Is Short Visit to Spitok Rehab. CTR. Worthwhile?
 

We were planning an extended trip to Malaysia Borneo that we had to cancel. But we are considering an Asian cruise that has a 9 hour stop in Kotu Kinabalu. If we hired a private guide can we get a reasonable understanding of the oranguntang by visiting Spitok Rehabilitation Center? I have been to a elephant rehab.centers and lion rehab.centers but in both cases it was not much better than seeing the lovely creatures in a zoo. We do not enjoy that at all. We probably would have 3 hours at the center. Thoughts?

Sepilok Rehab center is in Sandikan, which isn't exactly a drive from Kota Kinabalu. It's a flight, followed by a drive. Take a look at a map. No way you can do it in a 9 hour cruise stop.

I just checked on drive time from KK to Sepilok - approx 5 hours.

There is a tour package, not through the cruise line, though they may offer one to Sepitok and it is posted as 7.5 hours. It may well be with a flight and it does say 3 hours at the Rehab. Center. If all that checks out 100% and I check references of folks that have used the service: "Is it worth doing?"

I visited Sepilok on a day trip from KK. Flight and bus tour of Sandakan were included. I've been on better tours (essentially you get what you pay for), but overall I think I am glad I went. It's the only time I've been in a location were I could observe 'wild' orangutans.

It's also the only time I felt I was about to collapse with a heat stroke so take a hat and water as I recall there being very little shade over the walkways.

Femi; How much walking was involved and was it on a boardwalk set-up or steps up and down or hanging bridges?

We very much enjoyed our visit to Sepilok. The walk from the reception area to the feeding stations is boardwalk and pathway. Not particularly long from memory, nor is it a difficult walk. Yes it was mega hot when we went too.
There are set feeding times, I think two per day, so you should check that your visit will coincide with one of these times, for the best chance of seeing Orangutans.
There is lots of other interesting stuff to see here, much of which is not easy to spot, so, I believe, this is one of these occasions where a guide is essential, to point out stuff that you would otherwise miss.

Feeding times at Sepilok are listed as 10 am and 3 pm.

Tours from KK include roundtrip flights. Are you sure the timing of the flights matches your cruise port time?

If you book shore excursions through the cruise line, in advance or while inboard, you have some level of protection should you not make it back on time for departure from port. They either wait or arrange to get you on board somehow somewhere. Booking on your own you get nothing - miss the boat and you are on your own. This would concern me with two flights and a 9 hour window.

LeighTravelClub&Femi: How many hours was it from the time you were picked up in KK untip you returned.? Do you happen to remember the actual times for that would be helpful though I realize that can change?

AirAsia nonstop flight KK (BKI) to Sandakan (SDK) departs at 7:05 am and returns at 3:10 pm. Malaysia Airlines via Tawau departs at 7:30 am and returns via Tawau at 6:55 pm - at least that's the schedule for the day I checked. It's about 20-30 minutes from port to airport in KK. You'd need to be on your way to the airport no later than 6:00 am, a bit earlier better. Would your ship have docked by then?

Malaysia Airlines return is actually 9:55 pm. Typo.

Stan, we were staying at Sha La Rasa Ria........out of town.
Our pick up was 04.00 and we returned to our hotel around 19.00.......a long day indeed.

But.......our trip included several other stops as well as Sepilok.

Had it been Sepilok only, then the time would have been less than half.

7.5 hours seems perfectly do-able.

I know there are several Sepilok detractors on this forum, but, from our experience, it was a very memorable trip.
I say go for it.....if your schedule allows.

I remember we had the very first flight out of K.K. at around 06.00.

My problem is I get off the ship at 8:30 AM and have to return by 5:30 PM. I do not know if they go in groups or by couple and is by couple much more expensive.

There are a very limited number of flights. The issues will be whether there are flights that can get you there and back within the time you have off the ship. Contatc one of teh compainues doing trips from KK to Sepilok and see if it is possible within your time frame.

The latest possible departure I'm seeing is 7:30 am on Malaysian and it is not non-stop. Arrives Sandakan at 10:45 am.

I had the same flight schedule that Leigh describes, it made for a long day, but I didn't mind as I like being busy.

I don't remember how many steps were required to access the walkway, but it was less than a flight of stairs and required minimal effort.

Now I wish we'd had a private guide! I never realised the sights I might have missed along the walkways.

I am paying a hefy price but a charter will take me at 8:30 AM, the ship docks at 8 (our experience is they get in 30-60 minutes early to most ports that are a regular stop) and this one is for Oceania,so I will land in amble time for the 17 mile drive drive for the first feeding and actually will then be taken elsewhere and could even see the second feeding and be back at KK by 5PM. Our ship leaves at 6 PM. I probably will skip the second feeding to avoid cutting it that close.
Thanks.

Stan, do let us know how it works out for you and how you liked Sepilok when you return.

Glad to hear you have managed to arrange something.
Please consider a guide. Things like leaf insects, stick insects and much more are very difficult to spot even when pointed out to you, but a good guide with a sharp eye, will very much add to the experience.