Sandakan and its future ~ Sabah | Borneo : journeymalaysia.com

Sandakan

Outside Sandakan - Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey sanctuary and others

billboard at Sandakan airport's arrival hall

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is approximately 45mins drive from town. The Sanctuary is located in a mangrove area of approximately 470 acres. The owners of this sanctuary actually own the palm oil plantation that surrounds the mangrove swamp. Now, don't we have a catch 22 situation here. So is this place for the sake of conservation or just reaping the harvest of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of these endangered species? With the growing concerns that bio - diesel (ie using palm oil to replace oil for commercial purposes) will ultimately decimate what remaining forests left of this largely raped land we call Sabah, would this remain a sanctuary? Even having said. is it a sanctuary? Or an exploitation? But which way it goes, isn't it a blessing that at least the mangrove still exists for a small gene pool to survive - until some enterprising businessman decides to do away with the remaining piece of precious land.

Getting there: drive along Jalan Labuk and then turn off to SPS 3 at the junction of KM 31 and KM 32 (opposite Consolidated Farm). The sanctuary is then 15km on gravel road from there.

Feeding times are : 11.30am and 4.30pm

For more on the Proboscis Monkey and what is the real story behind the survival of this species and the Langurs head to : http://www.proboscismonkey.org/ . It certainly helps us to help them.

Sandakan is also the gateway to much talked about Kinabatangan/Sukau nature trips, the Guomantong cave, Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and of course, Selingan Turtle Island . Many visitors fly in from Kota Kinabalu but it is possible to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan or from Kuching to Sandakan . Have a look at our getting there section.

An after thought

Sandakan has gone through a cycle. The colonial heydays of early 1900's, the riches from timber and sorts, The atrocities of war, the lull of a sleepy has-been town and now.. can it be a revival of once a great town . a town which stood as the capital of North Borneo ? The toss up now is between what nature and the jungle has to offer or what the land has to offer for commercial use ie palm oil. For as far as the eye can see, in the past decade .. large areas have been cleared of jungles for its timber and now for commercial plantation. There are only a few protected places left in the area of Sandakan for what once blanketed the entire land. Commercialisation is winning hands down, we cannot reverse the destruction of human greed. not here, not in Sandakan, not in Borneo. Borneo is fast turning into a mythical land only told in stories as are the wonderful, strange animals that live in it.

One day, not very far away.. Borneo will be devoid of the beauty once romantacised by travellers and there will be not a tale to tell.

Accommodation and Packages to North Sabah ~ Sandakan, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Gomantong Cave, Selingan Turtle Island , Lankayan Island , Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sukau Area , Danum Valley , Tabin Wildlife Reserve & Lahad Datu

