landmark
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
A world-renowned center in Sabah where orphaned orangutans are rehabilitated and released back into the Borneo rainforest.
19 km · about 20 min drive
AsiaMalaysiaSabah
Sandakan
Sabah, Malaysia · Asia
About Sandakan
Sandakan is worth a stop: 20 minutes from Taman Rajawali, 39km from Kinabatangan River.
Sandakan is in Sabah, Malaysia, with about 440,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Taman Rajawali, about 10 km away.
Sandakan (Malaysian: [ˈsandaˈkan]) formerly known at various times as Elopura, is the capital of the Sandakan District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu. It is located on the Sandakan Peninsula and east coast of the state in the administrative centre of Sandakan DivisionRead more
and was the former capital of British North Borneo. In 2010, the city had an estimated population of 157,330 while the overall municipal area had a total population of 396,290. The population of the municipal area had increased to 439,050 by the 2020 Census.
Before the founding of Sandakan, Sulu Archipelago was the source of dispute between Spain and the Sultanate of Sulu for economic dominance in the region. By 1864, Spain had blockaded the Sultanate possessions in the Sulu Archipelago. The Sultanate of Sulu awarded a German consular service ex-member a piece of land in the Sandakan Bay to seek protection from Germany. In 1878, the Sultanate sold north-eastern Borneo to an Austro-Hungarian consul who later left the territory to a British colonial merchant. The German presence over the area raised concern among the British. As a result, a protocol was signed between the British, German and the Spanish to recognise Spanish sovereignty over the Sulu Archipelago, in return for the Spanish not intervening in British affairs in northern Borneo.
Sandakan began to prosper when the British North Borneo Company (BNBC) started to build a new settlement in 1879, developing it into an active commercial and trading centre as well as making it the main administrative centre for North Borneo. The British also encouraged the migration of the Chinese from British Hong Kong to develop the economy of Sandakan. However, the prosperity halted when the Japanese occupied the area. As the war continued and Allied bombing started in 1944, the town was totally destroyed. Unable to fund the costs of the reconstruction, the administrative powers of North Borneo were handed over to the Crown Colony government. Subsequently, the administrative capital of North Borneo was moved to Jesselton. As part of the 1948–1955 Colonial Office Reconstruction and Development Plan, the crown colony government began to develop the fishing industry in Sandakan.
Sandakan is one of the main ports for oil, tobacco, coffee, sago, and timber exports. Other economic activities include fishing, ship building, eco-tourism, and manufacturing. Among the tourist attractions in Sandakan are Sandakan Heritage Museum, Sandakan Cultural Festival, Sandakan War Memorial, Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, Turtle Islands National Park, and Gomantong Caves.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Sandakan?
Within an hour or so of Sandakan: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (19 km), Kinabatangan River (39 km).
Where is Sandakan?
Sandakan is in Sabah, Malaysia, about 10 km from Taman Rajawali.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 439,050
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Malaysia
- Region
- Sabah
- Timezone
- Asia/Kuching
- Coordinates
- 5.8402, 118.1179
Tags
Worth the detour from Sandakan
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Kinabatangan River
Sabah's longest river offering wildlife cruises to spot pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, and hornbills in the wild.
39 km · about 45 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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