room for everyone, but for clear shots, you need to be strategically placed.
  • Pack your lens hood and pay attention to the lighting conditions. Both the morning and afternoon feedings will give you different light conditions, both of which can be a challenge. Use the light to your advantage, but be sure you have setup in a place that will minimize glare and washout.
  • Bring a telephoto lens. They will be close, but not that close. You will need a minimum of 200m zoom to get decent photos.
  • Bring a tripod. Using a telephoto lens makes things more sensitive, so you want to be as still as possible and a tripod will allow you to capture clear photos when zoomed in further.
  • Shoot in Shutter Priority mode (TV) to start off, this way you will capture the movement when they climb down from the trees to the platform.

Orangutan sanctuary Borneo

More Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo Tips

Being located in the rainforest, a visit to the center will not be without insects. Pack a strong insect repellent to avoid being bitten. Also, pack a poncho or rain jacket, the weather can often be unpredictable and there is no shelter once you leave the office.

DO NOT BRING AN UMBRELLA, the colors can scare the animals, block the views of others and act as a lightning rod if a storm crops up.

If you happen to come across an Orangutan while in the reserve, please do not try to touch it. Human disease and virus can be transmitted to them very easily and what is a common cold to you may cause death if contracted by an Orangutan. 

Additionally, they are very strong, have sharp teeth and could cause you bodily harm if provoked. Always keep a safe distance if you encounter an Orangutan.

If you only have time for one feeding, we suggest the afternoon feeding. There will be less people and no tour groups at this time. The whole experience will be more peaceful and enjoyable if you have to choose between the two times.

Orangutan sanctuary Borneo

~ Afternoon feeding crowd during our visit, half the size of morning time ~

More importantly, enjoy your time spent at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, it is one of only two places in the World to see these primates in their natural habitat. Give yourself time to watch the DVD and learn about the programs at the center and the efforts that are put forth in conserving this beautiful species during your visit.

More on Borneo:

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About Lina Stock

Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA



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20 thoughts on “How to Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Borneo”

  1. Hey Lina great article! Thank you for being so informative about the goals of the rehabilitation center. They are truly doing good work there. We actually just returned from a trip to Borneo and had the chance to visit the center too! It is an amazing place to see and it’s fun to see the little ones learning to play and wrestle. They have done a great job giving the orangutans free roam and making the people the ones inside the zoo. We had one of these young guys come visit us when we were looking at the sun bears across the street. The orangutans really do get to wander wherever they want!

    Reply
    • Hi Adam, Thanks for stopping by. We really enjoyed our time at Sepilok, some really great photography opps too! I think it is a great program doing great things to keep that species from going extinct.

      Reply
  2. Hi there, thanks for your great post.

    Does the 9am bus from Sandakan arrive early enough to be there 15 minutes early (or more), as you recommend?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • If that is the first bus, then yes, you will get there just before the feeding. If you make your way straight out there, you should have enough time to get a good spot before the crowds come.

      Reply
  3. A wonderful post! So exciting that you saw an orangutan in the wild! I visited the rehab centre too a couple of years ago and was so moved by the great work that was being done out there (there’s a blog post on my site about it if you fancy reading) – I was so amazed by how incredibly intelligent the orangutans are too. Could have watched them for hours 🙂

    Reply
    • Thanks for stopping by. It is always a pleasure to see an Orangutan, especially since they are endangered. We purposely made a visit to both Sumatra and Borneo (the only two places they exist in the Wild now) just to see them in their natural habitats. They are very special and like you say, highly intelligent animals. Glad you enjoyed the post!

      Reply
  4. Hi, I was lucky enough to work as a volunteer at Sepilok 10 years ago and have been back twice since to see some of my former charges. It really is the most amazing place doing amazing work to rehabilitate the orphaned OrangUtans. Your article has reminded again that I must go back to see the great works being done there. I adopt an OrangUtans every year too!

    Reply
  5. I visited Sepilok with my late Husband in. 2011, he adopted Ceria for me while we were there. We were both moved by the dedication and care given to these gentle animals and decided that once back home we would support the work of the Orangutan Apppeal UK. however, my Husband collapsed and died two days later while we were in Poring Hot Springs. I was devastated, but once home I remembered our pledge and have continued to support OAUK and have adopted, Chikita and Beryl since. This is in Syd’s memory as well as for me and the Orangutan, in the hope that their species will be preserved for future mankind.

    Reply
    • Janet, firstly I’m sorry for your loss. Secondly, that is a great story and I am so glad you were able to share that passion with your husband. I agree, we need to be better educated about some of these species that may be gone soon. We have the power to prevent it.

      Reply
  6. What a wonderful and highly informative article Lina, I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you very much for posting the links to our website; we really appreciate the support (:(])

    Reply
  7. Thanks for the interesting article. I visited Sepilok about 20 years ago and it was one of my favorite animal encounters. The work they do at the preserve is outstanding.

    Reply
    • Glad you enjoyed the article. I am sure it has come a long ways in 20 years. While it’s not quite the same as encountering them in the rainforest, the work that they do is great for the species and a good opportunity to educate the general public about their plight. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  8. Breath-taking stuff Lina! Your recount of seeing one of these chaps in the wild is just plain awesome. I for one love apes – sounds strange right? lol – and would be floored by visiting both the rehab center and if I could spot one of these orange/burnt siena guys in the wild.

    Thanks for the inspired share and keep up the great work guys!

    Ryan

    Reply
    • Hi Ryan, thanks for stopping in and reading about Sepilok. We enjoy seeing the apes too, guess we’re both strange? 🙂 Visiting the rehab center was a nice experience and a good way to learn more about the Orangutans. We learned a lot on our visit to Sumatra and did a fair amount of jungle trekking there to observe them in the Wild, which was unreal and such a cool experience. We did see Orangutans in the wild in the Kinabatangan River region, which was nice also. I hope you get a chance to see them in the wild some day!

      Reply

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