You want to know What to see in Malaysian Borneo and don't know where to start? We understand. This island, shared by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, is a natural paradise where you can still see orangutans in the wild, travel through jungle rivers or enter the jungleIn this article we tell you everything we did during our visit to the area of Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River, in the Malaysian state of Sabah. It was undoubtedly the most adventurous part of our route through Malaysia and Borneo.
If you are thinking of including this area in your itinerary, keep reading because we will give you the details. What to do in Borneo, how to get there, where to stay, important information about your passport and everything you need to know to organize your trip independently. At the end you will find a map with the places of Borneo Malay what to see, and our itinerary through Malaysia and Borneo.
What to see in Malaysian Borneo: Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River
1) Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Borneo, Malaysia
If you are wondering where to see orangutans in Borneo, this is one of the most important centers in the world dedicated to the conservation of the Bornean orangutan, an endangered species. Did you know that baby orangutans depend on their mothers until they are 7-10 years old? Here orphaned offspring and rescued specimens are rehabilitated until they are able to fend for themselves. The visit includes a viewing point in the feeding area and a small exhibition. The The probability of seeing orangutans is quite high., especially in the feeding hours.
- 💵 Ticket price: 30 RM MYR (about 6€ per person), 15 RM MYR for children aged 2-17. They only accept cash.
- ⏰ Sepilok orangutan feeding schedule: at 10:00 and 15:00 h
- ⏰ Ticket office hours: from 9:00 to 11:00 and from 14:00 to 15:30
2) Rainforest Discovery Center, places to see in Sepilok, Borneo
Another activities to do in Sepilok This is highly recommended rainforest interpretation center. The area has well-marked trails, suspension bridges between the trees, and viewpoints where you can observe birds and butterflies. However, If you want to see wild animals, We recommend you guided night walk o night walk from Sepilok. Here you have the chance to see animals of Borneo such as Malayan tarsier (one of the smallest primates in the world), slow loris, birds, flying squirrels, snakes, tarantulas, among others.
You can book on-site, although it is better to book in advance by email. [email protected]. Payment is made directly there and The activity lasts approximately 2 hours. We recommend you bring Hiking shoes and breathable long clothing because there are mosquitoes, but it is also hot. (you can try repellent, but it usually doesn't work). It is also important to carry a flashlight, preferably a headlamp. and, some patience: You are in the jungle and the animals do not always appear, but when they do, it's a great moment.
- 💵 Night route price: 50 RM MYR (about 10€ per person), 25 RM MYR for children aged 5-15. They only accept cash.
- ⏰ Sepilok night walk schedule: 18: 00 pm to 20: 00 pm
3) Malayan Sun Bear Conservation Center, animals to see on the island of Borneo
Another of the Animals to see in Borneo are the Malayan sun bear. and in Sepilok they have a conservation center. It is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center (BSBCC) and you'll find it right next to the orangutan rehabilitation center. This small center is dedicated to protecting the sun bear, the smallest in the world. This animal, also in danger of extinction, it lives threatened by deforestation and illegal trafficking. In the center, you can see several specimens in a naturalized setting, climbing trees or resting in the shade. As the guide explained, The problem with bears is that once they get used to being fed by humans, they lose the habit of hunting and can hardly return to their natural habitat. We'll tell you all about it in detail in the video at the end.
- 💵 Ticket price: 50 RM MYR (about €10 per person), they accept card payments.
- ⏰ Bornean bear feeding schedule: it's random
4) Kinabatangan River: One of the best things to do in Borneo, Malaysia
If there is an essential experience what to do in Borneo is a River Safari on the Kinabatangan RiverThis river runs through one of the most biodiverse areas in Southeast AsiaDuring boat trips it is possible sight proboscis monkeys (endemic species of the island of Borneo), orangutans, crocodiles, macaques, different species of birds, among which are the kingfisher or rhinoceros hornbillThere is also a possibility, although apparently quite difficult, to see pygmy elephants, the smallest elephant in Asia. As you can see in the YouTube channel video that we share with you at the end, We we were quite lucky.
