Basecamp near the Sepilok centres
A sprawling 60 room lodge built around tropical gardens and lakes. It provides a highly walkable basecamp 5 minutes from the wildlife centres.
Basecamp near the Sepilok centres
Twenty-five minutes from Sandakan airport, this sixty-room lodge borders the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve among landscaped lakes and mature tropical gardens. Walk five minutes from the reception to reach the orangutan and sun bear sanctuaries before returning to the large outdoor swimming pool. The estate acts as a practical basecamp for dedicated birdwatchers and active families seeking immediate proximity to the primary Sabah conservation zones.
The resort is an excellent fit for budget-conscious travellers, dedicated birdwatchers and active families who want the wildlife centres within easy walking distance. If you want to spend your days on the trails and you need a comfortable base with a pool this is a practical choice.
If you want a luxury lodge, Sepilok Nature Resort is the one. If your goal is a purely wild river safari rather than observing rehabilitating animals at feeding platforms, you should build your days around the Kinabatangan River.
Why stay here
Sepilok Jungle Resort is a practical basecamp for daily outdoor excursions rather than a contemporary luxury hotel. The sprawling jungle setting and the sheer volume of wildlife viewable from the grounds are its strongest assets. These features make it a reliable choice for birdwatchers and active travellers. Because the estate is large and relies on elevated boardwalks and stairs, the terrain suits people who are steady on their feet and comfortable walking significant distances between their room and the central cafe. The mature gardens put the forest at the centre of your stay. If you want new contemporary facilities or a compact layout, Sepilok Nature Resort is the one.
Walk five minutes to the orangutan and sun bear sanctuaries.
Sixty air-conditioned and fan-cooled rooms spread across the large estate.
Large swimming pool, turtle ponds and gardens connected by wooden boardwalks.
Spot resident macaques, hornbills and kingfishers within the property bounds.
A practical basecamp for budget-conscious travellers and birders near the trails.
Rooms
The premier tier offers between 18 and 21 square metres of space. These rooms are air-conditioned and feature private balconies, attached bathrooms with hot showers, free Wi-Fi and coffee-making facilities.
Enquire about this roomSlightly smaller at 16 square metres, these air-conditioned rooms look out over the gardens. They have attached bathrooms with hot showers, free Wi-Fi and coffee-making facilities.
Enquire about this roomThese rooms provide between 16 and 19 square metres of space with air conditioning and attached bathrooms with hot showers. They include free Wi-Fi and coffee-making facilities. The Deluxe tier offers the private balconies if you prefer private outdoor space.
Enquire about this roomAt 15 to 16 square metres, these rooms are cooled by wall fans rather than air conditioning. They have attached bathrooms with hot showers and free Wi-Fi.
Enquire about this roomA 10-square-metre room with bunk beds and wall fans. Guests use a shared bathroom with hot showers.
Enquire about this roomDining
The standard rate includes a daily breakfast. This is served at the Banana Cafe and Restaurant between 7:30am and 10am. This primary venue operates continuously until 10pm. It serves a menu of local Malaysian dishes and Western meals. A secondary venue called the Poolside Jungle Cafe is air-conditioned and operates as a private catering space for large group functions.
From your doorstep
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Wildlife you may see
Sightings are wild and never guaranteed: that is the point. These are the residents your guides will be listening for.
The family who founded the resort spent over 3 decades tending the estate's gardens. This effort turned the resort into an active biological corridor. Troops of wild macaques traverse the grounds on most mornings. Avian biodiversity is exceptional for a hotel property. Dawn birding around the chalets is highly productive. Oriental pied hornbills and diverse sunbirds are seen on most stays and 3 distinct kingfisher species visit the property's water features: the stork-billed kingfisher, the blue-eared kingfisher and the elusive rufous-backed dwarf-kingfisher. Monitor lizards and squirrels are seen on most stays and wild Bornean orangutans are seen with luck crossing the upper canopy directly adjacent to the swimming pool.
Packages
Rates on enquiry, no prices are published.
2 nights at the flagship lodge: the canopy walkway at dawn, a night drive, and dinner beside the river.
Full board · on enquiry
EnquireA private week across the Lodge and the Study Centre: hides, flexible dawn starts and a vehicle that waits for the light.
Full board · on enquiry
EnquireThe Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre are a 5-minute walk from the resort.
The property features a large outdoor swimming pool and a children's pool set within the tropical gardens.
The team arranges private transfers from Sandakan airport on your behalf to match your flight times.
Air conditioning is available in 45 of the 60 rooms. The remaining 15 rooms including the dormitory are cooled by wall fans. Be sure to ask for an air-conditioned room if you prefer cool air.
The estate is an active biological corridor. Macaques, hornbills, kingfishers, monitor lizards and squirrels are seen on most stays and orangutans are seen with luck crossing the canopy above the grounds.
How to get there
Sepilok Jungle Resort is 11 to 17 kilometres from Sandakan airport. The road journey takes 20 to 25 minutes depending on the route. The team arranges private transfers from Sandakan airport on your behalf. If you are travelling from central Sandakan town the 25-kilometre journey requires 30 to 40 minutes via private hire. For onward itineraries into the deep rainforest, transfers to the Kinabatangan River lodges require around 2 to 2.5 hours of driving. The team also arranges private overland transport to Danum Valley.
Open the interactive mapExtend the journey
Sepilok Nature Resort — The premium lodge in Sepilok, built around a natural lake. MY Nature Resort — A comfortable lodge bordering the reserve with its own flying squirrel viewing deck. Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge — Wild river safaris 2 hours from Sepilok. Borneo Rainforest Lodge — The flagship luxury lodge deep inside Danum Valley.
Plan your trip
Tell the team when you plan to visit the orangutan sanctuaries and they will check availability at Sepilok Jungle Resort.
Sources referenced on this page: Sabah Forestry Department.
