The world-famous Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve in Sabah is home of some of the last wild
Orangutans of Borneo. You can make a contribution to improving the plight of these endangered primates by visiting the
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre inside the reserve. You'll see orangutans that have recently been released back into the wild, being fed as they progress from captive patients to healthy animals living in the wild.
Sepilok Nature Lodge is just
10 minutes walk from the reserve. The lodge's amenities and proximity to the sanctuary make it the ideal place from which to visit the orangutans. Many of our guests include this resort as an 'add-on' package to their dive trip to Sabah. The centre is the biggest and first of its kind. It may ultimately be the orangutans only hope for survival, and your tourist dollars will help. Staying at Sepilok Nature Lodge means you can be at the feeding platform for the morning session before the day-trippers arrive from Sandakan.
The lakeside
eco-resort, set among tropical plants and orchids, trees and grasses, has comfortable timber chalets with hot and cold water shower and bath, air-conditioning and ceiling fans. It is 25 kilometres from the town of Sandakan (the name Sepilok means 16 in the local dialect - 16 miles). After a morning watching orangutans, you can return to Sepilok Nature Lodge for a proper lunch and a rest in the shade, then head back into the reserve for the afternoon feeding or a guided night walk.
Explore the natural Bornean wonders of the Sepilok Forest Reserve from Sepilok Nature Lodge, where proboscis monkeys, macaques, tarsiers, amphibians, reptiles and birds abound. The trails are well marked and the local guides are friendly, reliable and extremely knowledgeable. For divers finishing a trip in Sabah, adding a few nights at Sepilok Nature Lodge provides a smooth transition from underwater to rainforest, all within easy reach of Sandakan airport for your onward flight.
Set in a spectacular landscaped private area of manicured lawns and rolling hills, the 22 comfortable air-conditioned twin bed chalets at Sepilok Nature Lodge feature lake or jungle view balconies and private bathrooms with hot water. The surrounding gardens offer a wide array of tropical plants and grasses and a collection of more than 150 different orchid species, lending the resort a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere.
All the chalets have:
- Air-conditioning with individual controls
- Fan cooling
- Private bathroom and shower with hot and cold water
- Basic toiletries and towels
- Private balcony with lake or jungle view
- Daily housekeeping
- Bedside reading lights
- Personal safety box
- Fridge/minibar
- Clothes rack with hangers
- 24-hour electricity supply (220V)
- UK-style 3-pin plug sockets
- Basic fire safety equipment (i.e. fire extinguisher)
Sepilok Nature Lodge is the ideal add-on package for nature loving scuba divers.
You can relax and spend a couple of days or more at the beginning or end of your Sabah dive adventure by exploring the wild forests of Borneo and encounter such rare animals as orangutans and the endemic and bizarre-looking proboscis monkey.
The reserve is very close to Lankayan, but also easy to reach from both Sipadan and Kota Kinabalu.
The Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where young captive or abandoned orangutans are being helped to readjust to the wild, and the Sepilok Forest Reserve are just a few minutes' walk away from the chalets. See these animals in their natural environment and learn how they are re-introduced into their disappearing wild forest habitat.
Sepilok Nature Lodge can arrange birding, trekking and river trips to the neighbouring areas through its local partners, including the fauna-rich Kinabatangan River to see families of proboscis monkeys in the jungle. Night walks can also be booked - they say you have not experienced the jungle until you have been there at night.
Resort facilities include: Restaurant and bar - Upper floor gallery with comfortable lounge area - Internet (restaurant area only) - Tour desk - Boating on the lagoon
Guest safety: the lodge has 24 hour security patrols. For medical problems and emergencies, there is a hospital in Sandakan - 25 km away. There is also a 24-hour clinic located 20-30 minutes away from the lodge.
If you plan on doing any jungle walking, then we strongly recommend that you take and wear proper shoes, socks and full-length trousers - there are many leeches!
Location: Sepilok, near Sandakan City, Sabah
Meals at Sepilok Nature Lodge are served in the Lake Bistro Restaurant, offering an open-air setting beneath covered terraces. Guests usually order from a set menu, although buffet-style dining may be available at times. The lodge also offers a bar and snacks.
Dining hours:
Breakfast: 7 - 9 am
Lunch: 11 am - 2 pm
Dinner: 6 - 9 pm
Meals available:
- Local specialities, as well as Indian and Chinese cuisine
- Western dishes also available
- Seafood and meat dishes
- Mixed vegetables and salads
Sample dishes: Wok fried ginger beef, sweet and sour fish, vegetarian fried rice, garden salad, mushroom soup, stir fried prawn.
Different dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan and halal can be catered to with advanced notice.
"
"If you love nature but still want a hot shower and clean sheets, this is the place. Waking up to the sounds of gibbons and hornbills beats any city alarm clock. The staff helped us arrange the Sepilok Orangutan Centre visit, just a 5-minute walk away. The wooden chalets are simple but spotless, and the open-air restaurant serves decent Sarawak laksa. I would highly recommended for Taiwanese travellers who want adventure without roughing it too much." -
Kiao-Lin, Taiwan, 2 October 2022 ...
"
We had a ranger to take us for a night walk, walking tour to the orang-utan park and the rainforest discovery centre. The rooms were best in the Sepilok area and once again exceeded our expectation. The food was also nice and the portions were really big." -
Pallavi Jayaprakash, India, 2 July 2013 ...
"
Pulling together a great holiday with add ons. I added on Sepilok which was great and a different feel to the diving, giving me a multi activity holiday." -
Michelle Le Herissier, Channel Islands, 14 March 2013 ...
