When I was in Borneo (also called Sabah), I naturally went to Sepilok. A Sepilok travel guide is definitely needed, because there’s more to do in this small town than I expected! I had only heard about the orangutan sanctuary, but opposite this sanctuary there also turned out to be a center for the small sun bear. Besides that, I did two really nice walks in the rainforest where I encountered all sorts of things!
I traveled from Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinabatangan, but because this would be quite a long journey, I planned two nights in Sepilok as a stopover. Perfect to visit the orangutan sanctuary, a great initiative for the rehabilitation of these beautiful animals!
When I checked in at my accommodation, I asked what they could recommend in the area. They told me about an evening walk in the rainforest where, with a bit of luck, I would see flying squirrels! Of course I booked that evening walk immediately!
Read in this complete Sepilok travel guide what you can do.
Sepilok Travel Guide, Borneo – Malaysia
💡 Wildlife Tip: Keep a good eye out outside the parks too! I saw this hornbill when I walked from one park to another, high in the treetops.
What to Do in Sepilok: The 4 Highlights
Sepilok offers four great activities for nature lovers:
- Evening walk Rainforest Discovery Centre – spot flying squirrels
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre – observe orangutans
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre – admire sun bears
- Day walk Rainforest Discovery Centre – explore the rainforest for hours
Evening walk Rainforest Discovery Centre
The evening walk at the Rainforest Discovery Centre started at dusk. I immediately decided to also take a walk in this area during daylight the next day. It looked amazing!
We quickly disappeared into the treetops via the canopy walk which can give you quite a walk through this part of the park. I thought it was really great to see. It was dusk and so the squirrels became active.
Spotting Flying Squirrels!
We saw several leave the branches and land on other branches tens of meters away. They spread their legs and because the skin then opens like a kind of parachute between the front and hind legs, they seem to float. Really spectacular!
Besides this super nice sighting, the guide also told us a lot about the wildlife and nature in this park. I can really recommend this evening walk!
Practical info evening walk:
- Costs: RM 60 (approximately €13)
- Time: Starts at sunset (around 6:00 PM)
- Duration: 1.5-2 hours
- Booking: Via accommodation or directly at RDC
- Bring: Mosquito spray and flashlight
Visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Most travelers know Sepilok of course because of the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. A really good initiative and I’m glad there are centers that focus on the conservation of wildlife and the rainforest!
Although I really must say that if you want to experience orangutans truly in the wild, you should visit Bukit Lawang in Sumatra, Indonesia!
The next day I was present in the morning for the feeding of the orangutans. They live in the wild and those who can already fully take care of themselves don’t come anymore. Yet unfortunately there are still several orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre who do still come by for that tasty and easy snack.
This doesn’t always necessarily mean they can’t manage on their own, but perhaps they find it easier. Just outside the entrance of the center I did see an orangutan in the trees who came by for a snack 🙂
By visiting this center you spend money at an organization that wants to keep the orangutan population high. This way you also contribute to the sustainability of the rainforest in Borneo. Always good to go there and spend some money, right?
Practical info Sepilok Orangutan Centre:
- Best chance: On rainy days more orangutans come to the platform
- Costs: RM 30 (approximately €6.50) for adults
- Feeding times: 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM
- Open: Daily 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00
- Tip: Come at least 30 minutes before feeding time for a good spot
Visit Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC)
On the other side of the orangutan center you’ll find the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Here you can also take a nice walk through the area. The sun bear is in this park – these are, like the orangutans on the other side, bears that are being rehabilitated back into nature.
I had never seen the small sun bear before! The sun bear is called Sun Bear in English because that light-colored half-moon spot on their chest resembles a sun.
Practical info Sun Bear Centre:
- Costs: RM 30 (approximately €6.50) for adults
- Open: Daily 09:00-15:30
- Combo deal: Possible with Orangutan Centre
- Best time: Morning, when the bears are most active
💡 Tip: Buy a combo ticket for both centers and save some money!
Hike into the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC)
In the afternoon of my second day I went for a walk of several hours in the rainforest, at the Rainforest Discovery Centre. There are different walks laid out and these are well marked. You can take an information booklet and partly mix the different themed walks or choose 1 fixed walk.
You can probably guess what I did… I crossed from one walk to another and wandered around the park for at least 2.5 hours. Wonderful! I can definitely recommend spending a lot of time here.
