Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary

The Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary is a fascinating place where visitors can observe trainers teaching orphaned or displaced Orang Utan apes to climb in their natural habitat. At this rehabilitation centre, captive animals are retrained for life in the jungle.The centre allows a close-up view of these arboreal creatures.
The best time to visit is at 10.00 am and again at 2.30 pm when the primates emerge from the forest for their daily ration of bananas and milk. You can see the orang utans being fed from a platform in the centre. Nicknamed the 'Wild Man of Borneo', the orang utans are returned to the forest when they can fend for themselves.
Aside from the orang utan, over 200 species of birds and a variety of wild plants can be found within the 5.666 hectares of forest reserve.

Layang Layang Island

Layang Layang, meaning kite, is fast becoming another one of Malaysia's premier dive destinations after the world-famous Sipadan Island. This oceanic atoll is situated in the South China Sea about 300km north-west of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah.
The little land mass supports a luxurious 90-room dive resort, a Malaysian Naval base and a nesting colony for several sea-faring migratory birds. The reef topography is essentially made up of a rich growth of hard corals; some so shallow that they break the sea surface during low tides, but most begin at depths of about 5m right down to the ocean floor.
Some of the marine animals observed around the 14 dive sites include black-tip sharks, hammerheads, jacks barracudas, bump-head parrotfish, lionfish, moray eels, turtles, nudibranches, gobies and the ghost pipe fish.

Madai Caves

The Madai Caves are an important place for harvesting birds' nests. These nests are considered a delicacy and something of a medicine among the Chinese, and the export market is huge. The village at the entrance of the largest cave comes alive twice a year when the Idahan tribe comes to harvest the birds' nests from various parts of the caves. It is a special communal event, almost like a festival. The harvesting is a dramatic event with the men risking their lives to pry precious nests from the cave roof. Nowadays, the harvesters are hired. The Idahans have held their rights to the Madai Caves for over 20 generations. To visit the caves, permission must be obtained from the Idahan elders. Visitors may visit the District Office in Lahad Datu town to make prior arrangements for entrance permission.

Maliau Basin

he Maliau Basin Conservation Area is a natural catchment area, which has remained unknown for millions of years. It was only recently that the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, situated just above the Equator in south central Sabah, began to be explored for its beautiful and natural wonders. There are more than 30 species of mammals, 270 bird species and over 80 species of orchids, rare and endemic, were recorded. Numerous waterfalls have also been discovered throughout the Basin. The Maliau River drains through a gorge out of the southeast of the Basin into the Kuamut River, which in turn feeds into the Kinabatangan, the longest river in Sabah. There is so much to discover in the unspoilt wonderland, and due to its importance in the conservation of the ecosystem, visitors to the park are limited especially at the various camps set up. * Images of Maliau Basin, courtesy of Sabah Tourism.

Mabul Island

Mabul Island is reputed to be one of the best places for underwater macro-photography in the world. Located in the clear waters of the Celebes Sea off the mainland of Sabah, it is surrounded by gentle sloping reefs two to 40m deep. Covering some 21 ha., it is considerably larger than the nearby Sipadan Island and is home to the Bajau Laut tribe, one of many ethnic groups in Sabah. Diving is the main activity on this island, and it can be done all year round. Marine life that can be seen here includes sea horses, exotic starfish, fire gobies, crocodile fish, pipefish and snake eels. There are over eight popular dive spots, each with its own speciality. Three resorts cater to scuba divers -- two are on the island itself while one is on a converted oil rig platform about 500m offshore. All of the resorts provide day trips for their guests to the nearby Sipadan and Kapalai Islands.

Batu Punggul Pinnacle

Situated on the banks of Sungai Sepulot (Sepulot River) in the remote interior of southern Sabah, not far from the Kalimantan border, Batu Punggul is a limestone massif with amazing views over the jungle from above and with caves below. Accommodation is available at a rustic resort nearby which offers anything from a Murut longhouse or native huts (called sulap), to a hostel or guesthouses, complete with modern facilities.
Cave exploration is an exciting treat of unusual stalactites, stalagmites and bats. The Rafflesia, the world's largest flower, can be found about 25-minutes' walk from the caves. The area is also home to wild orchids. It is possible to climb to the top of the massif for panoramic views of the surrounding forest. At night, there is impressive music coming from the 'jungle symphony'...
As limestone massifs are normally found in coastal areas, the existence of Batu Punggul deep in the interior of Borneo is a source of geological wonder to scientists visiting the area.

