Where to see orangutans in Borneo

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sabah

If you’d like to learn more about orangutans and the conservation work helping to protect them, Sepilok is an excellent place to start. Located just outside Sandakan, the centre has been rehabilitating orphaned and rescued orangutans since the 1960s, helping them develop the skills needed to survive in the wild.

Your visit usually begins at the outdoor nursery, where younger orangutans can often be seen climbing, playing and learning important skills from their carers. From here, you’ll continue through the rainforest to the feeding platform, where some of the semi-wild orangutans may emerge from the surrounding forest for supplementary feeding.

Because Sepilok is one of Sabah’s most popular wildlife attractions, it can feel busy at feeding times, particularly during peak travel periods. However, it remains one of the best places to gain an understanding of orangutan conservation and often provides some of the closest views of these remarkable primates during your time in Borneo.

If your Sundowner Holiday includes a stay on the Kinabatangan River, a visit to Sepilok is often included as part of your Borneo wildlife experience. Together, the two locations provide an excellent introduction to both orangutan conservation and the opportunity to search for wild orangutans in their natural habitat.

The nearby Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is also well worth visiting and can easily be combined with your time at Sepilok.

Danum Valley, Sabah

If you’re looking for one of the most rewarding rainforest experiences in Borneo, Danum Valley should be high on your list. This vast protected area contains some of the oldest primary rainforest in the world and provides a refuge for a remarkable range of wildlife.

Unlike Sepilok, there are no feeding platforms or guaranteed sightings here. Instead, you’ll explore the rainforest with experienced guides, searching for wildlife on foot and from elevated canopy walkways. Seeing an orangutan in Danum Valley often feels particularly special because every encounter is entirely natural.

The forest itself is just as impressive as the wildlife. Towering trees rise above the canopy, while walking trails reveal hidden streams, giant buttress roots and an incredible diversity of plant life. Alongside orangutans, you may also encounter red leaf monkeys, gibbons, hornbills, flying squirrels and, with a little luck, even a clouded leopard.

For many people, Danum Valley becomes the highlight of their Borneo holiday, not because wildlife sightings are guaranteed, but because the rainforest experience is so immersive.

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Sarawak

Located around 30 minutes from Kuching, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is Sarawak’s best-known place to see orangutans. Like Sepilok, it focuses on the rehabilitation of rescued orangutans that have been orphaned, injured or previously kept in captivity.

The orangutans at Semenggoh live freely within the surrounding forest and often return to the feeding areas, particularly when natural food sources are limited. Because they are free-ranging animals, sightings can never be guaranteed. During fruiting season, many choose to remain deep within the forest and may not appear at all.

If you’re spending time in Kuching or exploring Sarawak, Semenggoh offers an excellent opportunity to learn about orangutan conservation while potentially seeing these remarkable primates in a semi-wild environment.

Planning a Borneo Holiday?

While orangutans are often the reason people first consider Borneo, the island offers far more than wildlife alone. Many holidays combine rainforest experiences with time on the beach, whether that’s relaxing on Sabah’s coast, snorkelling around tropical islands or enjoying a few days by the sea after exploring the jungle.

Our team have travelled extensively throughout Borneo and experienced many of the wildlife lodges, river cruises and rainforest reserves featured in our itineraries. We’ve also helped hundreds of clients plan tailor-made holidays across Sabah and Sarawak, from family adventures and wildlife-focused holidays to rainforest-and-beach combinations.

If you’re looking for Borneo holiday ideas, deciding how long to spend in the rainforest or wondering whether Borneo with kids is the right fit for your family, our team can help.

Call us on 01273 923100 or get in touch to discuss your plans.