Sandakan wildlife tour: Orangutans, sun bears, proboscis monkeys

Three wildlife sanctuaries in one morning and afternoon

A guided day tour from Sandakan visiting three wildlife rehabilitation centers: the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where you watch orphaned orangutans feed from a platform, the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre caring for rescued bears, and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary in a 400-acre mangrove forest. The tour includes entrance fees to all three sites, a 25-minute documentary at Sepilok, lunch, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport and hotel pickup and return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre2h · entry included
2. Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary4h · entry included

Visit Sepilok and Labuk Bay Sanctuaries

• Visit Orangutan nursery and feeding platform
• Listen to briefing by Park Rangers
• Explore Sunbear Conservation Center
• Drive to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
• Observe Proboscis Monkeys in mangrove forest

The experience

The day starts at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where you move from the nursery area to an elevated feeding platform in the forest to watch orphaned and injured orangutans during their scheduled feeding time. A park ranger briefs you on the center's work rehabilitating these animals to return to the wild. You'll also watch a 25-minute documentary about the rehabilitation program before moving on.

From there, the tour heads to Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre, a facility dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating sun bears taken from poachers, captive situations and illegal trade. The center addresses both the care of individual animals and the broader lack of awareness about these bears across Malaysia and internationally. After roughly 45 minutes of driving, you reach Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, a forest reserve covering about 400 acres of mangrove where you move to an observation area for close views of these endemic Borneo primates: animals known for their distinctive appearance and elusive behavior.

Lunch is provided during the day, and you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with your English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup and return to your Sandakan accommodation are included, making this an eight-hour tour that requires no separate transport arrangements.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary.
• a 25-minute documentary at Sepilok.
• lunch.
• an English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and return to your Sandakan accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Magunatip Holidays Sdn Bhd

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Sandakan and want to visit three wildlife sanctuaries in one day as part of a group following a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What happens at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre?

You visit the nursery area and then move to a feeding platform in the forest to watch orphaned and injured orangutans during their scheduled feeding time, followed by a 25-minute documentary about the center's rehabilitation work.

How far is Labuk Bay from the other sanctuaries?

The drive to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary takes about 45 minutes from the earlier stops.

What makes the proboscis monkeys worth seeing at Labuk Bay?

Labuk Bay is a 400-acre mangrove forest reserve dedicated to protecting these primates, which are endemic to Borneo and known for their unusual appearance and elusive behavior. The observation area offers reasonably close sightings.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. However, you should be prepared for walking between viewing areas at each sanctuary and the 45-minute drive between sites.

What's included in the price?

Entrance fees to all three sanctuaries, lunch, the 25-minute documentary at Sepilok, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport and hotel pickup and return to your Sandakan accommodation are all included.