Rasa Ria Nature Reserve, Sabah

The Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort is one of the top resorts located in the Greater Kota Kinabalu area. Its actual location is in Dalit beach, near the town of Tuaran and is about 28 km to the north of Kota Kinabalu.

Dalit Beach is perhaps one of the nicer beaches in the area, with a huge long expanse of sand and makes a nice day out to visit, although you can only gain access via through the resort. The resort also has its own golf course, for all the golfers out there.

Dalit Beach

But many hotels have beaches or golf courses; what makes the Rasa Ria different is that it has its own in-house Nature Reserve.

The Rasa Ria Nature Reserve was established by Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort in collaboration with the State Wildlife Department of Sabah with the aim of protecting a 64 acre ecological space to help facilitate rehabilitation programmes for endangered species of fauna endemic to Sabah.

The Nature Reserve also provides educational programmes for local students across Sabah and actively conducts nature awareness and learning activities for visitors from all over the world. Well, basically it is for its in-house guests in particular; but outsiders are also allowed to take part in the activities with prior booking (and payment of course!).

Among the activities you can do include Bird-Watching, Jungle Walks and the Canopy Walk. And of course, the main attraction is the Orang Utan viewing sessions.

Orang Utans are only endemic to two places in the world, the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Unfortunately, these highly intelligent primates are endangered as their natural habitats are decimated due to human population growth and deforestation. 

The Nature Reserve's role is purportedly to rehabilitate displaced orang utans before releasing them back into the wild. Visitors are allowed to view the orang utans during their feeding times, and there are normally two sessions per day, once in the morning at 10 am, and in the afternoon at 2pm.

Queuing up to pay at the entrance

Briefing before the start of the tour

Start of the trek into the reserve

Start of the hill climb

Climbing up the hill. Not too strenuous.

After 10 minutes trek, you reach the feeding platform.

Cute baby orang utan

Baby seems more interested in playing then eating.

Look at me!

Man-of-the-Forest

Advance booking is required to attend any of the activities at the Nature Resort, and needs to be confirmed 72 hours before the actual activity takes place.

Non-Malaysian non-guests are charged RM 65 per person (as of Aug'2013) and you are advised to be at the Centre 30 minutes before the stated times. You are advised to wear good walking shoes, long sleeves and pants or use mosquito repellent but we got by using none of the above without too much difficulty or inconvenience. Free bottled water is given at the end of the trip, which can last for up to 1 hour. You are allowed to leave the platform early if you had your fill of viewing the orang utans.

Update 31 Jan'16: Shangri-La has announced the successful completion of the Orang-Utan project and all remaining orang-utans at the nature reserve would be rehabilitated back to Sepilok by April 2016.

Shangri-La Rasa Ria Nature Interpretative Centre

Address : Pantai Dalit Beach, Tuaran, Sabah, 89208, Malaysia

Telephone :  +(6088) 797 888