Mt Kinabalu Via Ferrata

Via ferrata (or iron road in Italian), is a mountain path consisting of a series of rungs, rails and cables embracing the rock face. There are more than 300 via ferrata routes around the world and the world's highest via ferrata, can now be found on Mt Kinabalu in Malaysia.

This is the first time that the sport of via ferrata climbing is being introduced in Asia. The highest point for the via ferrata starts at 3,400 m and ends at 3,800 m. An activity for everyone, the via ferrata is devised to give people with little or no climbing experience access to rock faces normally reached by mountaineers and rock climbers.

There are several requirements to follow the via ferrata activity, including having an average fitness level and able to hike up to 3,200 m in 6 hours; at least 10 years old and 1.3 meters tall, and especially do not have a fear of heights (or willing to conquer their fear of heights!).

This is challenging adventure, and those interested to experience via ferrata on Mt Kinabalu should note that the beginner's route will let the climber take their first experience along the granite walls of Mt Kinabalu (a journey of about 2- 3 hours).

The intermediate route will let the climber experience a 4 to 5 hours journey, which will reward the climber with a breathtaking view of the heights and sights. Ready to take the challenge? Give via ferrata on Mt Kinabalu a try!

Monkey Tops Safari

It is accessible by highway and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to get there. You can see an abundance of mangrove tress are found in the Klias Wetland Peninsula. This wetland forest is enriched with vegetation and wildlife such as the Proboscis Monkeys, Long Tail Macaques, Crocodile, Fireflies and many species of Birds.
The building is made of local building materials and can accommodate at least 200 visitors at any one time. The complex houses a ‘Counter Bar’ and a ‘Souvenir Shop’ with a good assortment of local handicrafts.
It also has a 30 feet observation tower that enables you to enjoy the sighting of tropical wetland and its rich wildlife across the river banks. The complex has a 500-feet boardwalk with ‘Nipah Atap’ roofing and a river jetty providing a comfortable river cruise.
Facilities they have is built using Local Materials, Eco-Lodge consist of boardwalk, Bird Watch Tower, Dining Hall, Sundeck, Fish Spa and space for 300 visitors. Multi-media facilities for seminar for seminar etc are available. Incentive group event most ideal. River cruise boat 25-33ft, capacity 16-30 pax on most comfortable seating.

Lankayan Island

Lankayan Island is a virtually uninhabited island located in the Sulu Sea. This tiny island is covered by thick tropical jungle that is surrounded by smooth, white sand - the perfect getaway.
It has the only dive resort in Malaysia's Sulu Sea called the Lankayan Island Dive Resort and is one of the best spots for whale shark sightings. The location of the whale shark is usually indicated by flocks of seabirds screeching high above the placid surface. With luck, divers and snorkellers may get close to this gentle giant, although it won't stay close for long.
During the day you can witness black-tip sharks swimming about by the beach. At night, hawksbill and green turtles may be spotted coming to shore. Large stretches of beautiful hard and soft corals belonging to numerous genera can also be found here, the perfect habitat for colourful friendly fishes.
Among the 40 dive sites is Lankayan Wreck, where the remains of an ocean-going fishing boat can be explored. This wreck now hosts many different species of fish from small glassfish, harlequin ghost pipefish, painted frogfish to giant grouper and marbled stingrays.
Despite the remoteness, the island has all the amenities of a tropical resort. Visitors can stay in wooden bungalows that blend into the natural surroundings.
Indeed, Lankayan is not only for discerning divers but for anyone who appreciates the tranquility of a paradise island that offers beautiful sunrises, spectacular sunsets and magnificent seascapes.

Kundasang War Memorial

This was one of the first memorials to commemorate the brave Australian and British Prisoners of War who died in Sandakan and during the infamous death marches to Ranau during World War II.
The ‘fort-like’ Memorial was designed by a local architect by the name of J.C. Robinson. It has 4 interlocking but separate gardens to represent the homelands of those who has died: an Australian Garden, a formal English Garden of roses, a Borneo Garden with wild flowers of Kinabalu and at the top level is the ‘Contemplation Garden’ with a reflection pool and pergola.
The memorial is open to local and foreign visitors not only to view the perfect gardens but to remember those who sacrificed their lives for the Freedom of others. The Memorial is open to visitors with minimal entrance fees charged.

Rainforest Discovery Centre

The Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) situated in Sepilok, Sandakan is a part of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Located in Sabah, the RDC is an environmental education (EE) centre in the state.

