The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1964 inside the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, about 40 minutes (23km) from Sandakan, making it one of the oldest orangutan sanctuaries in the world and an easy add-on to any Sabah trip built around our 7-day Sabah wildlife itinerary. It exists to rehabilitate orphaned and displaced orangutans — many rescued from logging areas, plantations, or the illegal pet trade — and prepare them for a return to the wild.
Feeding Times and Viewing Platforms
Scheduled feedings happen twice a day, at 10:00am and 3:00pm, when rangers set out fruit on a raised platform visible from a public viewing area. Arriving 20-30 minutes early secures a better spot along the platform. Sightings aren’t guaranteed — orangutans that have grown more independent may skip the feeding altogether, especially during fruiting season when wild food is abundant, which the centre is quick to point out is actually a sign of successful rehabilitation, not a disappointing visit.
Visiting Hours and Admission
The centre is open Monday-Thursday and Saturday-Sunday from 9:00am-12:00pm and 2:00pm-4:00pm, and Friday from 9:00am-11:00am and 2:00pm-4:00pm (closed over midday for prayers). Admission is RM 5 for Malaysian adults and RM 30 for non-Malaysians, with children at RM 2 and RM 15 respectively — a small fee that goes directly toward the centre’s rehabilitation and conservation work.
How the Rehabilitation Process Works
New arrivals, often young orangutans that lost their mothers, start in a nursery setting where caretakers teach basic survival skills that would normally come from a mother in the wild: climbing, foraging, and building nests. As they grow more capable, they’re given increasing freedom to roam the surrounding forest reserve, with the platform feedings acting as a safety net rather than a primary food source. The centre estimates that around 60 orangutans rehabilitated here now live independently in the wild — the actual measure of the programme’s success, even though it means fewer guaranteed sightings for visitors.
Visiting Responsibly
Touching or feeding the orangutans yourself is strictly prohibited. Orangutans share close to 97% of human DNA, which means they’re also susceptible to many human illnesses — a cold that’s mild for a person can be dangerous for an orangutan with no immunity to it. Keep noise down, don’t use flash photography, and stay behind the viewing barriers at all times. These rules exist for the animals’ protection, not visitor convenience, and the centre enforces them closely.
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Next Door
The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre shares the same entrance gate as Sepilok but operates as a separate facility with its own ticket: RM 10 for Malaysian adults and RM 50 for non-Malaysians (RM 5 / RM 25 for children), open daily 9:00am-3:30pm. It’s an easy pairing with the orangutan centre since both sit on the same site — sun bears are the world’s smallest bear species, and the centre’s raised walkways let you watch them foraging in a semi-wild forest enclosure.
Getting There
Sepilok sits about 40 minutes (23km) from Sandakan, reachable by taxi, Grab, or the local minibus that runs along the Sandakan-Sepilok road. Most visitors combine it with a wider Sabah loop — see our guide to flying into Borneo for the flight connections into Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu.
Quick Reference
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 |
| Feeding times | 10:00am and 3:00pm |
| Hours | 9am-12pm & 2pm-4pm (Fri: 9-11am & 2-4pm) |
| Admission | RM 5 / RM 30 adult (Malaysian / non-Malaysian) |
| Distance from Sandakan | ~40 minutes, 23km |
| Sun Bear Centre entry | Separate ticket, RM 10 / RM 50 adult |
Practical Tips
- Arrive 20-30 minutes before a feeding — the viewing platform fills up and early arrivals get the clearest sightlines.
- Don’t expect a guaranteed sighting — orangutans skipping the platform during fruiting season is normal, not a sign something’s wrong.
- Combine it with the Sun Bear Centre — same entrance, separate ticket, easily done in the same visit.
- Bring insect repellent and light rain gear — the reserve is genuine rainforest, and weather can turn quickly.
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit Sepilok?
RM 5 for Malaysian adults and RM 30 for non-Malaysians, with reduced rates for children. The neighboring Sun Bear Conservation Centre requires a separate ticket.
What time are the orangutan feedings?
10:00am and 3:00pm daily. Arriving 20-30 minutes early gets you a better spot on the viewing platform.
Are orangutan sightings guaranteed?
No. Orangutans that have become more independent may skip a scheduled feeding, especially during fruiting season — the centre notes this actually reflects successful rehabilitation.
Can I touch or feed the orangutans myself?
No. Direct contact is prohibited because orangutans can catch human illnesses easily, given how closely their DNA matches ours. Visitors stay behind barriers at all times.
How far is Sepilok from Sandakan?
About 40 minutes, roughly 23km, reachable by taxi, Grab, or local minibus along the Sandakan-Sepilok road.
Bottom Line
Sepilok works because it doesn’t pretend to be a zoo — the orangutans here are semi-wild, genuinely in the process of returning to the forest, and the whole visit is built around respecting that. Pair it with the Sun Bear Centre next door, keep expectations realistic about sightings, and it’s one of the most worthwhile wildlife stops in Sabah. Most visitors base themselves back in Kota Kinabalu for the rest of the trip — see our guide to best resorts in Kota Kinabalu: Tanjung Aru and Gaya Island.
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