Trips & Packages :
Day Trips	Sepilok OrangUtan Rehabilitation Centre \| 1/2 Day Sepilok OrangUtan Rehabilitation Centre Tour \| Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre & Safari River Cruise Trip \| Guomantong Cave Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| Full Day to Gomantong Cave & Bilit River Cruise \| Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin Wildlife Resort ~ \| Tabin Wildlife Mud Volcano \|
Overnight Trips	Kinabatangan / Sukau Wildlife Sanctuary Barefoot Sukau Lodge ~ \| 1 Day 1 Night Package \| 2 Days 2 Nights Package \| Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Sepilok Orang Utan / Bilit / Gomantong Cave / City Trip \| Bukit Malapi Lodge ~ \| 2 days 1 night Sepilok , Sukau, Gomantong, Sandakan City Package Tour \| 2 days 1 night Sepilok / Sukau / Oxbow lake / Sandakan City Package Tour \| Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Sandakan Safari Trip \| Kinabatangan Jungle Camp ~ \| 1 day 1 night Package Tour \| Myne Resort ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Gomantong / Bilit / Sepilok / City Tour \| Sri Menanggol Cabins ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Sepilok / Sukau (SMC) / Gomantong/ City Tour \| Sukau Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari Trip \| Sukau River Lodge ~ \| 2 days 1 night Sukau / Kinabatangan River / Sepilok Tour \| Selingan Turtle Island Selingan Island Chalets ~ \| 1 Day 1 Night Selingan Island Tour \| 2 Days 1 Night Selingan Island And Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Tour \| Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin Wildlife Resort ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Tabin Wildlife Encounter \|
3 Days 2 Nights Packages	Kinabatangan / Sukau Wildlife Sanctuary Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights Gomantong Cave / Bilit / Ox-bow lake / Bilit / City tour \| 3 Days 2 Nights Turtle Island/Sepilok Orang Utan Centre/Bilit/Gomantong cave/City Tour \| Bukit Malapi Lodge ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights Selingan / Sepilok / Sukau / Gomantong cave / Sandakan City tour \| 3 Days 2 Nights Gomantong cave / Sukau / Oxbow lake / Sepilok Orang utan / Sepilok Night walk \| 3 Days 2 Nights Sepilok / Sukau / Oxbow lake / Gomantong cave / City tour \| Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge ~ \| Sandakan Safari Extravaganza Package \| Sukau Wildlife Safari Package \| Myne Resort ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights Safari Adventure \| 3 Days 2 Nights Venture Bilit Trip \| Sri Menanggol Cabins ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights Sepilok / Sukau (SMC) / Oxbow lake / Gomantong cave / City tour \| Sukau Rainforest Lodge ~ \| Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari Package \| Sukau River Lodge ~ \| 3 days 2 nights Sukau / Kinabatangan River / Sepilok Tour \| 3 days 2 nights Selingan / Kinabatangan River / Sepilok Tour \| 3 days 2 nights Selingan / Libaran / Sepilok Tour \| Abai Village / Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Abai Jungle Lodge ~ \| Abai & Sukau Trip \| Abai with a Local Touch Package \| Abai Jungle Lodge Package \| 3 Days 2 Nights Selingan Island & Abai Trip \| Danum Valley Borneo Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 3 days 2 nights Borneo Rainforest Explorer \| Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin Wildlife Resort ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights - Tabin Wildlife Observation and Nature \|
