     
      
  
| | | | | | | Places Of Interest - East Malaysia / Borneo | The State Of Sabah | | Nature’s Wonderland Sabah is known as the ‘Land Below the Wind’ and once out of Kota Kinabalu (KK) the capital, much of the state remains forested. | 
|
| | | There are over 32 ethnic communities speaking 80 dialects in Sabah. The main festivals here is Ka’amatan when the Kadazan Dusun, Sabah’s largest ethnic group, offer thanksgiving for bountiful harvest to the spirit of the paddy. Kota Kinabalu is a vibrant city on Sabah’s west coast and the gateway to eco-adventures like mountain climbing, white water rafting, caving, diving and river cruising. Located in South China Sea, it’s a bustling city with a mixed population. Once known as Jesselton when Sabah was British North Borneo, it was mostly rebuilt after World War II. Places of interest are the State Museum, the Sunday Gaya Street Market which offers fresh produce, handicrafts, foodstuff and jungle products in the open-air. The five islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park in the vicinity of Kota Kinabalu offer peaceful solitude in the sun. Enjoy a stay in many superb resorts like Sutera Harbour and Shangri-la Tangjung Aru. Just out of town, the resorts of Nexus Karumbunai and Shangri-La Rasa Ria have extensive seaside facilities. | | | 
| | | While ascending the 4,095m Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s highest peak is achievable, descending 600m to the ocean floor off the famed dive site of Sipadan is not humanly possible. Sabah is a global wildlife sanctuary with the Kinabalu National Park being Malaysia’s first World Heritage site. The 754sq km park has one of the world’s richest assemblages of plants and the two-day return walk to the summit of Mount Kinabalu, challenges intrepid climbers. The nearby Poring Hot Springs and canopy walkway will rejuvenate your body and mind. Other eco-treasures in Sabah include Turtle Island Park, Sepilok, Tabin and the Kinabatangan River. White water rafting on the Padas and Kiulu Rivers offers thrills and spills. Sandakan 45 minutes by air from Kota Kinabalu is the gateway to fascinating nature reserves like Turtle Island, Kinabatangan River, Gomantong Caves and Sepilok. Sepilok A sanctuary for Orang Utans where 200 primates, rescue from illegal captivity, have been retrained for jungle living. Get close to them in their natural habitat during the twice-daily feedings. Sukau On the lower Kinabatangan River has Malaysia’s greatest wildlife concentration. It is Sabah’s longest river where Orang Utans, Macaques, Red and Silver Leaf Monkeys, elephants, crocodiles, otters and Proboscis Monkeys live along the riverine wetlands. Boat trips along the Menaggul River provide guaranteed sightings. | | | | | | On the way to Sukau, visit Gomantong Caves, home to millions of swiftlets whose nest are prized for bird’s nest soup. Lahad Datu provides access to the Danum Valley, home to Sabah’s largest expanse of lowland dipterocarp forest. Walk the canopy bridge for aerial views or trek into the Maliau Basin wilderness and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Take a ride on the antique train from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom through the picturesque Padas Gorge or enjoy the North Borneo steam train to Papar. Many islands are found off Sabah in the Sulu, Celebes and South China Seas. Diving is possible around most with Sipadan Island being the jewel; marine biologist Jacques Cousteau rates it one of the world’s best. This is the ‘must-dive’ reef and Malaysia’s only deepwater oceanic island. Layang-Layang Situated in the Spratly Islands, some 300km northwest of Kota Kinabalu is East Malaysia’s remotest island. Wall diving for hammerhead sharks, rays and barracuda is possible. In the small island resort of Lankayan, northwest of Sandakan, diving is perfect. | 
|
| | | Mantanani Located north of Kota Belud, is one of Sabah’s newest dive islands surrounded by sea grasses and reefs. Turtle Island Park is the place to watch turtles nesting between July and October. | | | | | | | Places Of Interest - East Malaysia / Borneo | The State Of Sabah |
| |
