The Danum Essential
2 nights at the flagship lodge: the canopy walkway at dawn, a night drive, and dinner beside the river.
Full board · on enquiry
Enquire
Premium eco-lodge at the forest edge
Sepilok Nature Resort
Situated directly on the boundary of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, this property offers timber chalets around a natural lake and the shortest walk to the orangutan and sun bear centres.
Premium eco-lodge at the forest edge
The premium eco-lodge
Twenty-three timber chalets encircle a natural lake on the immediate boundary of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. A five-minute walk takes you directly to the orangutan gates, while semi-wild apes often visit the resort grounds. Expect to spot resident stork-billed kingfishers from your veranda before stepping out for morning canopy birding.
This is a distinct premium eco-lodge operated by Pulau Sipadan Resort & Tours. It trades independently of the budget and mid-range properties nearby and it sometimes appears on booking platforms under the soft rebranding of Sepilok Nature Lodge. The team behind it is known for establishing high-end marine resorts across Sabah and they apply the same low-impact ethos here.
The footprint is arguably the best in the district. The property borders the 4,362-hectare forest reserve and the chalets sit within a carefully planted botanical garden. A network of raised wooden boardwalks connects the rooms to the main restaurant. This elevated design protects the soil and allows small mammals to move freely across the site.
The resort is an excellent choice if you want a comfortable rainforest stay with reliable air-conditioning, hot water and excellent dining. The romantic setting of the central lake is a strong draw. It also suits birders and wildlife photographers because of the easy access to the 3 conservation centres. Older couples and small families will find it an excellent fit for a quiet stay.
If you are a budget backpacker or a solo traveller looking for dormitory options you should choose Sepilok Jungle Resort or Tanini Sepilok. Choose the timber chalets for their traditional wooden interiors and private verandas overlooking the lake or jungle.
Why stay here
The rainforest edge
The resort strikes an excellent balance between living beside the rainforest and modern comfort. The wooden architecture feels authentic to Borneo and the rooms are large and well equipped for the tropical climate. Waking up to the calls of gibbons and eating breakfast while watching hornbills fly over the lake is a memorable way to start a day.
23 air-conditioned timber chalets
23 air-conditioned timber chalets built around a central lake
A five-minute walk to
A five-minute walk to the orangutan rehabilitation centre
A botanical garden featuring
A botanical garden featuring over 150 Asian orchid species
Resident orangutans and macaques
Resident orangutans and macaques visit the grounds on most stays
Comfortable rainforest lodging suited
Comfortable rainforest lodging suited to couples and dedicated birders
From your doorstep
What a day here holds
The Danum Valley Canopy Walkway
Suspended 27 metres above the primary rainforest floor, the Borneo Rainforest Lodge canopy walkway is a 360-metre structure anchored directl
Danum Valley Night Safaris
A night drive is the best way to see the rainforest mammals that sleep through the heat of the day. This guide explains how the drives work,
Guided Treks and Trails
The trails at Danum Valley run deep into a ancient primary rainforest. They are hot, humid and root-choked and they offer a way of seeing th
The Sabah Birding Circuit
The classic Sabah birding circuit connects the montane forests of Mount Kinabalu with the lowland dipterocarps of Danum Valley. This guide e
Kinabatangan River
The Kinabatangan floodplain holds the highest concentration of wildlife in Borneo. This is where you go to track orangutans and proboscis mo
Wildlife you may see
Keep your binoculars close
Sightings are wild and never guaranteed: that is the point. These are the residents your guides will be listening for.
Packages
Ways to stay
Rates on enquiry, no prices are published.
Danum Intensive
A 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
EnquireBefore you pack
Independent bookings run on a Bed & Breakfast basis. If you book a multi-day wildlife package through the team your meals are included.
The gates to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre are 250 metres away. You can walk there in 5 minutes.
Families are welcome and the resort offers specific family chalet configurations. The chalets sit on high stilts with wide gaps in the balcony balustrades so you need to exercise caution with very young children.
You need a ticket to enter the Rainforest Discovery Centre and the conservation facilities. Walking the deeper trails like the Kabili Trail requires a specific entry permit from the Forestry Department.
Mobile signal relies on standard Malaysian telecommunications networks and can be patchy given the dense forest canopy. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in the main lobby and the restaurant but not in the individual chalets.
How to get there
The journey is part of it
Sepilok Nature Resort is located roughly 25 kilometres west of Sandakan town and 17 kilometres from Sandakan Airport. The drive from the airport takes 24 to 30 minutes. Round-trip airport shuttle services are available subject to a surcharge unless they are bundled into a multi-day package.
Open the interactive mapExtend the journey
Nearby & combinations
Kinabatangan River — The natural next stop for wild boat safaris. Tabin Wildlife Resort — A lodge bordering an oil palm estate where small cats hunt. Rainforest Discovery Centre — The gateway to the deep reserve with a rigid steel canopy walkway.
Plan your trip
Check dates at Sepilok Nature Resort
Tell the team when you want to stay at Sepilok Nature Resort to watch orangutans and explore the canopy walkway.
Sources referenced on this page: Sabah Parks — https://www.sabahparks.org.my/ · Sabah Wildlife Department — https://wildlife.sabah.gov.my/ · Sabah Forestry Department — http://forest.sabah.gov.my/.