Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre: more than just trees 

SANDAKAN – The Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sandakan could be the most underrated attraction that is available in Sepilok, here. 

While the government had spent a total of RM13 million to construct a 620-metre-long canopy walkway in the RDC, the place only receives about 10,827 visitors last year. 

The pandemic had caused the centre to lose foreign visitors last year. The figure is considered small, as Sandakan’s population alone is close to 400,000. 

Not a lot of people, even those living in Sandakan, have been to the centre. 

RDC, located in Sepilok about 19 kilometres from Sandakan town, does not get as many visitors as their neighbours – the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre – because many referred to RDC as “a place with just trees”. 

But, RDC, which serves as an educational centre under the Sabah Forestry Department, offers more than just trees. 

The RDC began operations as an environmental education centre in 1996 but it was only open to the public in August 2007. Proceeds from ticket sales go directly to the running and maintenance of the centre. 

The canopy walkway, the Plant Discovery Centre and the network of well-maintained trails are the major attractions here. In line with its core business, the exhibition hall and outdoor exhibits along the trails aimed to provide visitors with a more fulfilling and educational experience of the rainforest. 

Haven for birding enthusiasts 

According to RDC’s head of environmental education and communication, Hubert Petol, there are over 265 species of birds spotted in RDC. More than 60 of them are categorised as endemic, which means they can only be found in a single defined geographic location. 

Hubert said that RDC had drawn birding enthusiasts from all over the world. Its canopy walkway named Rainforest Skywalk takes visitors up to 27m from ground level for a better chance to see rare birds that can only be found in dense rainforests. 

The frequent sightings of the rare Bornean Bristlehead and other Bornean endemic birds played a large role in promoting the RDC as a major birding site. In 2009, the forests of Sepilok was declared as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. 

Capitalising on this, the inaugural Borneo Bird Festival was hosted at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in 2009. It had become an annual event in Sepilok until it was stopped two years ago due to the pandemic. 

Among birds that are often spotted here are the green lora, orange-bellied flowerpecker, olive-backed sunbird, cream-vented bulbul, white-crowned shama, brown-throated sunbird, buff-necked woodpecker, crimson-winged woodpecker, ruby-cheeked sunbird, and Chestnut-breasted malkoha, among others. 

Rainforest Skytrail 

Just last month on February 26, the canopy walkway in RDC became the longest skywalk in Sabah after its final 250-metre expansion was completed, making it now 620 metres long. 

The government spent RM4 million for the final expansion and RM13 million for the whole skywalk which had started construction during the 8th Malaysia Plan in 2003. 

The skywalk also includes three main towers – Bristlehead Tower, Trogon Tower and the tallest, Hornbill tower which is seven-storey tall – allowing visitors to have a panoramic view of the dense and natural rainforest. 

According to Hubert, another highlight of RDC it is children-friendly. The skywalk’s railings are about four feet tall and are sturdy, ensuring the safety of visitors with children. 

There is also something to read every few steps one takes on the skywalk, as it is equipped with outdoor infographics that contain interesting information about wildlife that can be spotted in RDC. 

Other than the skytrail, RDC is also the perfect spot for trekkers who could hike the jungle trail, which is about 9km long. Hubert advised those who would want to get a full experience in RDC to wear comfortable outdoor sports attire so that they could enjoy the jungle trail better. 

The rainforest discovery walk would allow one to learn about the rainforest ecology and experience its amazing biodiversity while exploring a network of self-guided trails in the forest. 

Plant Discovery Garden 

Apart from the forest, one could also take a walk in the Plant Discovery Centre which is only a few minutes walk from the main entrance. At the outdoor centre that is divided into several gardens, one could see the pitcher plant, begonias, native orchids, cacti, rheophyte and tropical American plant exhibits. Each plant is also properly labelled and named to ease the educational experience of the visitors. 

Giant trees 

Visitors are also advised to wear comfortable shoes and outdoor active outfits to see two of the tallest trees in RDC – the Sepilok Giant that is 65m high (equivalent to a 19-storey building), and Kabili Monster which is 75m in height (equivalent to a 25-storey building). 

One would need to walk about six to seven minutes (regular slow walk) of jungle trail from the end of the extended skywalk to see the Sepilok Giant, and about 15 minutes to see the Kabili Monster. 

Flying squirrels 

Hubert said many people, including those who had visited RDC, are not aware that they could witness flying squirrels jumping from one tree to another over the skywalk during sunset. 

“Knowing that this could take time, the visiting hour in RDC is extended until 7pm even though the ticketing counter is closed at 5pm. Many people do not know that they are allowed to stay until 7pm,” he said. 

With this, locals especially those who are staying in Sandakan are encouraged to visit RDC to support environmental education as well as preservation of the rainforest. Visitors are encouraged to spend about half a day here to fully appreciate what the centre has to offer. 

Tickets are charged RM7 per adult (17 years old and above), RM3 per individual aged five to 17) and free for children under the age of five. – The Vibes, March 27, 2022