On 24th April, I had the opportunity to visit both Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and Labuk Bay Proboscis Sanctuary in Sandakan to get the latest product update.
I depart Kota Kinabalu at 7am for the 40 minutes flight to Sandakan. After breakfast in Sandakan, we proceeded overland for the half hour journey to Sepilok early to avoid the crowd. There are two feeding times at 10am and 3.00pm respectively. In addition, there is also three video screenings at the Information centre at 9.00am, 10.30am and 11am and two in the afternoon at 2.00pm and 3.30pm. The fifteen minutes walk to the feeding platform was very present. Anti slip strips of aluminium railings were installed on steep areas – a great improvement over the use of wire mesh. Being a weekday, the crowd was smaller which made for great photography of the Orang utans.
In the afternoon, I headed to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Santuary to do some more photography at both Viewing platform A and B. Feeding time is at 9.30 and 2.30pm (Platform A) and 11.30am and 4.30pm (Platform B). Video screening is at 10.15 and 3.15 pm at the main building. Though the feeding of wildlife may not sit well with some people, it nevertheless offered everyone a great photographic opportunities.
In addition to these two iconic products in Sandakan, there is also Rainforest Discovery Centre or RDC nearby and the soon to open Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. The four tourism products will be more than sufficient to keep the tourists happy to require an overnight stay.
With Sandakan as a base, visitors can travel overland to Sukau or by speedboat for two to three nights, or by speedboat to Lankayan Island Dive Resort and Selingan island to experience turtle laying. (See my earlier report) With all these products, no wander Sandakan is known as the wildlife gateway of Sabah.
Check out our other tour at: