From Sandakan
Feeding time at Sepilok |
Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre -
The Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre is the highlight of any visit to Sandakan,
and in many ways one of the main reasons for visiting Borneo. The main
feeding time at the Centre is 10.00 hr in the morning. At this time, those
orang-utans which have not been able to fend for themselves in the wild
return to the feeding area for a bit of food before returning back to the
forest. The aim of the Centre is to encourage the animals to fend for themselves.
It is never known exactly how many orang-utans will turn up for the food
- you can, however, be sure that some will be there. They know when the
food is due to appear, and will start arriving at the feeding platform
with the visitors to the centre. You will find some of them walking around
with the tourists - that is until the food arrives! While at the Centre,
you will also be able to visit an exhibition about the orang-utans and
the efforts of the Centre in reintroducing them to the wild, as well as
being able to view an informative video on the Centre's activities.
(Tour Code SDK2)
Sandakan City Tour - Tour the sights of
the city, including the Puu Jih Shih Chinese Temple, Buli Sim Sim - the
village on the water where Sandakan was originally founded, the Australian
War Memorial, and the Crocodile farm. The Sandakan City Tour and Sepilok
Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre can be combined into an interesting tour
lasting a good part of the day. (Tour Code
SDK1)
It is also possible, for those with little time
to spare, to make a full day trip from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan and return.
The first flight from Kota Kinabalu in the morning will get you to Sandakan
in time for a little sight-seeing, before proceeding to Sepilok to see
the Orang-utans. From Sepilok, you will then proceed to the remaining Sandakan
sights, or alternatively, spend the afternoon on the Kinabatangan Abai
Tour (see below) where you will be able to see wildlife with the possibility
of finding proboscis monkeys settling down for the evening. You will return
to Kota Kinabalu in the evening, arriving back at your hotel at about 20.30
hrs.
Proboscis Monkey |
Sukau and Kinabatangan River - Travel by boat
(approximately 2 hrs) from Sandakan to Sukau on the banks of the Kinabatangan River where
you will be able to take a late afternoon jungle boat trip on a tributary of
the Kinabatangan River to search for wild Proboscis Monkeys as they
settle themselves down for the night in the treetops. You will see them
crashing around in the trees and perhaps also diving into the river. As
well as the monkeys, you will experience an abundance of other wildlife,
including hornbills, kingfishers egrets, darters, owls, herons and ospreys,
to name but a few. The boat crew will also keep you advised of anything
which they see - you will be surprised by some of the things they manage
to pick out, which are not obvious to the untrained eye.
Sukau Rainforest Lodge |
You will overnight in a lodge on the edge of the
river, although in some circumstances it may be possible to return to Sandakan
on the same day. Dinner will be served in the lodge after which you will
be able to watch a slide show conducted by a naturalist.
The following morning, you will be woken by the
gibbons and hornbills. You can either return to Sandakan, in time to visit
Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre for the morning feed, or remain
in Sukau. If you chose to remain, you will be taken on a cruise up the
river to the Kelenanap ox-bow lake, where you will be taken on a short
jungle walk along the edge of the lake. In the afternoon take another cruise
downstream from the lodge in search of more wildlife. After dinner, weather
permitting, you will be taken on a short night walk in search of nocturnal
animals.
On the third day you will return to Sandakan by boat.
(Tour Code SUK2)
An alternative to the need to overnight in Sukau
is the Kinabatangan Abai Tour which will allow you to visit the
mangrove areas in the estuary of the Kinabatangan River, which is Sabah's
longest River. Unlike the Sukau/Kinabatangan tour where the chance of not
seeing a proboscis monkey is fairly remote, it is possible that you will
not be able see a proboscis monkey on this trip. Having said that, it is
rare that you do not see them. Wildlife is also diverse in this area, including
giant mud skippers along the shoreline. The riverine forest is the habitat
of elephants, orang-utans, crocodiles, long-tailed macaques, proboscis
monkeys and many species of bird.. The trip departs Sandakan wharf by speed
boat in the afternoon for the trip across the bay. Once in the vicinity
of the estuary, you will transfer to a smaller boat in order to reduce
noise and emissions. (Tour Code SDK3)
Swiftlets and their nests
Gomantong Cave |
Gomantong Caves - A tour to the caves at Gomantong can be undertaken during your stay at
Sukau Rainforest Lodge. It is a 20 minute drive from Sukau village.
Rear of Gomantong Cave |
The caves are famous for their swiftlets, and the edible birds
nests built by the swiftlets. Keep an eye out for the masses of giant cockroaches
which swarm across the floor of the main cave. A stop at the caves will
allow you enough time to explore the caves and the surrounding rainforest
area. You may also be lucky enough to spot an elephant on the road leading
in to the caves.
Turtle laying its eggs |
Turtle Island - This tour is generally undertaken
as an overnight trip as the turtles tend to come up onto the beach to lay
their eggs in the evening. You will be picked up from your hotel and taken
to the jetty in Sandakan where you will transfer to a speedboat for the
1 hour trip across to the Selingan Island, where you will be checked into
one of the dormitory style chalets which are currently run by the Sabah
Parks Service. You will have the afternoon free to relax, go birdwatching
or snorkelling. In the evening, a park ranger will escort you to watch
one of the green turtles which has come up on the beach to lay its eggs.
You will also be able to watch the eggs being transferred to the hatchery,
and the release of baby turtles back into the ocean. Tourists are also
encouraged to assist in the activities
You will return to Sandakan the following morning.
(Tour Code SDK4)
The tour to Selingan Island can be joined with
tours to Sepilok and Sukau on your return to Sandakan if you wish.
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