Kota Kinabalu serves as the capital of Malaysia’s Sabah state and has long been the gateway to the island of Malaysian Borneo.
Situated on the coast, this small resort town is a lovely place to refuel, get permits, book onward travel and indulge in some well-deserved R&R. If you’re interested in sampling local fare, head to the night market for some fresh fish off the barbecue.
Visitors can also look forward to exploring bustling markets, strolling along pristine beaches, and view the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque set along the waterfront.
Day trips from Kota Kinabalu include a scenic ride on the North Borneo Railway, an excursion to the neighbouring islands of Gaya and Manukan and an adventure to the Kinabalu National Park, home of the soaring peak of Mount Kinabalu.
An impressive landmark on the map of Malaysian Borneo, Kinabatanagan River meanders for 560 kilometres from its source in southwestern Sabah in the soaring Crocker Range to its vast river mouth at the Sulu Sea.
It is the longest river in the incredibly scenic state of Sabah and provides a rich ecosystem for a host of wildlife.
A boat cruise down the river is the best way to explore the region’s lush rainforests, sparkling lakes, and abundant wildlife, with both day trips and overnight water-based safaris offered to visitors.
Regularly sighted wildlife includes proboscis monkeys, orangutans, crocodiles, macaques hornbills, Irrawaddy dolphins, owls, civets and if you’re lucky – the endangered Borneo pygmy elephant.
Tabin Wildlife Reserve is an extraordinary wilderness area occupying the majority of the the peninsula which forms the northern headland of Darvel Bay in the eastern section of the Malaysian Bornean state of Sabah.
The reserve covers 112,000 hectares, including 9,000 hectares of primary unlogged forest which provides a haven for a remarkably diverse range of wildlife including, among others: orangutan, gibbon, Borneo Pygmy elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros, proboscis monkey, silver langurs, bearded pigs, monitors and all eight species of Borneo's hornbills.
Visitors can look forward to trekking to The Lipad Mud Volcano, visiting breathtaking waterfalls, and going on night drives in search of nocturnal wildlife.
This low-lying wilderness of virgin rainforest is recognised as one of the planet’s hubs of biodiversity - its vast canopies shelter some 300 bird species, over 100 mammals - including the clouded leopard, Malayan sun bear, Bornean orangutan and the rare Bornean pygmy elephant - and a profusion of vividly coloured butterflies.
This exceptional ecosystem is a popular research destination among natural scientists and it is possible to attend talks by resident environmental experts at the Danum Valley Field Centre.
A network of trails wind through the surrounding jungle, taking in viewing platforms tucked amidst the treetops, a suspension bridge over the Segama River, cascading waterfalls and even several ancient burial sites.
In the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, lies the picturesque Gaya Island. This sizable Malaysian island has been protected as a reserve since the early 1920s and is home to a legendary beach at Police Bay.
A 400-meter stretch of pristine white sand slopes out gently to the sea forming an ideal spot for swimming in the crystal clear turquoise waters.
There is also a 20 kilometre long hiking path as well as plenty of coral reefs along the entire coast making Gaya a dream destination for snorkelers, scuba divers and nature lovers alike.
Visitors can choose between three luxury resorts, namely: Gaya Island Resort, Gayana Marine Resort and Bunga Raya Island Resort.
