BORNEO PRIMATES TOUR

Malaysia is one of those incredible countries that have a ton of diverse things to see and do. Sabah, is one of the few destinations in the world where you can enjoy seeing orangutans. The island of Borneo, with its vast rainforests and a ridiculous amount of wildlife, so this Borneo Primates tour is a no-brainer for those seeking to encounter the wonders of Borneo.

Orangutan & Sun Bear Encounter
The stop on this tour would be the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Sepilok, a small village in the northeast of Malaysia’s Sabah province, is where most travellers mark the start of their Sabah wildlife adventure. The village herein has a special place in people’s hearts, especially for its Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.

Stepping into the centre, a short documentary is shown to reveal the conservation efforts done at the centre – also, therein providing you knowledge of the wildlife animals’ habitats and behaviours in the Borneo wild. Then enjoy a walk in the midst of the rainforest and witness the feeding of the orangutans at the feeding platform before observing them over at the outdoor nursery. What makes this experience a delight is the love and care shown to the orangutans making it a genuine sanctuary for them. It may be the closest encounter you will have with orangutans that roam freely within its space. You will also find that these endangered orangutans are incredibly intelligent and inquisitive, and endearingly human-like.

Strategically located next to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre – it was founded by Siew Te Wong as a two-stage effort in providing the care, rehabilitation and release of orphaned and captive sun bears. The centre is known for addressing the lack of knowledge and awareness of this little-known bear both in Malaysia and internationally.

In this centre, you shall witness the antics of these active sun bears. You will marvel at their cleverness as they use their long claws to rip open logs and dig in the dirt scavenging for ants, termites, and all sorts of grums. These fuzzy creatures will eagerly nosh on any insects they find with their long narrow tongue which curls upward at the tip. The perfect scooping method to enjoy the grubs out of hard-to-reach crevices.

Also known as the honey bear, this bear shares its love for honey just like Winnie the Pooh. Their keen sense of smell lets them pinpoint the honey in trees. It’s a great place to spend some time observing these delightful animals and get an understanding of the sun bears’ lifestyle. You’ll learn so much about these smallest bears in the world.

Visit the Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary (optional):

Later on, you will settle down to enjoy a nice hearty lunch before proceeding to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. It’s quite possible that you may have seen a photo or video of this unique orange monkey without being consciously aware of what they are called. The proboscis is quite a famous animal in the monkey world due to its prominent nose. It can be quite the sight to see the proboscis monkeys both young and adult, leaping from tree to tree and eventually down to the ground to feed on young plants. These incredible and unique primate leaps fast, steady, and in some ways, stylish.

In addition to the proboscis monkeys, several incredible silver leaf monkeys are also around. They might snag a few long green beans from the sanctuary employees. In a way, these silver haired monkeys – that the locals nickname ‘Beckham’ after David Beckham’s Mohican haircut from years ago – stole the show. They were so bold and totally unfazed by the people with cameras standing with their mouths open.

With such rich diversity in Sabah, it is safe to say that the Borneo primates in particular and the sanctuaries in general are bound for better times ahead. Based on the perseverance in rehabilitating the native wildlife, Sabah certainly promises a bright future for these endangered species. That also means it’s any nature lover’s dream destination. What’s stopping you?