Rainforest Discovery Centre
Rainforest Discovery Centre
In Sepilok, the Rainforest Discovery Centre combines a canopy walkway, forest trails, a lake and birdwatching in the Kabili-Sepilok forest.
The Rainforest Discovery Centre is an environmental education facility located in Sepilok, near Sandakan. Marked trails, a canopy walkway, a lake and educational exhibits provide accessible ways to explore Borneo's rainforest, whether visiting with family or as birdwatching enthusiasts.
Why visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre
The centre sits within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, a largely intact primary forest massif. The area is home to over 1,200 plant species and nearly 300 bird species, several of them endemic to Borneo. Recognized as an important bird conservation area since 2009, it regularly hosts the Borneo Bird Festival.
Its proximity to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre makes it a natural stop for a full day in Sepilok, complementing visits to the animal sanctuaries.
What to do at Rainforest Discovery Centre
Walk the canopy walkway
The suspended walkway stretches 620 metres long, making it the longest in Sabah, and reaches 25 metres high. Information panels dot the route, and several observation towers allow you to climb even higher to scan the canopy. At the end of the walkway, forest trails lead back to the lake without retracing your steps.
Explore the trails
Several routes are available depending on your level:
- Walk around the lake: approximately 1 km, flat and well-maintained, dotted with educational panels.
- Kabili Trail: approximately 20 km return, reserved for experienced hikers. Permits are issued at the gate before departure.
- Short forest trails connecting the walkway to the lake and various gardens.
Enjoy the lake
The lake forms the heart of the centre. A suspended bridge crosses the water and pedalo rental allows you to observe the shores from the water. The area includes the exhibition building and the starting point for the canopy walkway.
Visit the Plant Discovery Garden
This botanical garden features a selection of species characteristic of Borneo's forest, often difficult to identify in their natural setting: orchids, carnivorous plants and plants used in traditional medicine.
Watch the birds
Birdwatchers come to spot emblematic Borneo species: hornbills, pittas, flycatchers and several raptors. The canopy observation towers offer the best vantage points, particularly at sunrise.
Join a night walk
Scheduled for early evening, usually between 6pm and 8pm, the night walk requires advance booking (at the gate, by phone or via the centre's social media). It allows you to observe wildlife rarely visible during the day: flying squirrels, slow lorises, civets, snakes and other nocturnal animals.
When to visit
The centre is open year-round. For wildlife and birdwatching, prioritize early morning hours and late afternoon, when animals are most active and heat is more bearable. The dry season, typically between March and October, offers more comfortable trail conditions, but the rainforest remains humid year-round: a light poncho remains useful.
For the night walk, check scheduled dates during your visit, as they vary by season.
Practical information
- Visit duration: allow 2 to 4 hours to combine the walkway, lake and gardens; half a day if you extend onto the trails.
- Opening hours: open daytime throughout the week; exact hours to confirm on arrival.
- Fees: moderate entrance fee, with separate rates for foreign visitors; additional fee for the night walk.
- What to bring: water, mosquito repellent, hiking shoes, binoculars, headlamp for the evening outing.
- Accessibility: the walkway and lake area are largely fitted with wooden platforms; forest trails require good physical fitness.
How to get there
The centre is located in Sepilok, about thirty kilometres from Sandakan. The most convenient option is to book a Grab from Sandakan or from the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, about 10 minutes' drive away. Walking from the orangutan rehabilitation centre is possible, but tropical heat makes this journey exhausting in mid-day.
Several Sepilok accommodations also offer shuttle service on request.
What to see nearby
Rainforest Discovery Centre fits naturally into a combined day in Sepilok:
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: orangutan rehabilitation sanctuary, 10 minutes' drive away.
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre: conservation centre for the world's smallest bear species, adjacent to the orangutan sanctuary.
- Sandakan: coastal town serving as a base to reach the Kinabatangan River or Turtle Islands Park.
To place this stop within a broader Borneo itinerary, explore our Sepilok guide.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Allow 2 to 4 hours to walk the canopy walkway, tour the lake and visit the Plant Discovery Garden. A full half day is needed if you add a section of the Kabili Trail or extended birdwatching.
Yes. The walkway has railings, the lake loop is short and flat, and educational exhibits are child-friendly. Pedalos and the suspended bridge make the visit engaging for younger visitors.
Yes, the night walk runs in small groups and requires advance booking at the gate, by phone or via the centre's social media. It's best to book several days ahead during high season.
Yes, the two sites are about 10 minutes' drive apart. Many visitors do the morning feeding session at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, then head straight to Rainforest Discovery Centre afterwards.
Early morning, right at opening, when canopy activity is most intense. The dry season, between March and October, generally offers the best conditions, but birdwatching is possible year-round.
Plan your trip
To incorporate Sepilok and Rainforest Discovery Centre into a wider Borneo itinerary, explore our Malaisie travel suggestions and combine rainforests, wildlife and cultural stops.
Interested in this visit?
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