Take a walk through the park, or a stroll on wooden the suspension bridge at the 950 metres canopy walk and view countless of exotic wildlife.

Night walks along the trail also offer a chance to catch a glimpse of wildlife such as the cunning mousedeer, wily civet cats, cute tarsiers and various insects and birds.

There are also many magnificent flowering shrubs a the Plant Discovery Garden, with about 250 species of native orchids. The orchid family, is known to be the largest flowering plants with about 25,000 wild species throughout the world.

Enthusiasts, naturalists, budding scientists and nature lovers from all walks of life will get to know more of the wonders of the rainforests through this unique Rainforest Discovery Centre.

The RDC helps to raise public awareness and appreciation of the importance of conserving forests, as well as the sustainable use of forest resources.

Turtle Island Park

 Turtle Island Park consists of a number of uninhabited islands lying in the Sulu Sea, off the east coast of Sabah.The park comprises three small islands, Selingan, Gulisan and Bakungan Kechil. Selingan, the largest of the islands, houses the park's headquarters, a turtle hatchery, tourist accommodation and basic facilities. The other two islands are more for conservation activities.

Two species of turtles. Greens and Hawksbill are special festures of this park. Turtle landings usually occur after dusk. The park has a sensible policy of allowing visitors to see only one landing a night. This allows undisturbed nestings to go on throughout the night.

Whilst waiting for the evening's highlight, all that is left to do is to laze on the beach at sunset or snorkel. The west side of the island is ideal for this. It's clean, quiet, and offers some interesting coral and sea life. Wander around the island and you'll be surprised at how many turtles would have landed in the last few days; their tracks, like mini-tractors, remain in the sand for days.

The driest months and the calmest seas are between March and July. The peak egg laying season is July to October. The seas can get rough between October and February.

The nearest mainland town to the park is Sandakan. Your tour operator will organise a speedboat pick-up service to and from Turtle Island Park. It takes about one hours to reach the islands by boat.

Sipadan Island

The late Jacques Cousteau, the world-renowned oceanographer, described Sipadan Island as ‘an untouched piece of art’, while divers around the world voted it as one of the top five dive sites in the world.
Malaysia’s only oceanic island, it is very small – only 12ha. in size. A 25-minute walk is all that is required to circle the island on foot. As an oceanic island, it rises about 700 metres from the sea floor, attracting diverse marine life from the blackness of the open sea. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, this crown jewel is a treasure trove of some of the most amazing marine animals.
Declared a bird sanctuary in 1933 by the Colonial Government of North Borneo and re-gazetted in 1963 by the Malaysian Government, the dense vegetation on Sipadan Island supports a large variety of tropical birds which include sea eagles, kingfishers, sunbirds, starlings and wood pigeons. Exotic crustaceans including the amazing coconut crab roam the beaches and scurry among the undergrowth.
When diving here, encounters with turtles, resident schools of jacks, bumphead parrotfish and barracudas are almost assured around the tiny coral island.

Danum Valley

The Danum Valley is renowned for its rich variety of both plants and wildlife. All of Sabah's mammals, including the orang utan, Bornean gibbon, leaf monkeys and even the rare rhinoceros are known to inhabit the region, giving Danum Valley a reputation for being one of the best places for viewing Borneo's wildlife. An international-standard lodge can accommodate up to 60 people. The limited accommodation ensures that this is not a mass market destination, but one designed for those with a serious interest in the rainforest. Danum Valley is reached via a short flight to Lahad Datu on Sabah's east coast. From Lahad Datu, the journey is by road to the Borneo Rainforest lodge. Overnight stays are possible, but those who are serious about their wildlife viewing should stay at least two nights.

Description - Borneo Rainforest Wildlife Adventure in Tabin

Surrounding Area

Tabin Wildlife Reserve is located in the eastern part of Sabah, Malaysia and within some of the richest wildlife zones in the island of Borneo. It is within easy distances to other renown nature destinations, such as Sukau Kinabatangan, Danum Valley, Sipadan island

Accommodations

Tabin Wildlife Resort’s authentic Borneon-style jungle lodges built to blend with the natural environment will complement your stay. Designed for adventurers and nature lovers, hobby-naturalists and photographers, the jungle lodges take into consideration the needs of those who enjoy the feeling of being part of the rainforest that they have come to belong, but who also want to enjoy the comfort of a hot shower, clean bed and hearty meals. This is a place that you will look forward to come back to after an exciting day of jungle activities