Sepilok Forest Reserve/Sabah

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Location

Eastern lowlands of Sabah, about 24 km (15 miles) from Sandakan town.

When to go

Any time of the year, usually wetter during the later or early parts of the year.

Access

Overland from Sandakan via the Sandakan-Kota Kinabalu highway. Turn off for Sepilok at the cross-roads at mile 15 ("Sepilok junction").

Permits

Required, can be obtained at the visitors center at Sepilok. Entrance and camera fees are charged. For forest trails or accommodation at the mangrove visitors center, bookings need to be made from the Regional Forestry Office (Sandakan town).

Equipment

Light clothing only (boardwalks available to the observation areas), unless you are planning to take the forest trails to the mangrove area.

Facilities

Reception area, restaurant, information center, video-presentations. Boardwalk and observation deck. Forest trails. Close to the orang utan center there are various budget and resort accommodations. Nearby, the Rain Forest Interpretation Centre (including orchid conservatory); Forest Research Centre (Entomology museum, herbarium, library, canteen).

Nature

Wildlife in both lowland forest or mangroves. Orang-utans and macaques common. Over 250 bird species recorded in the lowland forest. Flying foxes at dusk.

Visitor Activities

Orang utan watching. Birdwatching and trail walking. Boat trips to the mangroves. Nature education facilities (RIC). If you plan to catch a glimpse of wild orang utans, I suggest traveling to the Kinabatangan .

Further information

• Destination Directory
• Sepilok Destination Guide
• Borneo Travel Features

Updated: Feb 2002

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