The Hidden Gem of Sandakan | A Magical Journey

⭐ The Japanese movie "Sandakan No. 8" introduced this place to a generation of Chinese people, and many have since come to trace the footsteps of the film's characters. Sandakan was established as the capital of British North Borneo in 1881, and before World War II, China had a consulate here. After the war, the British moved the capital to Kota Kinabalu, leading to Sandakan's decline. In recent decades, tourism has developed, and it has become a popular destination for viewing the orangutans of Sepilok. Sandakan is a quiet town nestled between mountains and the sea, with lush tropical rainforests on the hills. It has a small naval base with a few patrol boats. The seaside at night is a gathering place for Filipino workers. 🌠 Recommended Attractions: [One] Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Watch orangutans at the feeding platform. Orangutans share about 96.4% of their DNA with humans and are critically endangered. [Two] Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary Get up close with proboscis monkeys, silvered leaf monkeys, and their babies in the mangroves. I really enjoyed this experience! Cameras require a fee, around MYR 10 per device, but I highly recommend bringing one for close encounters and photos. [Three] Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre See the world's smallest bear, the Malayan sun bear. Viewing is from a platform, and the sun bears roam freely in the conservation area, so they may be a bit far away. [Four] Rainforest Discovery Centre Nighttime trekking for about 2 hours, with a 620-meter-long canopy walkway, to explore various birds and plants in the rainforest. The highlight of this tour is the nighttime exploration, adding an element of unpredictability. Rangers lead the way, and if you're unlucky, you might not see anything (we were particularly unlucky, but the experience was still great). [Five] Kinabatangan River Rainforest Exploration (Boat Tour) Cruise along the river to see leaf monkeys, gibbons, macaques, pygmy elephants, and more. Bring binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens for a closer look. [Six] Kinabatangan River Rainforest Exploration (Trekking) Similar to the Discovery Centre, this is also a nighttime activity. We were lucky this time and saw a civet right at the start. This trek is more primitive, with muddy paths, requiring high boots (available for rent). It was my favorite part of the trip.