Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

From Sandakan: 

By E-Hailing:

• Grab: The most reliable and widely used app in Malaysia. It is great for airport transfers and trips from Sandakan town.
• Maxim: A fantastic alternative that is very popular in Sandakan. It often has more available drivers in rural areas and can be slightly cheaper than Grab during peak times.
• AirAsia MOVE: If you flew into Sandakan with AirAsia, you can also book a ride directly through their "MOVE" app.

We recommend downloading both Grab and Maxim before you arrive. This allows you to compare prices and ensures you can always find a driver, especially during the busy afternoon periods.

A ride from the airport takes around 25 minutes and from Sandakan town 40 minutes.

By public bus:
Public buses depart from Sandakan town (near the central market/waterfront). Look for the bus marked 'Sepilok'.

• Times: Generally every few hours (approx. 9:00, 11:30, 14:00, and 17:00).
• Cost: Approximately RM5–RM10 per person.
• Duration: The journey takes about 45–60 minutes.

We recommend checking the current departure times at the bus station on the day of your visit or asking your hotel reception to verify the latest local schedule.

Many of the hotels nearby can also arrange a shuttle service.

By taxi:
Traditional red and white taxis are available at the airport and town centre. Always agree on a fare before starting your journey, as they do not always use meters for the trip to Sepilok.

From Kota Kinabalu:

By air:
A 45 minute flight to Sandakan (SDK) with Air Asia or Malaysia Airlines, with return prices starting from as little as £30 GBP.

By overland bus:
The journey takes around 6 hours. Take the bus from the Inanam Bus Terminal in KK headed towards Sandakan. Ask the driver to drop you at ‘Jalan Sepilok’, which is a 2.5 km walk from the centre. You can then order a Grab or Maxim to take you the rest of the way.

These orangutans are living wild in the reserve and come back for a free feed should they wish - for this reason sightings cannot be guaranteed.
The numbers of orangutans which come to the feedings differs on a daily basis and as they are wild and free to travel in the reserve it can never be guaranteed that any will come for the feed at all, especially during the fruiting seasons when naturally growing food is in abundance, and if it is raining. Although this can be disappointing for those hoping to see the orangutans, the truth is if no orangutans come, then it is a positive thing - it means they are not reliant upon the feeding to survive and are living a free and natural existence in the reserve.

Although sightings at the feeding platform are not guaranteed, visitors also have the opportunity to observe some of the adolescent orangutans currently on their final stage of rehabilitation. Here, people can watch through specialist protected facilities as the young orangutans train on the ropes and trees as they begin transitioning back into the wild. However, if it is raining the orangutans at the outdoor nursery may have to be kept indoors, this is to prevent the spread of diseases such as Melioidosis, which is found in soil and water. The health and wellbeing of the orangutans is paramount.

'Hands on' contact with the orangutans is not permitted, and is in the best interest of the orangutans.
Orangutans are very susceptible and vulnerable to human diseases, and therefore exposure is strictly regulated to reduce as far as possible any potential infection. In addition, human contact is kept to a minimum, not only for the safety of the orangutans but to avoid unnecessary risks to visitors (orangutans are very strong and as wild animals can be unpredictable).

To ensure their best possible chance of survival once they are eventually released back into the wild, dependence or familiarity with people is strongly discouraged.

Orangutan Appeal UK has a Liaison Officer at the Centre, who is usually there all day from Monday to Friday and also on Saturday mornings. They will be very happy to answer your questions and point out various characters from the feeding platform.

Visitors, having seen the educational (although optional) DVD, can explore the orangutan information centre before making their way through the forest to the viewing platform. From here they can witness the successfully rehabilitated orangutans living wild in the reserve coming for a free feed. It's an incredible experience, as the trees begin to shake, and a flash of orange appears. A ranger will arrive with fruit and sugar cane to place on the feeding platform, approximately 60 feet from the viewing platform. The orangutans that come for this free feed are wild and therefore can be dangerous, so there are staff on hand to make sure interactions do not occur, for the safety of both visitor and orangutan. Because they are wild, it can never be guaranteed that many will come for the feed, if any at all (especially during the fruiting season). This is where some people leave disappointed, but the truth is if no orangutans come, then it is a positive thing - it means they are not reliant upon the feeding to survive. You will however have a magical experience in the forest surrounded by the sights, smells and sounds of Borneo.

Please visit either our Donations page or why not adopt one of the orphaned orangutans before you go. You may even get to see your adopted baby when you visit. Adopting one of the young orangutans is an excellent way to help us raise funds for our current projects and get something back in return for your support. Visit our Adoptions page for further details or give us a call on +44 (0)1590 623443.

You can also adopt or give a donation when you are at the Sepilok.   Please speak to our Liaison Officer who will be happy to help you. If they are not available please complete an adoption leaflet from the desk in reception area and place it in the slot on the desk along with your donation.

There is a cafeteria that's open everyday from 7:30am to 4pm

While there is a small, privately owned shop at the centre, you can support our conservation projects directly by purchasing official merchandise from our Online Shop. 100% of profits go toward our work in Borneo.

Yes, there are lockers available for the use of visitors; there are two sizes and the larger one will hold a large backpack. Larger suitcases and luggage can be stored in the luggage area however these would not be in a secure locker. NO bags, food or drinks are not allowed into the forest reserve so please use the lockers for all of your possessions.

Orangutan Appeal UK does not have the jurisdiction to place general volunteers or to arrange work placements at Sepilok, as it is owned and managed by Sabah Wildlife Department.

However, we do offer professional opportunities through our charity, including our Liaison Officer which is a unique 3-month placement for UK residents to represent us on the ground at Sepilok.

For all our current UK and Borneo-based vacancies, please visit our Career and volunteer opportunities page. If you are looking for general volunteering in Borneo outside of our charity, we recommend contacting Sabah Wildlife Department directly.

No visitors are allowed in the indoor nursery, which is where the younger orangutans on our adoption scheme live. Sepilok's primary concern is the rehabilitation of orphaned, injured and ex-captive orangutans. For this reason, the indoor nursery area where the young orangutans who are very prone to human illness and at a crucial stage in the rehabilitation process, are not accessible by the visitors. However, the outdoor nursery is available for public viewing through specialised facilities which prevent the risk of contact between visitors and the orangutans. The outdoor nursery is where the juvenile orangutans on their final stage of rehabilitation before release are situated; here the public are able to observe their daily training sessions.