MY · Sabah · 5.87°N 117.95°E

sepilok

Orangutans swinging in at feeding time, with sun bears right next door.

Best time
Any time of year. Mornings are cooler and the forest is livelier. When wild fruit is plentiful, fewer orangutans come to the feeding platform, so sightings are never guaranteed.
How long
1 day; stay a night to catch both feeds
Getting there
Fly from KL to Sandakan (just under 3 hours). Sepilok is about 20–30 minutes from the airport by taxi.
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MY · Sabahsepilok5.87°N 117.95°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Orangutans swinging in at feeding time, with sun bears right next door.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingSepilokMY, Sabah
KLsepilok
≈ 1,828 km from KL, as the crow flies
District Sandakan, Sabah: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre; visitor centre

Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Home of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where orphaned orangutans are raised and returned to the forest. It sits in a big patch of rainforest just outside Sandakan, with a sun bear centre next door and canopy walkways nearby. Good for families who want wildlife without a long trek.

Things to do

  1. Orangutan feedingWatch semi-wild orangutans swing in to the platform at the morning and afternoon feeds.Map ↗
  2. Outdoor nurseryYoung orangutans learn to climb and play while you watch from the viewing galleries.Map ↗
  3. Bornean Sun Bear Conservation CentreRight next door, with walkways over the forest where rescued sun bears forage.Map ↗
  4. Rainforest Discovery CentreCanopy walkways and towers built for birdwatching, a few minutes' drive away.Map ↗
  5. Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey SanctuaryAbout 45 minutes' drive away, for close views of proboscis monkeys at feeding time.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Keep food, drinks and plastic bags out of sight. Macaques and orangutans will grab them, so use the lockers at the entrance.
  • Keep your voice down and never touch the animals. They're wild and can catch human illnesses.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.