Tag Archives: short

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Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center 🦧

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Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is a conservation center located in Sabah, Malaysia. It was established in 1964 to help rescue, rehabilitate, and release orphaned and injured orangutans back into the wild.

The center is home to about 80 to 100 orangutans who have been orphaned or displaced due to habitat loss and poaching. Here the locals have established a safe and natural environment for these primates to learn and develop essential skills needed for their survival in the wild.

It also serves as an educational center for visitors to learn about the conservation efforts being undertaken to protect these critically endangered primates.

Meet the Borneo Apes at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Brochure – Click to Enlarge

It was our first day in Sepilok, and after our first tastes of Borneo – visiting Kota Kinabalu and rafting down the Padas river – we were keen to get a closeup view of the orangutans.

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

The Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is the reason most visitors come to Sepilok. Here, you can enjoy a very pleasant and informative day out ‘with the apes’.

The reserve is just 5 minutes down the road from the Sepilok Jungle Resort. They are open every day from 9 am to 4 pm. As a non-Malaysian, you pay RM 30 entrance fee (RM 15 for children). This includes an introductory video show about the work done for the orangutans at the sanctuary – a nice starter to your day out.

Even though they live independently in the reserve, you are guaranteed to see the orangutans. A few of them come down each day to a feeding platform, where staff offer them a variety of fruit.

Meet the Borneo Apes at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Meet the apes at feeding time

Feeding Times are Fun!

You are free to wander around the reserve to try to spot the various apes and birds at random, following a designated pathway. A good time to do this is during the feeding sessions, while most other tourists are busy taking snaps with their zoom lenses (the feeding platform is around 20 meters from the viewing deck).

There are two daily feeding sessions: 10 am and 3 pm.

Meet the Borneo apes at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Raised pathway through the Sepilok Orangutan Reserve

The orangutans can be quite curious, and there’s good chance you’ll have some up-close and personal encounters.

As always with primates, keep your belongings attached to your body. They have been known to steal bags, cameras, rucksacks, and even the clothes off the backs of some unlucky visitors. 🙈🙉🙊

Meet the Borneo apes at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Apes wander freely around the Sepilok Orangutan Reserve

The main impression we had when we met the orangutans close up was the absolute intelligence in their faces. Even though they are 4 times more powerful than a man, they are not intimidating or aggressive – unlike other primates we’ve encountered. Apparently, there are some 80-100 Orangutans in the reserve, though we spotted only around 4 or 5.

They’re shy, but will venture close if there’s any chance of food.

Nature Trails… and Leeches!

After spending the morning in the main area of the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, we decided to try the longest of the available Nature Trails, which take you off the wooden pathways and out into the real rain forest.

If you intend to trek around the reserve make sure you wear trainers or boots – unless you also want to feed the leeches.

After seeing the apes, you can also visit the Sun Bear reserve near by, next to the main entrance.

Sandakan to Kuala Lumpur

After spending a short time in Sepilok, the next and final leg of our journey through Malaysia was a return to Kuala Lumpur, with 2 days to discover the capital city.


If you enjoyed Meeting the Borneo apes, check out our other East Malaysia & Borneo adventures. You may also like:

Meet the Borneo Apes at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

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Take the Fast Boat

Sail to Paradise 🛥️ The Karimunjawa Fast Boat

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Karimunjawa Island, located in the Java Sea, is a hidden paradise waiting to be discovered by adventurous travelers. And what better way to reach this tropical oasis than by taking the Karimunjawa Fast Boat? This exciting and comfortable journey is the perfect start to a wonderful vacation on this stunning island.

After packing our bags and bidding farewell to the city life, we were ready for an adventure to the tropical paradise of Karimunjawa. Our journey began in Semarang, where we headed to Jepara to take the Karimunjawa fast boat to the island.

Getting to Jepara: A Stopover at the Samudra Hotel

Knowing that the fast boat was set to depart at 9 am, we arrived in Jepara the day before and checked into the Samudra Hotel, located conveniently close to the port. The next morning, we were advised to get to the port around an hour before departure.

We had pre-booked our tickets at the TIC (Tourist Information Center) in Semarang (IDR 200,000 per person, one-way). The tickets were waiting for us at the port office.

Karimunjawa Fast Boat

Karimunjawa Fast Boat: Jepara jetty

Setting Sail: The Second Boat of the Day

As we approached the port, we saw that the much larger slow boat to Karimunjawa had already set sail two hours prior. But, it was our turn to embark on the second departure from Jepara that day.

Before boarding the boat, we were required to pay an ‘ECO’ tax of IDR 50,000 (€4) per person. Although we couldn’t be sure, we had a feeling that this tax was only imposed on foreign tourists. Nevertheless, it’s worth taking into consideration for those on a tight budget.

Karimunjawa Fast Boat

Before boarding, these guys will want your ECO tax

Comfortable and Chilly: Our Journey on the Fast Boat

Finally, we boarded the Karimunjawa fast boat, which departed from Jepara on time at 9 am. We understood it would be a two-hour journey to Karimun port, where we would arrive around 11 am. The seating area inside the boat was comfortable enough, with a movie showing.

Make sure to bring a warm jacket as the air conditioning was set to freezing – I felt like a brass monkey on the boat!

Karimunjawa Fast Boat

Karimunjawa Fast Boat: Airco set to freeze a brass monkey

2 Classes of Comfort: Standard or VIP Seating

The fast boat offered two classes of seating – standard and VIP. We chose the standard class, which was just fine for us. For those willing to spend a little extra, the VIP seating upstairs offered a small snack, fewer people, and even a karaoke machine for some mid-journey entertainment.

Karimunjawa Fast Boat

Karimunjawa Fast Boat

Arriving at Karimunjawa: A Warm Welcome to Paradise

As we sailed on the fast boat, we overtook the slow boat just half an hour before arriving at Karimunjawa. Upon arrival, we couldn’t wait to step out into the warm air and explore our surroundings.

We had already booked our first night at the Waru Guesthouse, located just a stone’s throw away from the port. And with nine whole days to explore the island, we were ready for an unforgettable adventure in paradise.

Hidden Treasures of Karimunjawa: A 9-Day Adventure

In the following section of our travel diary, we share our experience of exploring the hidden treasures of Karimunjawa island. From snorkeling in crystal-clear waters to hiking through lush green forests, stay tuned to check out all the amazing sights and experiences we had on this incredible island!


If you enjoyed Karimunjawa Fast Boat, check out our Central Java Travel Plan. You may also like:

 

Karimunjawa Fast Boat from Jepara 🛥️ Just 2 hours to Paradise

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Short Breaks – Europe

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With a variety of large international airports dotted in and around the city, its both time-efficien[...]
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Venice Off Season 🎭 Save Time & Money
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