Rustic escape
Sepilok Forest Edge Resort in Sandakan is an ideal getaway.
FOR visitors arriving in Sandakan with the intention of visiting popular destinations around Sepilok, the Sepilok Forest Edge Resort is a gem of a resort in a tourist-centric city. Situated 40 minutes’ drive away from the city centre and 20 minutes from the airport, it is one of the few accommodations that caters for all budget brackets, from casual backpackers and couples to families and tour groups.
Its location is also hard to beat, as popular places of attractions such as the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre are located merely a short walk from the resort.
There are also popular day tours you can book from the resort such as the Selingan Turtle Island and Fireflies Mangrove Cruise excursion. For the best experience, you may want to stay at least three nights at the resort. You truly won’t regret it!
MINIMALIST
From the outside, Sepilok Forest Edge Resort may not look too impressive, especially with its very humble open-air reception area that looks more like a gazebo than an office, but don’t let the first impression fool you.
The resort has a lot to offer, with its superb view, great food and unbeatable rates. It also has a very homely vibe, with its wooden architecture and lush green surroundings. Guests are required to remove their shoes when coming into the reception, as well as the restaurant and dining hall, just like in Asian homes.
All the chalets in the resort are built using recycled wood, which originally were used in pre-war Chinese houses dating from the 1940s. Even the interior furniture, such as the coffee tables and chairs, are built using recycled materials.
Each chalet is tastefully designed to
reflect Bornean culture — local drawings and handmade recycled art items, with the traditional bubu (fishing trap) turned into a lamp shade.
The resort’s minimalist eco-friendly approach can also be observed in the Malay-style doors that use a wooden block that slides through the handles for a lock.
Another eco aspect of the chalets are the ingenious bathroom designs that incorporate a basin-like sink with bamboo-made faucet and an outdoor shower area that uses a punctured bucket as a rainshower head!
Despite its eco-friendly image, the Sepilok Forest Edge Resort isn’t one to scrimp on comfort and amenities. All the rooms are fully furnished with premium toiletries, coffee- and tea-making facilities, as well as air conditioning.
It offers eight types of accommodation: the twin-sharing dormitory rooms (with a double decker bed) for single travellers, Queen Chalets for couples, Twin Chalets for groups and Family and Superior Chalets for family vacationers. The Superior Chalet — the largest chalet in the resort — accommodates five people and comes with a kitchen.
EAT AND DRINK
Your stay at the resort comes with a complimentary buffet breakfast at the Nest Dining restaurant, which is served from 7.30 to 10.30am.
The Nest offers Bornean contemporary cuisines, like the iconic hinava (a traditional KadazanDusun raw fish dish) — a must-eat when in Sabah — as well as delicious Malaysian fusion dishes, such as tom yam and gado gado.
You can also opt for the private dining under-the-stars experience, accompanied by the cool jungle breeze and mesmerising sounds of the cricket orchestra.
Needing a stronger drink? The bar is open from as early as 10.30am; you can enjoy a drink practically the whole day. Liquors and wines are sold at RM100 and RM50 per bottle respectively.
While guests most probably will not spend too much time at the resort given that there are so many tours to join and places to visit in the area, you can always opt to chill out at the library, take a dip in the plunge pool, or go on a short hike along the resort’s jungle trail.