 Sabah
Nature, Malaysia
Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary
 The
Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary is a fascinating place where
visitors can observe trainers teaching 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 from 10.00 am to 2.30pm 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. Over 200 species of birds and a variety of
wild plants live within the 5.666 hectares of forest reserve.
Poring Hot Spring
Poring Hot Springs, located 40 km from the Kinabalu Park
Headquarters, has open-air hot sulphur baths set amidst a
landscaped garden. Individual concrete pools with taps, one
for the hot springs mineral water and the other for cold water
enables temperature control. Various trails around the area
lead through rich forest to streams, waterfalls, walkways
and caves.
Accommodation
* Poring Chalet 2 units (6 people per unit)
* Old Cabin (3 bedrooms - 6 people)
* New Cabin (2 bedrooms - 4 people)
* Youth Hostel (there are two blocks with a capacity of 24
and 40 people in each block)
* Camp Ground (30 people)
Tents, blankets and pillows can be rented.
There are facilities such as restaurants to
cater visitors intending to stay overnight at Poring Hot Springs.
Reservations for accommodation can be made at:
Kinabalu Gold Resort Sdn. Bhd.
Phone: 6-088-243629 / 245742
Fax : 6-088-242861
Danum Valley
Another area rich in wildlife is the Danum Valley Conservation
Area, 83 km southwest of Lahad Datu, where rare Sumatran rhinoceros,
orang utans, gibbons, mousedeer and bearded pigs roam. Some
270 species of birds have been recorded in the area. The Danum
Field Research Centre is located within the confines of the
440sq km forest reserve. It also boasts one of the first eco
resorts known as the Borneo Rainforest Lodge with a restaurant,
bar and comfortable chalets overlooking the Danum River. Jungle
treks, river swimming, bird watching, night jungle tours and
excursions to nearby logging sites and timber mills are some
of the activities offered here.
Kinabatangan River
Sabah's longest river drains a catchment area of 6,400sq
miles (16,574sq km). From the mountains of central Borneo,
it flows 330 miles eastwards into the Sulu Sea. The lower
Kinabatangan River, three hours by boat from Sandakan, is
poor for farming but a great place for wildlife. The most
famous creature here is the proboscis monkey with the males
sporting a pendulous nose, fat belly and thick white tail.
Other fascinating wildlife includes orang utans, macaques,
elephants, clouded leopards, hornbills, crocodiles, civet
cats and otters. Kingfishers and egrets and other species
of birds can be observed.
Gomantong Caves
The Gomantong Cavse, 30 km south of Sandakan, are two caverns
that are home to one million swiftlets. Simud Hitam Cave,
a 10-minute walk from the Registration Centre, is where the
black bird's nests are produced. These are less valuable than
the white bird's nests found in the interior Simud Putih Cave
complex. The nests are harvested twice a year by licensed
collectors using rattan ladders and bamboo poles. The stalactite
and stalagmites within the caves also make an interesting
study. A visit to the caves takes a whole day and arrangements
can either be made through a travel agency or the Forest Department
in Sandakan.
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