08/06/2026
Sandakan – Where Nature and History Meet
Over the past few days, Escape Trekking Adventures has been exploring Sandakan, Sabah, and it remains one of the most fascinating destinations in Borneo.
One moment you're watching orangutans swing through the rainforest canopy, and the next you're standing on ground connected to some of the darkest chapters of World War II, including the sites associated with the Sandakan POW Camp and the tragic Sandakan Death Marches.
Our journey included visits to the incredible Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, the moving Sandakan Memorial Park, the historic Agnes Keith House, the Japanese Section of the Chinese Cemetery, and the beautiful St. Michael's and All Angels Church.
The Japanese cemetery tells a fascinating story of Sandakan's pre-war Japanese community. Among those buried here are women known as Karayuki-san ("women gone abroad"), many of whom left impoverished regions of Japan and came to Southeast Asia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their stories form an important and often overlooked part of Sandakan's multicultural history.
St. Michael's and All Angels Church stands as a reminder of British North Borneo, its stone walls surviving war, occupation, and the passage of time.
What makes Sandakan truly special is the remarkable combination of wildlife, history, culture, and human resilience. Every site has a story to tell—from ancient rainforests and unique wildlife to the people who lived, struggled, fought, and endured here during times of peace and war.
If you have an interest in military history, wildlife, culture, or simply exploring a different side of Borneo, Sandakan deserves a place on your travel list.
Lest we forget, and may we continue to learn from the stories of those who came before us.
