Rainforest Discovery Centre RDC in Sepilok

The RDC has three main areas for exploration: the main Visitors Building, Rainforest Discovery Trail and the very impressive Canopy Walkway.
As we had our own guide – Ben, we made our way via 4WD from the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and arrived in about 5 minutes.
Rare information can be obtained here as I noticed one of the exhibits included the unique Pygmy Elephants of Borneo, a highly endangered species.
Other wildlife subjects include birds of Borneo, Butterflies and Insects and even Crocodiles. A stuffed crocodile on display measured a whopping 15 feet from head to tail, with a little baby crocodile on top of it. It looked very real, and if you did not pay attention, it would shock you.
When you explore the exhibition hall in the visitor’s building, you will notice that there are over 40 posters with information on flora and fauna of Borneo, which includes taxidermy (stuffed butterflies/insects), samples of trees, flowers and leaves and even a skeleton head of a Pygmy Elephant in a case.
Besides the gift shop and lecture hall, I saw a ‘kids corner’ where children can further learn about the rainforest and environmental education here., which is a plus point for bringing kids here. One can easily spend a good hour reading and finding out more about the rainforest at the visitor centre.
Just before exiting, we saw how Bird’s Nests are harvested traditionally from the caves around Sandakan.
Once you exit the visitor centre, you will be led to the Plant Discovery Garden, part of the Rainforest Discovery Trail. It is here where you will see some of the natural flora of the Borneo Rainforest.
The RDC has a fantastic selection of flora, and it would be a bonus if you brought a camera along for your visit here. There would be many pictures to take, especially if you are a flower enthusiast.
The main Rainforest Discovery Trail would easily take you one to two hours to complete, and this depends on the time and speed of your exploration. I must have spent a good four hours during my visit here with no regrets.
Apart from the Visitors Building and the Rainforest Discovery Trail, there is a unique Canopy Walk, where the entire structure is made from steel.
The RDC also has a beautiful lake where you can rent a paddle boat. If not, do as I did and relax by one of the lake chairs while absorbing the pure nature after our exciting exploration.
Note the paddle boats at the RDC are leg powered and easy to use. Life jackets are provided, and each paddle boat seats two persons.
For RM5 (US$1.50), you can rent the paddle boats and explore the lake around the RDC. Sadly, I did not have the chance to do this, as when I finished my exploration, the boat ride was closed for the day.
For your added info, the Rainforest Discovery Center RDC also offers EE Programs for students. Since 1997, about 13,000 students from local and foreign schools have participated in this Environmental Educational Program by Sabah Forestry.
Growing up and living in a city, my trip to the RDC provided me with valuable information about our rainforest, which cannot be thoroughly enjoyed by just reading about it.
- Located just out of Sandakan, RDC Sepilok is about 23 kilometres from the city. Getting to RDC Sepilok is pretty simple as it takes about 30-40 minutes by car or van. (Self-drive or tour company)
- The public bus service from Labuk Bus Company departs from the Sandakan Town Council at RM2.10 (US$0.60) one way, but the bus stops at the junction of the main road. You then need to walk about 1.5km.
- Taxi service from Sandakan is available with a return trip costing about RM100.00 (US$29). Do negotiate with your taxi about the prices.
- Getting to Sepilok from Kota Kinabalu (KK) is also possible. A bus ride would take about 7-8 hours from KK to Sandakan and cost around RM30-50 (US$9-$15).
- A better option is to fly to Sandakan as there are direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Airasia offers some cheap tickets if you book early. Malaysia Airlines also has some reasonable ticket prices if you want to compare.
Getting to the RDC via car or bus:
- Drive along Jalan Labuk from Sandakan Town
- Turn left at the Mile 14 roundabout (with a giant Orangutan statue)
- Drive along until you see the large, pictorial RDC sign and turn right
- Drive for about 500m to the RDC car park
- The public bus service from Labuk Bus Company departs from the Sandakan Town Council at RM2.10 (US$0.60) one way, but the bus stops at the junction of the main road. You then need to walk about 2km or thumb a ride.
Tickets/Entrance Fees for the RDC:
- Adults: RM10 (US$3)
- Children (5-17 yrs) RM5 (US$1.50)
- Children (Under 5 yrs) Free
Opening Hours for the RDC:
- Daily 9.00 AM – 6.00 PM
- Birders start as early as 7 AM
What to bring
- Bring mosquito or insect repellent, a poncho or an umbrella if it rains as the walkways are not covered.
- Bring some snacks and bottled water as well.
- A pair of binoculars are worth bringing if you want to see birds.
- Wear proper shoes here, as some of the walkways can be slippery.
- You may want to bring some snacks if you have kids, as there is no food available except for a kiosk that sells drinks and some local snacks.
90715
Sabah,
Malaysia.
*All pictures shot with Nikon D60 – 18-105mm Lens
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