If, like me, you enjoy walking slowly, taking time to hear sounds, watching small insects in the wild and just want to take several breaks to just be there… Then this is the perfect park!
The Sepilok Giant… And yes… It’s enormous!
Practical info RDC day walk:
- Costs: RM 60 (approximately €13)
- Open: Daily 08:00-17:00
- Routes: Different trails from 1-5 km
- Canopy walk: Spectacular view at 26 meters height
- Bring: Water (no taps along the way), sunscreen, good hiking shoes
Where to Stay in Sepilok
There are incredibly many options to stay in Sepilok. Since I was on one of my longer trips, I was looking for an affordable option. In the wider area you can enjoy all luxury: wonderful pools and nice resorts.
Sepilok Forest Edge Resort
I chose the Forest Edge Resort and that turned out to be a bullseye! It has a small pool, which is of course wonderful after a day in the rainforest. It also offered me the first night a cheap room in a building with multiple rooms and a shared bathroom.
The second night I chose one of their great cottages! I then had no less than two bathrooms – one in the cottage but also an outdoor shower overlooking the jungle! This room also had a great balcony overlooking the garden where you can take a nice walk.
You can also take a marked walk in the rainforest at the back of their garden, with sounds of all kinds of birds in the background and here and there a monkey!
Prices Sepilok Forest Edge Resort:
- Dorm bed: From RM 45 (€10) per night
- Budget room shared bathroom: RM 80-100 (€18-22)
- Private chalet with outdoor shower: RM 250-350 (€55-78)
- Facilities: Pool, restaurant, wifi, rainforest backyard
🔗 Check availability Sepilok Forest Edge Resort →
Other good options in Sepilok:
- Sepilok Jungle Resort – luxury option with nice pool (from €15 dorm / private room €70)
- Paganakan Dii Resort – tropical garden setting (from €15 dorm / private room €70)
- Sepilok B&B – budget friendly (from €17 dorm / private room €60)
Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Extra: Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
If you stay an extra day in Sepilok, it’s also nice to go to Labuk Bay. It’s a half hour drive from Sepilok and you can see the proboscis monkey (long-nosed monkey) there.
Info Labuk Bay:
- Costs: RM 60 (€13)
- Distance: 30 minutes from Sepilok
- Feeding times: 09:30, 11:30 and 14:30
What I can recommend more: A multi-day trip to Kinabatangan and see the proboscis monkeys in the wild!
Coming & Going Reisgids Sepilok
Getting There: Transport to Sepilok
To visit Sepilok you travel to the travel hub Sandakan. About 5 km outside the city is the Sandakan Express Bus Terminal. Sandakan is the city where almost all buses pass through. From there you travel on to Sepilok or, as I did, further to Semporna to go diving.
From Kota Kinabalu to Sepilok
At Inanam Bus Terminal multiple buses depart every day going inland. It’s about 6 hours to Sandakan (RM 30-35, approximately €6.50-7.50) and from there you can take the bus through to Sepilok. Then it’s only about 45 minutes and that costs you RM 5 (approximately €1).
You’ll then be dropped off on the main road at the large roundabout. There are plenty of taxi drivers where you can arrange a taxi to get to your booked accommodation (RM 10-15, approximately €2-3).
💡 Tip: Book your bus in advance online during high season (July-August).
From Semporna to Sepilok
If you’ve had great diving off the coast of Semporna and are heading back inland, you take the bus to Sandakan. This bus takes about 6 hours and costs around RM 45 (approximately €10).
Transport in Sepilok
Sepilok itself is small and manageable. The distances between the different attractions:
- Orangutan Centre to Sun Bear Centre: 5 minutes walk
- Wildlife centers to Rainforest Discovery Centre: 20 minutes walk or RM 10 taxi
- Accommodations to wildlife centers: Usually within walking distance or free shuttle
Practical Tips for Your Visit to Sepilok
How many days in Sepilok? I recommend 2 full days: day 1 for both wildlife centers and the evening walk, day 2 for the extensive day walk in the RDC.
Best Time to Visit Sepilok:
- Dry season: March to October (best time)
- Wet season: November to February (more rain but wildlife is also active)
- High season: July-August (busier and more expensive)
Want to read more about travelling in Malaysia?
- Backpacking Borneo – Travel Tips Borneo
- Cookingclass in Penang – Pickles & Spices
- A nightwalk in the Taman Negara
- Do visit KL! Travel Guide Kuala Lumpur
- Biggest Flower in the World: Rafflesia