MALAYSIA
MALAYSIAN BORNEO – SABAH •• Sepilok lonelyplanet.comto Lahad Datu, then catch a frequent minivan
to Semporna.Getting Around
The airport is about 11km from downtown.
The Batu 7 Airport bus (RM1.80) stops on
the main road about 500m from the terminal.
A coupon taxi from the airport to the town
centre costs RM24; going the other way, a taxi
should cost around RM20.
The local bus terminal is on Jln Pryer, in
front of Gentingmas Mall. Buses run from
6am to about 6pm on the main road to the
north, Jln Utara, and are designated by how
far from town they go, ie Batu 8. Fares range
from RM1 to RM4.
Local minivans wait behind Centre
Point Mall; fares are from RM2. Use them
for Pasir Putih seafood restaurants and the
harbour area.
Taxis cruise the town centre, and park near
main hotels. Many hotels will steer you toward
a preferred driver – not a bad thing. Short
journeys around the town centre should cost
RM5; it’s RM12 to Bandar Indah, and RM40
for a lift to Sepilok.SEPILOK
The little hamlet of Sepilok sees almost as many
visitors as the granite spires of Mt Kinabalu.
With up to 800 visitors daily, the Sepilok
Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre is the most
popular place on earth to see Asia’s great ginger
ape in its native habitat. Those who have time
to stick around will also undercover several
scenic nature walks, a sanctuary for the elusive
proboscis monkey, and a couple of great places
to call home for a night or two.Orientation & Information
Sepilok’s main attraction, the Sepilok Orang-
utan Rehabilitation Centre, is located at Batu
14 – 14 miles (23km) from Sandakan. The
street connecting the highway to the rehab
centre is lined with a variety of accommoda-
tion suiting all budget types. Banks and medi-
cal services are located in Sandakan. Money
can be changed at the upmarket sleeping spots
(for a hefty change fee).Sights & Activities
SEPILOK ORANG-UTAN REHABILITATION
CENTRE (SORC)
One of only four orang-utan sanctuaries in the
world, the Sepilok Orang- Utan RehabilitationCentre (SORC) occupies a corner of the
Kabili-Sepilok rainforest reserve about 25km
west of Sandakan. The centre was established
in 1964; it now covers 40 sq km and has be-
come one of Sabah’s top tourist attractions,
second only to Mt Kinabalu.
Orphaned and injured orang-utans are
brought to Sepilok to be rehabilitated to
return to forest life. When we visited there
were only seven primates on campus. It’s un-
likely you’ll see this many at feeding time –
three or four is more likely, or maybe none
at all.
Feedings are at 10am and 3pm and last
for around 30 to 50 minutes. Schedules are
posted at the visitor reception centre (%089-
531180; [email protected]; admission RM30, camera fee
RM10; h9-11am & 2-3.30pm).
A worthwhile 20-minute video about
Sepilok’s work is shown five times daily
(9am, 11am, noon, 2.10pm and 3.30pm)
opposite reception in the Nature Education
Centre auditorium.RAINFOREST DISCOVERY CENTRE (RDC)
The Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC; %089-533780;
adult/child RM10/5; h8am-5pm), about 1.5km from
SORC, offers an engaging graduate-level
education in tropical flora and fauna. Outside
the exhibit hall, a botanical garden presents
varying samples of tropical plant life with
the accompanying descriptions every bit as
vibrant as the foliage. There’s a 1km lakeside
walking trail here as well. A series of eight
canopy towers are being built – three have
been completed.LABUK BAY PROBOSCIS MONKEY
SANCTUARY
Proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) are an
even more exclusive attraction than orang-
utans. After all, you can see orang-utans in
Sumatra but the proboscis is found only on
Borneo. An ecofriendly plantation owner
has created a private proboscis monkey sanctu-
ary (%089-672133; http://www.proboscis.cc; admission RM60,
camera/video fee RM10/20), attracting the floppy-
conked locals with sugar-free pancakes at
11.40am and 4.30pm feedings. An estimated
300 wild monkeys live in the 600-hectare re-
serve. The sanctuary offers package trips. A
half-day visit costs RM160, including trans-
fers from Sandakan (RM150 from Sepilok).
Overnight trips with meals and a night walk
start at RM250.502