4 Days 3 Nights Packages	Kinabatangan / Sukau Wildlife Sanctuary Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Sepilok Orang Utan Centre/Bilit/Oxbow lake/Gomantong cave /City Tour/Sabah Hotel \| 4 Days 3 Nights Turtle Island/Sepilok Orang Utan Centre/Bilit/Oxbow Lake/Gomantong Cave/City Tour \| Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Sandakan Safari Adventure \| 4 Days 3 Nights Sukau & Abai Package \| 4 Days 3 Nights Selingan Island, Sukau & Abai Package \| 4 Days 3 Nights Abai & Sukau Package \| Abai Jungle Lodge ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Selingan Island & Abai \| Myne Resort ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Borneo Extravaganza \| Sukau Rainforest Lodge ~ 4 Days 3 Nights Selingan Turtle Island, Sepilok OrangUtan & Kinabatangan River Safari \| 4 Days 3 Nights Orang Utan Search \| Sukau River Lodge ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Selingan Turtle Island/ Sukau/Kinabatangan River/ Sepilok Orang Utan Centre Tour \| 4 Days 3 Nights Selingan / Libaran / Gomantong / Sukau / Sepilok Tour \| Danum Valley Borneo Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 4 days 3 nights Borneo Rainforest Package \| Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin Wildlife Resort ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Birding at Tabin Package \| 4 Days 3 Nights Overnight at Mud Volcano Package \|
5 Days 4 Nights Packages	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 5 Days 4 Nights Turtle Island / Sepilok Orang Utan / Bilit / Ox-bow / Gomantong / City Tour / Sabah Hotel Package \| Sukau River Lodge ~ \| 5 Days 4 Nights Wildlife of Borneo \| Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary & Danum Valley Sukau Rainforest Lodge & Borneo Rainforest Lodge ~ \| Kinabatangan Safari, Gomantong Cave & Danum Valley Rainforest Package \| Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary & Abai Village Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge ~ \| 5 Days / 4 Nights Bird Watching at Sukau & Abai \| 5 Days 4 Nights Sandakan Borneo's Wildlife Package \| Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary & Tabin Wildlife Reserve Sukau Rainforest Lodge & Borneo Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 5 Days 4 Nights Sukau -Tabin Wildlife Experience Package \|
6 Days 5 Nights Packages	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary & Abai Village Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge & Abai Jungle Lodge ~ \| 6 Days 5 Nights Sandakan Discovery Package \|
Around Sabah Tour	\| Drive Around Borneo in 10 Days \| Borneo's Big 5 in 10 Days \| Journey through Borneo Rainforests \|
Bird Watching Tours	\| 14 days 13 nights Birding in Borneo \| 5 Days / 4 Nights Bird Watching at Sukau & Abai \|
Volunteer / Student Programmes	\| 4 Days Borneo Orangutan and Wildlife Volunteer Experience \| 5 Days Borneo Orangutan and Pygmy Elephant Volunteer Experience \| 5 Day Wild@Heart Conservation Student Programme \| 7 Days 6 Nights Borneo Orangutan and Pygmy Elephant Experience for Families \| 12 Days Orangutan & Pygmy Elephant Volunteer Adventure \| 26 Days Zoo, Orangutan & Pygmy Elephant Volunteer Adventure \| Borneo Teach English Volunteer Program \|
Dive Trips	\| Lankayan Dive Packages \|
Combination Trips	\| 10 Days 9 Nights Sabah Nature & Sipadan Dive Trip \| 10 Days 9 Nights Kinabalu, Sandakan Wildlife & Kapalai Dive Trip \| 9 Days 8 Nights Mount Kinabalu Climb and Sukau Wildlife Adventure \| 7 Days 6 Nights Kota Kinabalu & Sandakan Wildlife Adventure \| 6 Days 5 Nights Sandakan Wildlife Adventure & Lankayan Island Trip \|
Accommodation :
Sandakan Town	\| Nak Hotel \| Hsiang Garden Hotel \| Hotel Sandakan \| Sanbay Hotel \| Sabah Hotel \| Hotel Tyng Garden \| Swiss Inn Waterfront \|
Sepilok Nature Reserve area	\| Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat \| Sepilok Nature Resort \| Sepilok Forest Edge Resort \|
Lahad Datu	\| Asia Hotel \| De Leon Hotel \| Executive Hotel \| Grace Hotel \|
Accommodation in other areas of Sabah:
Tawau	\| Heritage Hotel \| Belmont Marco Polo \| Promenade Hotel
Semporna	\| Seafest Hotel \| Singamata Adventure Semporna \|
Mabul	\| Sipadan Water Village Resort \| Sipadan Mabul Resort \| Borneo Divers Mabul Island Resort \| Seaventure Platform \| Mabul Water Bungalows \|
Kapalai	\| Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort \|
