Sepilok Orangutan Rehab/Sabah

[hiker]

Has anyone been here?  is it worth a look?  We will be hiking in Kinabulu and we are trying to figure out where to go after hiking (we'll have around 4 days left of holiday time).  
Any suggestions as what to do around Kinabalu Park area -(besides hiking)?  Something not too strenuos, as we'll have just finished some major hiking.
Thanks.

[LULU]

We were recommended the hot springs, but didn't actually go ourselves after the walk as were too tired, not having slept at all that night on the mountain!

On another trip to KK we stayed at the Shangri la Rasa Ria, which was fab, and not that expensive. Some good last minute deals going. They have a nature reserve adjacent to the hotel where the orangs are rehabilitated and allowed to roam free before being relocated to Sepilok. If you can spare the time to fly/drive to Sepilok I would think it would be great. But if you fancy a few days R&R but still want to see some nature then this would a good option.

With 4 days to spare though I reckon it would be worth checking out Sepilok. The only reason we didn't go was because we only had a couple of days total.

[hiker]

Thanks a bunch LULU-very good info.-we will look into the resort ( ahhhhhh-a massage after a hike!), and maybe still go to the rehab.

[hiker]

Oh-one more thing-did you like the hike-is it as great as it sounds in the guide book?

[Top Hat]

I went there a couple of years ago. It is nice, but you need to fly or drive a few hours there. You can combine it with a visit to the turle island there to make it worthwhile.

Regarding the hike to Mt KK, our guide (for another trip) recommended to make it a two night trip. That is hike to the hut, and stay overnight there. In the late morning, go to the top and spend some time there. Go back to the hut, and stay the second night. Then get up early and watch the sun rise as everybody else does.

THis is supposed to make for a much more pleasant hike than the normal up and down in 24 hours.

[LULU]

Hi, We did the hike a couple of years ago and went for the '24 hour' option. Started around lunchtime, climbed to the hostel by mid/late afternoon. Ate there and 'slept' in the huts, and then got up at 2am to continue to the summit for 'sunrise'. All the way back down by mid afternoon. Harsh, but to be honest I would never have wanted to spend a second night in that hut!

We were very, very unlucky with the weather. Despite being (we thought) well prepared with waterproofs etc, about an hour from the summit the rain started. In the end the wind/rain combination was so bad that you could hardly see a few meters in front of you (let alone the 'sunrise'). All 'waterproofs' were pretty useless against the onslaught and by the time we returned to the huts we were all drenched head to foot and freezing.

However, gathered from the guide that this kind of weather is very rare.

We do keep saying that we definitely want to do it again though before we leave Asia, as all in all it was a great experience - despite the weather.

A few pointers:
Do go fully prepared with waterproofs and warm weather clothing (it is freezing at the top) and we're talking hats and gloves, the works.
Don't count on getting any sleep overnight - due to combination of rank huts (rats in toilet), cold and altitude.
The actual climb is basically 8 hours of stairs. Do do lots of practice up and down stairs - sounds funny but while going up was fine, coming down is a killer on the knees.

Enjoy!

[This message has been edited by LULU (edited 17-04-2003).]

[hiker]

Thanks again for the information.  uh-are there really rats in the toilet?  And on that note-are there places to relieve oneself along the way (besides running off trail)? OK-I cannot stop obssessing about the rats in the toilet-are they scampering around one's feet whilst one is squatting??!!!!
One more question-due to the cold-are sleeping bags provided or is it just really cold at the summit?
Thanks again.

[Swash]

I did the hike some time ago.....never regretted it one bit!! Beautiful summit!! Very otherworldly.....thankfully, didn't get any of the nasty weather that LULU had.....that would have made it SERIOUSLY cold!!

But also, didn't mind the huts much either. We didn't get to see any rats....blankets are provided and the hut is heated....no sleeping bads provided, so if you need them, you'll have to bring them yourself tho  

Think of it as a sort of rustic adventure, and you'll  enjoy it...no luxury style accomondation!

BUt the summit IS SERIOUSLY cold! Coming from Canada...that's saying a lot!!!!

[hiker]

thanks swash-and  I will prepare for the cold as I am a wimp when it comes to frigid weather.  But hubby on the other hand is a also canadian and I'm sure he will LOVE the cold weather (for a change).  I'll just have to convince him he cannot bring those hockey sticks along.

[LULU]

Heh he, maybe we just had super bad luck - with the weather and huts. The huts we stayed in definitely didn't have heating - had old sleeping bags in them - slept in our clothes and were still freezing.

Toilets reeked and the rat I saw was running round the edge of the wall when I was peeing! Yikes!

Were 'toilets' at different points along the trail - most just holes in the ground. All in all it was great fun, but definitely a back to basics experience.

[Swash]

ahh..lemme correct myself...I think I can understand the apparent confusion. The hostel is heated. cleaner. It costs a little bit extra. Directly above the hostel is a 'hut' which isn't heated...and costs less...can't remember how much.

go for the hostel.