FAMILY ADVENTURE

Sandakan: a walk on the wild side with orangutans, turtles, bears

Furry orange orangutans, sleepy tarsiers, sun bears and baby turtles provide a wonderful peek into the Borneo rainforest ecosystem in East Malaysia. A Sandakan guide to family adventure on Sabah's east coast.

by Nova Renata

May 2025

SEE ALSO Brunei guide | Langkawi guide | Penang guide | Malaysia spas | Kuala Lumpur shopping | Kuala Lumpur hotels | El Nido adventure | Zanskar frozen trek | Sabah Fun Guide | Sabah Jungle Retreat

To view wildlife up close, cruise down the Kinabatangan River that winds through a vast floodplain. With luck you may spot a Bornean elephant, a proboscis monkey, or even fairy-light fireflies on a night run

BEYOND the allure of the majestic granite massif that’s Mount Kinabalu, a lot of Sabah’s natural charms are tucked away on its East Coast — some six to eight hours’ drive from Kota Kinabalu. Depending on your interest, the east coast of Sabah — specifically Sandakan and Tawau — has a smorgasbord of offerings, from awe-inspiring dive sites and lush virgin rainforests to wildlife encounters.

 Sandakan is the perfect destination for the average tourist who is eager to meet cheeky orangutans and go beyond those ubiquitous postcards. If you are a nature and wildlife aficionado, get ready for a wonderful treat.

For anyone coming to visit Sandakan for the first time, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk/) is a tourist staple.  Located about 25 kilometres away (about 30-40 minutes’ drive) from Sandakan City, this orangutan sanctuary is the first ever centre opened to rehabilitate rescued and orphaned orangutans.

Send us your Feedback / Letter to the Editor

Established in 1964, the centre’s main purpose is to help young orangutans fend for themselves and equip them with the skills required to survive in the wild. As soon as the young orangutans have begun to show independence, they will be released back into the wild to live in their natural habitat. 

For visitors, the highlight of their Sepilok tour would be to witness the orangutan meals at the feeding platform, which takes place at 10am and 3pm daily. Although about 60 to 80 orangutans live in the 4,294-hectare surrounds, these primates seldom make an appearance other than during feeding time. The viewing deck is located several metres away from the feeding platform, however, and visitors are advised not to bring plastic bags or anything shiny that might attract furry friends to grab them.

The centre also introduced has an indoor viewing area from where visitors can get a peek at the baby orangutans gambolling about in the nursery. In addition to that, visitors can also opt to watch a video documentary on orangutan rehabilitation by the Sabah Wildlife Department.

Nestled within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Rainforest Discovery Centre (www.rainforestdiscoverycentre.com/) once only served as a centre for environmental education for students and teachers. Today, it has a bigger role as a gateway to discovering the significance of the Bornean rainforest.

Your Sandakan adventure and wildlife excursion may bring you face to face with wide-eyed tarsiers, the shy Bornean sun bear, and playful orangutans/ photo: conservation reserves

Situated 23km from the city and within proximity of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the RDC is a sprawling establishment equipped with an exhibit hall that houses a great many educational displays, a botanical garden with samples of tropical plants, as well as a short one kilometre lakeside trail. If you’re more adventurous and have no issue with heights, you would also appreciate venturing atop the eight canopy towers that are connected by a network of 363m-long wooden canopy walkways. 

As you clamber on these towers, you will get a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the rainforest and its dense canopy of trees. The RDC is also a popular birdwatching destination in Sabah, having been chosen as the event venue for the annual Borneo Bird Festival (BBF) several years in a row. Among the endemic birds that have been spotted in RDC are the Blue-headed Pitta, Blue-banded Pitta and the large Bornean Ground Cuckoo.

The RDC is open daily from 8am to 5pm and from 6pm to 8pm (night walk). The best times to visit are in the morning before 10am and after 5pm as the animals hibernate midday when the sun is high in the sky and the heat peaks.

Apart from birdwatching, you can also enjoy a night walk at the RDC to spot nocturnal animals. The night walk will take you along the 620m Rainforest Skywalk and through the many looped trails within the centre. You can expect to encounter the elusive flying squirrel, tarsiers, scorpions, owls and more.

The Malayan sun bears, which are only found in Southeast Asia, are the smallest in the world. Unfortunately, these elusive bears are also greatly endangered due to poaching and the black market trade of their body parts, which are believed to possess medicinal properties.

The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (www.bsbcc.org.my/) hopes to make a difference by providing a rehabilitation facility and a safe space for rescued bears. The BSBCC currently homes 44 formerly captive sun bears that are kept in large forest enclosures, allowing them to explore in their natural habitat before being released back into the wild.

As these bears are shy and elusive, sometimes visitors won’t be able to see them at all. Most of the time, though, if you keep your eyes peeled, you may just be able to get a sneak peek of them feeding behind a tree or napping on a cool branch somewhere. Nonetheless, rest assured that your visit and donation will help the sun bears fight extinction.

On Selingan Turtle Island off Sandakan, East Malaysia, watch hawksbill turtle hatchlings emerge to race to the sea in the safety of a managed conservation area. Walks are romantic but the sand is coarse

In addition to the viewing platform overlooking the forest enclosure, you can also learn more about these adorable animals by watching a documentary video, signing up as a volunteer, or participating in the ‘Adopt a Bear’ programme.

Each year, the Kinabatangan floodplain welcomes a throng of travellers who are keen to check out what it’s got up its immensely diverse sleeves.

Recognised as one of the most biodiverse regions in Southeast Asia, the Kinabatangan floodplain is home to iconic Bornean wildlife such as the Bornean elephant, the proboscis monkey, orangutans, crocodiles and many species of birds such as hornbills, kingfishers, and egrets. Depending on season and luck, you will be able to spot these iconic creatures during the river cruise, which runs in the morning, afternoon and night.

Depending on the areas along the Kinabatangan River, you may also spot beautiful fireflies in their Christmas light glory during the night cruise. Just remember to always carry mosquito repellent and a light raincoat during your outing. On Borneo, there’s always a 50 percent chance of rain on any given day.

Located about 40km off Sandakan, the Selingan Turtle Island — one of the three islands that make up the Turtle Islands National Park — is one of the most important nesting grounds for green and hawksbill turtles.

If you’re looking for fancy accommodation to go with your stay at Selingan Island, you’re out of luck, as this island is designed as an educational conservation ground. The place is  managed by the Sabah Wildlife Department (wildlife.sabah.gov.my/). You can take part and do your bit for conservation by signing up for the turtle adoption programme.

Depending on the time of the year, the island usually welcomes up to 30 mother turtles coming ashore to lay eggs each night. As part of the package, visitors will get the chance to witness a turtle laying eggs, watch as the ranger digs up and relocates the eggs to a safe spot at the hatchery and coo in admiration as newly hatched baby turtles get released to scurry back to the sea.

In addition to turtle watching, you can also enjoy other beach activities on the island, such as snorkelling, swimming and going on romantic walks. However, be warned that the sand on Selingan Island is coarse and may feel rather uncomfortable to walk on barefoot. The water visibility may be low for snorkelling. Nonetheless, rest assured that the turtle-watching experience will very much make up for these seeming shortcomings.

Reprinted with permission from kookiepr.com/

Send us your Feedback / Letter to the Editor

▲ top