Orangutans and Jungle Boats

You’ll be picked up from Sandakan in the morning, joining a small group for the 30-minute drive to the world famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre takes in young orangutans who have been orphaned by deforestation, and prepares them for an independent life in the wild. Mid-morning is feeding time, and you’ll be able to see the iconic great apes come out of the jungle to eat as much fresh fruit and nuts as they want. While the main focus of the center is the rehabilitation and conservation of orangutans, it also plays a role in the rescue and rehabilitation of other wildlife, including sun bears.

After leaving the centre you’ll board a boat for a ride across the Kinabatangan River, Sabah’s longest waterway. After stopping for lunch, you’ll continue upstream for a couple of hours to Sukau, where you’ll check into your charming, wooden jungle lodge. You’ll have some time to relax before your first wildlife cruise in the late afternoon, where you’ll watch the animals come to life as the sun goes down. In the evening you’ll have dinner back at your lodge, and fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

After breakfast this morning, you’ll sail for about 2.5 hours back along the river until you reach civilisation again in Sandakan. From the port, you’ll be taken to a local restaurant where you’ll have lunch with your group, before being taken to the airport or your hotel.