5 Top Places To Visit In Sandakan (Part I)

Generally (or is it only me), we have less interest to explore our own place. My case, I rarely go out and do new things when I’m back in my hometown (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah). I am more comfortable staying at home and spending the whole day with my dearest family. Well, that’s the main purpose of going back actually, to have a quality time them.

My job as a travel writer requires me to move here and there.
So, when I have the chance to go back home, I prefer not to go anywhere but instead be at home. Poor me, now I know.

When I received an exclusive invitation from Sabah Tourism Board and Gaya Travel Magazine to join #ICYDKSandakan familiarisation programme, I immediately jumped to this opportunity and realise that there are many interesting places in #Sabah that I need to discover – one of those is SANDAKAN.

Sandakan offers a wide variety of tourism products and below is a list of things that you may do while being in and nearby the city. Based on my 4D3N trip, these are the first 5 places that I could recommend you to visit:

Sukau Village
Sukau Village is one of must-visit spots in Sandakan. Located nearby the famous Kinabatangan river, Sukau is blessed with abundant of biodiversity that attracts travellers that are into nature to come over and experience the nature wonders.

In Sukau itself, there are several lodges you can choose to stay. I stayed at Sukau Rainforest Lodge and definitely it is highly recommended one. Why? I will share it in a separate blog post. At Sukau Rainforest Lodge, you can also do several activities including night or morning cruise, morning nature walk and more.

While in Sukau, I had the chance to join the morning and night cruise along Kinabatangan river, morning walk at Hornbill Boardwalk – held nearby Sukau Rainforest Lodge and each one of it gives interesting information about the wildlife that lives around here.

Best for: Nature, adventure, honeymoon, educational tour
Things to bring: comfortable clothes and footwear, binocular, raincoat and a sense of adventure

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Have you seen the famous proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus)? It is widely known as a creature that is only available in Borneo. Besides, it was also chosen as the official mascot for Visit Malaysia 2014. This type of monkey can be found in the countries that divide the island which are Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia (Sandakan). Proboscis monkey is listed as endangered species and now protected from hunting and capture in Borneo.

Good to know: The scientific name of this long-nosed monkey is nasalis larvatus. It also has different names according to the country. Locally we call it ‘bayau‘ or sometimes ‘monyet belanda‘. Meanwhile, Indonesian call it ‘monyet belanda‘ or ‘bekatan‘.

Located 53-minute drive (approx 42.7 kilometres) from Sandakan downtown, Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary provides every visitor with an opportunity to see Borneo’s indigenous proboscis monkeys up close. There are special observation platforms for visitors to stay and take a picture of the monkey at a very close distance. Before visiting the sanctuary, all are advised to check the feeding time. You could also get a chance to see and play with the adorable silver leaf monkey around the property.

Feeding Time Schedule
Platform A: 9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.
Platform B: 11.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.
(Food that is given to the monkey is a sugar-free pancake)

Video Show 
At Platform B
Duration: 51 minutes
Time: 10.15 a.m. and 3.15 p.m.

Entrance Fee
MyKad Holders: RM15 (Adult), RM5 (Child)
Others: RM60 (Adult), RM30 (Child)

Camera Fee 
Standard digital camera/video camcorder
RM10 per day

Shuttle Bus Service
Town – Sepilok – Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Departure time: 9.30 a.m. from Hotel Sandakan, 10.30 a.m. from Sepilok Center & Sepilok Juntion

Labuk Bay Proboscis Sanctuary – Sepilok – Town
Departure time: 3.30 p.m. from Palm Cafe (Platform B) at Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Contact: +6 089 672 133
E-mail: probobki@gmail.com
GPS: 5.924302, 117.814628
Website: CLICK HERE

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center
Other than proboscis monkey, visitors travelling in Sandakan can also see orangutan, a famous creature that is native to Indonesia and Malaysia which can only be found in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Close to Sandakan city and nearby the small town of Sepilok, there is Sandakan’s most famous attraction which is Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center (SORC).

This 43 square kilometre site allows visitors to see the protected creature up close. Besides that, SORC serves as a rehabilitation center to take a good care of the orphaned, injured or displaced orangutans before returning them into the wild. Visitors may join in one of the rehabilitation programmes or simply relax and watch the orangutans eating/playing around at the nursery. You’ll definitely fall in love with them. Too cute to handle.

What I love about SORC is that it also acts as a useful education tool to raise awareness among both the local and visitors alike about the current situation of this endangered species and learn how we as a human can help them to save their habitat, provide them home and other essentials.

Feeding Time
Twice a day
10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.

Opening Hours
Ticket Counter: Daily from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Exhibition Hall: Daily (except Friday) from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Centre: Daily from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. (Friday – 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 to 4.00 p.m.)

Entrance Fee
MyKad holders: RM5 (Adult), RM2 (Child)
Others: RM30 (Adult), RM15 (Child)
*Child: 17 years old and below

Camera Fee
RM10

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center
Contact: +60 89-531 180
GPS: 5.865327, 117.948883

Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Have you ever dreamt of seeing the smallest bear in the world? If you do, head to Sun Bear Conservation Centre that is situated next to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre to see Bornean sun bears. Another tour that will educate visitors and raise awareness among them that this creature is in danger – threatened by forest degradation and illegal hunting.