Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center: My Honest Review in 2025

Last Updated on June 21, 2025 by Oliver

I just wrapped up my two-week Borneo adventure, and now I’m trying to pull together all sorts of guides and reviews based on my experience there, mainly because when I was planning my trip, I felt like there wasn’t much actual good information out there. Blog posts and travel guides were pretty limited, so now I’m on a mission to put together as many helpful articles as I can.

Today, we’re talking about the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, one of the top highlights and honestly one of the coolest things to do in Borneo.

I spent a full day at Sepilok, so this is my honest review of the place. I’ll go over what it’s all about, what to expect when you visit, and of course, include plenty of tips and tricks to help you have the best experience possible. Let’s get into it.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center – My Experience

I had an amazing experience at the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, and I have to say, it’s definitely my favorite thing to do in Borneo right after the Kinabatangan River cruise.

I honestly had no real idea what to expect when I went to the sanctuary in the morning, so I just winged it and it turned out perfect. I arrived at around 9:30, just in time for the 10 a.m. feeding, so I walked straight to the feeding platform and was one of the first people there. We saw loads of orangutans and macaques already hanging around even before they brought out the fruit and vegetables. But once the feeder came, more and more orangutans showed up, swinging in on ropes to the platform, it was incredible.

At some point, all the people left the feeding area and headed back to the exit, but we stayed a little longer and more orangutans showed up. We had the platform all to ourselves, it was amazing.

After that, we walked over to the orangutan nursery, where all the little ones play and hang out. That’s where they’re fed and looked after when they’re younger, and you can watch them through a big glass window which is super cute. The whole visit took us about 2.5 hours until we finally left to grab lunch.

On the way out, we decided to stop by the visitor center (we didn’t have time earlier), and it was such a good call. We read a bunch of stuff about orangutans and the rehabilitation work they do here and watched a short film about the project. I definitely recommend doing that too, it really helps you understand what’s happening here and gives you more appreciation for the men and women who work with these animals.

Is the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Ethical?

Yes 100%. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is absolutely ethical in my opinion. It was founded in 1964 by Barbara Harrison, a conservationist from the UK, and it’s been doing incredible work ever since. The main goal here is to rescue orphaned or displaced orangutans, usually babies that have lost their mothers due to deforestation or have been illegally kept as pets and rehabilitate them so they can be released back into the wild.

What really sets Sepilok apart is that the orangutans here aren’t kept in cages. They live in the surrounding rainforest and are free to come and go as they like. The only thing the sanctuary does is provide feeding platforms and keep an eye on their health and development.

And here’s the important part: as much as we all love seeing orangutans at the feeding platforms, technically, the fewer that show up, the better. That means they’ve become self-sufficient and are foraging for food on their own just like they would in the wild.

Raising a baby orangutan takes time. In the wild, they stay with their mothers for around 7 to 10 years to learn everything they need to survive, how to find food, how to build nests, and how to avoid predators.

So yeah, if you’re worried about the ethics of visiting, don’t be. Just stop by the visitor center, read about what they do, and watch the short film. It gives great insight into how important this place is for orangutan conservation in Borneo.

What to Expect at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

When you arrive, the first thing you’ll notice is the massive car park, which already gives away how busy this place can get, especially with tour buses rolling in. There’s not much you can do about that, but in the next section I’ll give you a few tips on how to make the most of your visit even when it’s crowded.

At the entrance, you’ll find the ticket counter where you’ll need to pay the entrance fee (30 ringgit per adult). Heads up, it’s cash only. You’re not allowed to bring any bags inside, but there are free lockers available, which is super convenient. Right across from the entrance is the visitor center, and I definitely recommend stopping in there first. You can read up on the orangutans, learn about the rehab process, and watch a short but informative film.

Inside the sanctuary, everything is connected by elevated boardwalks through the forest. You won’t be roaming off-trail here, it’s all one loop that takes you to the feeding platform first, then to the exit. There’s also a path that leads you to the orangutan nursery. The nursery area has bathrooms and a small air-conditioned viewing room where you can watch the baby orangutans play. It’s a great place to cool off and take a little break from the heat, which I definitely did.

Besides the feeding platform and the nursery, there isn’t much else to see inside, but that’s kind of the point, it’s not a zoo or a big attraction park.

Right outside the sanctuary is a small restaurant that serves cheap and tasty local dishes, that’s where we had lunch. There are also more bathrooms here if you need them.

What Time to Arrive for the Best Experience (Opening Hours & Feeding Times)

Opening hours: 9am–12pm & 2pm–4pm daily
Feeding times: 10am & 3pm at the main feeding platform

Alright, so here’s what I noticed when I visited and what I’d recommend you do based on how it worked out for us.

Most people arrive right at 9am and head straight to the nursery because it’s the only section that’s open initially. But here’s what I reckon: skip the nursery for now. Instead, go to the visitor center, take a look around, and watch the short film first, it’s a great intro to what the place is about. Then, around 9:30am, make your way to the entrance of the feeding platform area. That section opens closer to the 10am feeding, and if you’re one of the first ones there, you’ll be right at the front when they let people in.

Once you get to the viewing platform, don’t be shy, go right up front, close to where the food gets laid out. The platform gets super crowded, so you might as well grab a prime spot while you can. Someone has to stand in the front row, it might as well be you.

After the feeding, hang back a little longer instead of following the crowd straight out. We waited until most people had left, and then a couple more orangutans actually came swinging through the trees. It felt like a private show. Totally worth the extra 10–15 minutes.

