Sandakan: Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation centre

Orangutans at feeding times

The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was fine. Based on the previous reviews on Tripadvisor and one of the hotel guests comment, I had lowered expectations of the Orang Utan Centre - in fact most people tell me that they prefer the Rainforest Discovery Centre over ths Orang Utan rehabilitation centre. (I didnt quite manage to make it to RDC- due to time and leech limitation issues).

They had a Malaysian Rate for the Orang Utan Centre - its RM 5 instead of RM 50 for non-Malaysians. For RM 5 and RM 10 (for cameras) it was fine - basically its 30 minutes of orang utan feeding at 10am and 3pm. When I was there I saw 2 orang utans clutching their babies having bananas and rambutans. The orangutans were definitely worth the fees - I would feel differently if I were paying RM 50 though.

The Orang Utan Centre also had some facilities such as - free lockers that can fit backpacks, a very clean air-conditioned toilet, an AV room and a basic display room for orangutan information. It also had a restaurant but it was a little overpriced - RM 6 (egg sandwhich ) RM 3.50 (iced coffee), RM 1-2 (hot coffee), RM 2 (mineral water). It also had full lunches such as rice and noodles as well as desserts like ice cream.

More orangutans at feeding times

A few things though - you can't bring in water, bags into the rehabilitation centre as the orangutan may grab them. Since its the rainy season (Dec-Jan), they also sell ponchos for RM 5.
In summary - I'm happy to have gone to Sepilok to see the orangutans at least once in my life as a Malaysian. For RM 5 admission + RM 10 camera - it was worth it. For anything more, Im not sure I would feel the same, as there is nothing much to do there except watch the feeding.
It is more advisable to come over when its not the rainy season in Sandakan - as it was raining almost the whole day - all the guests ran for cover as the downpour came over us in the middle of the feeding. The downpour was equivalent of a thunderstorm - those that cause flashfloods in the middle of KL.