A trip to Sandakan is not complete without visiting the 2 famous animals in Borneo: Orangutan and Proboscis Monkey. The most convenient places to visit these 2 animals are Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. The best time to visit is during feeding time. To visit both places in 1 day, plan your trip ahead so you can continue to next center after the feeding time.
Sepilok Feeding times
10:00am & 3:00pm daily
Labuk Bay Feeding times
Platform A : 9:30am & 2:30pm daily
Platform B : 11:30am & 4.30pm daily
Getting there: Sepilok
– Take bus marked Sepilok Batu 14 from the local bus stand next to the market on the waterfront (RM3.50 , 30 minutes). Last bus leaves for Sandakan at 4:30 pm. Regular buses with Batu 14 and numbers above pass by the junction but you will need to walk in to Sepilok which is about 2.5 KM.
– Taxi from Sandakan Town, one way should cost around RM30. Negotiate with the taxi driver if you want him to wait and bring you to Labuk Bay later.
– Drive from Sandakan town / Kota Kinabalu. Sepilok is located at Batu 14 . There is a roundabout to turn into Sepilok.
Getting there:Labuk Bay
– Take mini-van at Sandakan Hotel at 9:00am. The mini-van will also stop at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre around 10:30 am to pick up passengers for the 11.30am viewing.
Location map of Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Entrance to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
Entrance Fees : RM1 for Malaysian (18 years old and above )
RM10 for non-Malaysia (18 years old and above )
RM10 charge for camera
Wooden walkway all the way to feeding area
The Orangutan already having their meal when we reached there
Doing some exercise after the meal
An Orangutan at the entrance area looking at the tourist. Feeling bored, he chase after a tourist
After watching Orangutan, we proceed to Labuk Bay just in time for the 11:30 am feeding time at Platform B. You will pass by acres of palm oil plantations before you reach Labuk Bay. Labuk Bay is operated by private company and the entrance fee is more expensive than Sepilok.
RM15 for Malaysian adult, Rm5 for kids below 12.
RM60 for non-Malaysian adult, RM30 for kids below 12.
A few silver leaf monkeys at the viewing platform having their food
They are not scared of human and run around the centre
Proboscis monkeys come all out from the trees for food
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Proboscis monkeys are excellent tree climber and swimmer
You can get close to (but not allowed to touch) the Proboscis monkeys here and see them clearly as they sit on the wooden platform during eating time. The experience is totally different from a river cruise at Klias or Weston. Though you can see the monkeys closer here, it just does not feel right to see animal in an artificial setting.