Mataking	\| Reef Dive Resort \|
Kota Kinabalu	5 Star Hotels \| Hyatt Regency \| Le Meridien Hotel \| Novotel 1 Borneo \| 4 Star Hotels \| Beverly Hotel \| Jesselton Hotel \| Grand Borneo Kota Kinabalu \| Promenade Hotel \| 3 Star Hotels \| Celyn Hotel City Mall \| Kinabalu Daya Hotel \| Imperial Boutec \| Imperial International Hotel \| Hotel Shangri-La \| Tang Dynasty \| Boutique Hotels \| Myne Hotel \| Motels \| D'Borneo Hotel \| First Century Hotel \| Crown Borneo Hotel \| Budget Inns & Homestays \| Akinabalu Youth Hostel \| Borneo Adventure Centre & Lodge \| Borneo Backpackers \| Borneo Global Backpackers \| Buddy Backpackers Home \| Lucy's Homestay \| Lyn's Lodge Bed and Breakfast \| North Borneo Cabin \| Planet Kinabalu \| Trekker's Lodge \| Xplorer's Backpackers \| Beach Resorts \| Tanjung Aru ~ Megah D'Aru Hotel \| Shangri La's Tanjung Aru Resort \| Tuaran ~ Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort \| Tuaran Beach Resort \| Kinarut, Papar ~ Beringgis Beach Resort \| Langkah Syabas Beach Resort \| Kota Kinabalu ~ Nexus Karambunai Resort \| Sutera Harbour Resort - Magellan Sutera \| Sutera Harbour Resort - Pacific Sutera \| Service Apartments \| Colonnades Condominium \| Likas Square Condotel \| Marina Court Resort Condominium \| Promenade Apartments \| Sabah Apartment \| Island Resorts \| Gaya ~\| Bunga Raya Island Resort \| Gayana Eco Resort \| Mantanani Besar ~ Mari Mari Backpackers Lodge \| Pulau Tiga ~ Pulau Tiga Resort (Survivor Island) \| Kinabalu Park \| Lodges at Kinabalu Park \| Cabins at Laban Rata \| Lodges at Mesilau Nature Resort \| Kinabalu Park & Poring Hotsprings Package \| Kinabalu Park & Surrounding Day Tours \| Outside Kinabalu Park \| Celyn Resort Kinabalu \| D'villa Rina Ria Lodge \| Kinabalu Pines Resort \| Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa \| Zen Garden Resort \|
Trips & Packages in other areas of Sabah :
Kota Kinabalu & Outskirts Day And Overnight Trips	Day Trips \| Kota Kinabalu City Tour \| Kinabalu City By Night \| Monsopiad Cultural Village \| Kota Belud Sunday Market \| Kudat Rungus Longhouse \| Manukan & Sapi Island Hopping \| Kinabalu National Park \| Poring Hot Spring \| Kinabalu National Park & Poring Hot Spring \| Overnight Trips \| Kinabalu National Park & Poring Hot Spring (2 days 1 night) \| Rungus Longhouse Cultural Trip (2 days 1 night)\|
Outdoor Sporting & Nature Activities	\| Garama Wetland Cruise \| White Water Rafting Day Trips at Padas or Kiulu \| Tambunan Rafflesia Rainforest Tour \|
Mountain Climbing	\| Mount Kinabalu/Kinabalu Park Packages \| Mount Kinabalu Via Ferrata \| Mount Kinabalu Climb and Walk The Torq Via Ferrata \| Mount Kinabalu Climb and Low's Peak Circuit Tour \| Mount Trusmadi Climb \|
Combination Trips	\| 10 Days 9 Nights Sabah Nature & Sipadan Dive Trip \| 10 Days 9 Nights Kinabalu , Sandakan Wildlife & Kapalai Dive Trip \| 9 Days 8 Nights Mount Kinabalu Climb and Sukau Wildlife Adventure \| 7 Days 6 Nights Kota Kinabalu & Sandakan Trip, Sabah \| 7 Days 6 Nights Kota Kinabalu & Sandakan Wildlife Adventure \| 6 Days 5 Nights Sandakan Wildlife Adventure & Lankayan Island Trip \|

Malaysia Cities , Towns & Villages

Peninsula Malaysia Cities , Towns & Villages
Kedah	\| Alor Setar \|
Terengganu	\| Chukai \| Dungun \| Kemaman \| Kijal \| Kuala Terengganu \| Paka \|
Perak	\| Ipoh \| Kuala Kangsar \| Lumut \| Taiping \|
Selangor	\| Klang \| Kuala Selangor \|
Kelantan	\| Kota Bahru \|
Federal Territory	\| Kuala Lumpur \|
Johor	\| Mersing \|
Negri Sembilan	\| Seremban \| Kuala Pilah \| Lukut \|
Pahang	\| Sungei Lembing \| Kuala Lipis \| Kuantan \|
Melaka	\| Melaka \|
Sabah and Sarawak Towns , Cities & Villages
Sarawak	\| Kuching \| Long Bedian \| Long Lama \| Long Terawan \| Miri \| Marudi \|
Sabah	\| Sandakan \| Kota Kinabalu \| Tawau \|

About Sandakan:

Accommodation & Activities in Sandakan :

Other Destinations in Sabah:

Other Rainforest Destinations in Malaysia: