Deep within the rainforests of Borneo, many different species teeter on the brink of extinction. Due to shrinking habitats, many animals, including the Sumatran rhinoceros, Asian elephant and tiger may soon disappear without increased conservation efforts. The orangutan, which is no longer found anywhere else in the world, now has a chance for survival due to the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre. The center has worked with apes since 1964 and approximately 80 orangutans freely roam the premises. The center fosters young, disabled or captive orangutans and prepares them for life in the wild. Several square kilometers of forest reserve are now dedicated to rehabilitating sick apes and the occasional elephant or rhinoceros and visitors to the center can watch feeding time. Kristina Maurice-Jones of the Sepilok Orangutan Appeal organization says that orangutans feed on "a monotonous diet of bananas and milk in order to encourage them to go and get their own food from the forest." For a small fee, tourists can also arrange a night walk led by a Sepilok ranger.

The sanctuary rests within the Malaysian Sabah zone of North Borneo and is 15 miles from Sandakan, the region's second-largest city. The area offers extensive opportunities for ecotourism as orchids and exotic flowering plants thrive in the lowland tropical forests. Rock climbing, hiking Mount Kinabalu and mountain biking are drawing adventure travelers to Borneo and offer a chance for exercise after visiting the apes. Maurice-Jones enjoys "going to the Kinabatangan River and staying in a village called Sukau," which is two hours from the preserve. The area is home to "spotted wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, tree pythons and a variety of rare birds including the storm stork which is endemic to Borneo." There is even the promise of the occasional pigmy elephant.

Divers and rafters have many opportunities to test the waters, particularly around Lankayan. Whale sharks, turtles and colorful reef-dwellers are common, while divers can also explore ship wrecks. The tiny island is just over an hour north of Sandakan by boat.

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