Once that’s done, instead of continuing along the boardwalk toward the exit, double back and head to the orangutan nursery. By this point, it’s way quieter since the morning crowd already passed through. You’ll have more space and time to enjoy watching the little ones without being shoulder-to-shoulder with dozens of other people.

After that, loop back along the boardwalk past the feeding area and take the longer way out. That’s how we did it, and honestly, it worked out perfectly. I can’t guarantee this will dodge the crowds every single time, but it felt like we accidentally figured out the ideal route.

Can You Visit Without a Tour? (How to Get There)

Yes, of course you can visit without a tour. I know there’s public transport going to Sepilok from Sandakan, but it drops you off on the main road—which is kind of far from the entrance—so you’d still have to walk a bit. I’d just recommend getting a Grab (Asia’s version of Uber) instead. We paid between $6–8 USD for the ride from Sandakan, and it was super easy and cheap.

If you’re already staying in Sepilok, you can probably just walk to the sanctuary, depending on where your accommodation is. But yeah—we did the whole thing without a tour, and it was super straightforward.

That said, there are definitely perks to visiting with a tour. Your transport is sorted for you, and you’ll have a guide who can explain more about orangutans and what’s going on at the sanctuary. I overheard a few guides while we were there, and honestly, some of the stuff they were saying was really interesting—definitely something to consider if you’re after a more informative experience.

Book Here: Sepilok Guided Tour

Tips & Tricks for Visiting the Borneo Orangutan Sanctuary

• Pack plenty of water: It gets super hot and humid in the rainforest, and there’s nowhere inside the sanctuary to buy drinks.
• Wear sunscreen: Even though you’ll be walking through forested areas, parts of the boardwalk are exposed to full sun.
• Bring a sun hat or cap: Trust me, you’ll want that extra bit of protection from the heat.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes: You’ll be on boardwalks most of the time, but it’s still a lot of walking in hot weather.
• Plan your visit around both feedings: Go for the morning feeding at 10am, then head to the Sun Bear Conservation Centre during lunch, and come back for the 3pm feeding. One ticket is valid all day.
• Stand at the front of the viewing platform: It fills up quickly, and the best views are up front. Don’t be shy, someone has to do it.
• Stick around after the crowd leaves: Once everyone rushes out after the feeding, hang back a bit. We saw even more orangutans come out after the crowd had cleared.
• Bring a decent camera or zoom lens: The orangutans can be far from the viewing area, and phone cameras (especially without zoom) don’t always capture them well.
• Go to the visitor center and watch the film: It only takes 10–15 minutes and gives great context for what the sanctuary is doing and why it matters.

How Much Does it Cost?

The entrance fee for a foreign adult is 30 MYR, which is around $7 USD per person. We took a Grab to get there from Sandakan, which cost us 8 USD one way, so 16 USD return split between two people, that’s 8 USD each.

We grabbed lunch at the little café near the parking lot and spent about 16 MYR, or roughly 4 USD per person. Around midday, we also visited the Sun Bear Conservation Centre to pass time before the second orangutan feeding. Entry there was 50 MYR, about 11 USD.

All up, we spent around $30 USD each for a full day packed with wildlife and honestly, that’s a bargain.

Expense	MYR	USD (Approx.)
Orangutan Sanctuary Entry	30	$7
Grab (Split Return Trip)	—	$8
Lunch at Café	16	$4
Sun Bear Conservation Centre	50	$11
Total	—	~$30PAX

When is the Best Time to Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary

The best time to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is definitely during the dry season, which runs from May to October. That’s when you’ll get the least amount of rain and the most blue skies.

And yes, avoiding the rain isn’t just about not getting wet. Orangutans hate the rain even more than we do. When it rains, they usually hide somewhere deep in the forest, so your chances of seeing them drop massively.

If you can, I’d also recommend avoiding June and July, since that’s when European school holidays are. Loads of families visit around that time, and it can get pretty crowded.

Where to Stay for the Sepilok Orangutans

If you’re planning to visit the Sepilok orangutans, you’ve got a couple of options. I stayed in Sandakan and just grabbed a taxi to Sepilok and it’s about a 30-minute drive. Honestly, it’s not a big deal, and if you’re on a tighter budget, staying in Sandakan might be a good call since accommodation and food are generally cheaper there.

That said, if you want to make life easier, I’d definitely recommend just staying in Sepilok. It puts you right in the middle of the rainforest and within walking distance of all the wildlife centers.

The best place to stay is for sure Sepilok Nature Lodge. It’s literally right around the corner from the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. The lodge sits on a little lake with a gorgeous sun deck, peaceful jungle vibes, and beautifully designed rooms. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot an orangutan from your bedroom window.

Book Here: Sepilok Nature Lodge

Is the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary in Borneo Worth Visiting? My Final Thoughts

Overall, the Sepilok Orang utan Sanctuary was one of my absolute favorite activities in Borneo. It’s 100% ethical and 100% worth it, so yes, I definitely recommend visiting.

Whether you join a guided tour or go on your own, whether you only visit for the morning feeding or return in the afternoon like I did, it honestly doesn’t matter. As long as you get to see orangutans in Sabah, it’ll be an experience to remember.

That said, don’t forget about all the other amazing things to do in Sandakan. The Sun Bear Conservation Center, the Rainforest Discovery Center, and of course the Kinabatangan River cruise are all incredible in their own right.

If you scroll down, you’ll find all my other guides with more info on each of these, definitely worth checking out if you’re planning your trip.

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