About Us We spent one night in a river lodge and took three river trips: afternoon, evening, and sunrise. It was one of the best experiences of our trip, although keep in mind that people only come here to do safaris, there are no other leisure activities to do by the river and The transfer from Sepilok is approximately 2 hoursThe hotel in Sepilok we recommend below organizes the entire excursion for you and even has its own accommodations. We didn't know this, so we arranged everything ourselves and chose the hotel. Sukau Tomanggong View. The Accommodations along the Kinabatangan River are quite modest.
Where to stay in Sepilok, Borneo
The best area where to stay in this area of Borneo Malay es Sepilok. It is surrounded by jungle, close to Sandakan Airport, and very well connected to the main points of interest on foot. We chose the Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort and it was a complete success. wooden cabins are surrounded by nature, have a perfect pool to relax after the excursions, delicious local food and excellent treatment.
Furthermore, The Orangutan Center, the Bear Center, and the Rainforest Discovery Center are all within walking distance in just a few minutes. If you also want Travel to Borneo and get to know this part of Malaysia, three nights will be enough. That's what we did.
💡 Tips for traveling to Borneo and sightseeing:
📲 Internet without complications: we use the Holafly eSIM with unlimited data for Asia and it worked great even on the Kinabatangan River. Book from this link with a 5% discount.
✈️ Travel insurance: For this type of destinations we always hire IATI Backpacking, with good coverage for activities such as safaris and hiking. Reserve with 5% discount here.
Malaysian Borneo: What to see in Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River
We invite you to watch our video about what to see in BorneoIn it we show you in first person the most incredible places in Malaysian Borneo and some tips for organizing your route. Do not forget subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don't miss the complete list and others Adventure travels. We will wait for you!
Map of places to see in Malaysian Borneo
Here you leave a Interactive map with all the places to see in Borneo Malay and which we mentioned in this post. This will make it easier for you to plan your route and see the distances.
Malaysian Borneo Airport: How to get to Sepilok
If you want to know How to get to Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River, the most practical thing is to fly to Sandakan Airport, in the north of Sabah. From the airport, it's a 20-minute drive to Sepilok. Once in Sepilok, you have a two-hour drive to the river area. We booked a Grab (Malaysian Uber) to get from the airport to Sepilok. Then, Ana from Sukau Tomanggong View. Please note that Sandakan Airport is quite small and has very few daily flights from Peninsular Malaysia.
Another alternative of Flights between Kuala Lumpur and Borneo are via Kuching Airport., in the state of Sarawak. If you have more days to visit Borneo, many travelers choose to visit the Malaysian Borneo from the city of Kuching. Very close is the famous Bako National Park, where you also have the possibility of see the proboscis monkey in the wild. In addition, there is another orangutan recovery center in Kuching: the Semenggoh Wildlife CenterHowever, an acquaintance who spent 15 days touring Malaysian Borneo and visited both destinations, recommended the option of Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River Adventure, and so we did!
⚠️ IMPORTANT
If you get to Peninsular Malaysia Before flying to Borneo, remember that You must ask to have your passport stamped at immigration control. y bypass the electronic control system (autogates). The Entry stamp will be required upon arrival in the state of Sabah (Borneo), as they have their own migration control. You can read this and other recommendations in the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
One of the things that most impressed us during the trip from Sepilok to the Kinabatangan River was seeing the enormous amount of oil palm plantations that occupy a large part of the landscape. The production of Palm oil has been one of the main causes of deforestation on the island, directly affecting the habitat of species such as the orangutanSeeing it up close made us reflect deeply on responsible consumption and the importance of learning about the origin of the products we buy.
Do you want to discover our entire tour of Malaysia and Borneo in 15 daysWe've detailed it here, with a map, places to visit, number of nights per area, and recommended hotels. We've also shared other destinations in our area. route through Malaysia and Borneo ending in Singapore.
- 👉 What to see in Malaysia in 15 days
- 👉 What to see in Kuala Lumpur in 2 or 3 days
- 👉 What to see and do in the Perhentian Islands
- 👉 What to see and do in Penang
- 👉 Singapore Essentials
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
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