Sabah's State Parks are a naturalist's paradise with their unique flora and fauna. Sabah also has the world's largest orang utan sanctuary. If you are feeling adventurous, go jungle trekking, visit a longhouse and be intrigued by the traditional lifestyle, explore caves, experience rafting, go mountaineering, or dive and discover exciting and colourful marine life.
However you want it - Sabah can be simple or sophisticated. She has retained her traditional charm and freshness, as well as keeping in step with the 20th century. Sabah will surely impress you with her unique and unspoilt character - truly Borneo's paradise.
Interesting Place
Danum Valley
Nestled in the interior of Sabah, the Danum Valley Conservation Area is one of the last remaining preserves of primary lowland rainforest in Asia. The Danum Valley provides visitors with an umparalled ecological experience into the wilds and wonders of ancient tropical forests. Within its 438 square kilometers the rich diversity of animal and plant life display the complex interaction of a natural, dynamic ecosystem found only in rainforests.
The hot and humid jungle teems with a variety of towering tropical trees, lingering lianas, exotic orchids and overhanging epiphytes. There are few places on earth that can provide such an awe--inspiring spectacle of nature in its original, pristine state.
Danum Valley was formerly part of a 972,000 hectare forest concession assigned to the Sabah Foundation by the State Goverment. In May 1995, the area was declared a Class I (Protection) Forest Reserve by the Sabah Legislative Assembly, under the authority of the Sabah Forestry Department, which prohibits the issuance of timber and logging concessions.
Currently the Sabah Foundation works to make it a center for wildlife research, education and eco-tourism. The Foundation also provides infrastructural support in the form of road access, radio communication and manpower to assist the state authorities in conserving Danum and supporting the development of scientific and commercial establishments for research purposes which culminated in the opening of the Danum Valley Field Center in 1986.
Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary
Orang Utans have long fascinated mankind. Known scientifically as "Pongo Pygmaeus", they have been found to be 96.4% similar to our human genes!
Gentle and shy by nature, sightings of orang utan in the wild are rare. However, one place you are guaranteed of seeing them is at the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. The world's largest orang utan (Man of the Forest) sanctuary is just 40 minutes away from downtown Sandakan. To visit, take a taxi or "Sepilok" buses from the station near Central Market in Sandakan.
The Sanctuary started in 1964 for rehabilitation of orphaned baby orang utans from logging-sites, plantations and illegal hunting, returning them to the wilds as soon as they're ready. More than 4,500 hectares of virgin jungle were designated as forest reserve and sanctuary for these charming creatures.
Touching these creatures is discouraged to prevent the spread of human diseases to the creatures. There are some who have grown so fond of human company that they refuse to return to the wilds. Other semi-wild orang utans come to the Sanctuary twice daily from the forest for feeding of milk and bananas.
Conservation/Entrance Fee (Payable at Registration Centre): RM10 per person. Do check for changes. Feeding Time: 10.00am and 3.00pm
If you would like to stay overnight to observe these creatures further, accommodation is available outside the sanctuary.
Semporna
- The town with its feet in the sea
In the Bajau and Malay language, "semporna" literally means, "perfect". The town its feet in the sea, Semporna and its many islands are like a dream come true... pure white sandy beaches, coconut palms and tranquil waters lapping over colourful reefs in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Sulawesi Sea. The richness of the sea, fishes of all kinds, sea cucumbers, shells, pearls and in recent years, seaweed farming - all these have attracted seafarers and fisher-folks to Semporna and its islands.
The early Bajau people lived their entire lives aboard their boats. Today, most live along the coasts, perched on stilts over shallow reefs, where they continue their love affair with the sea. Every April, Semporna celebrates with a Regatta Lepa. Thousands sail into town in all kinds of boats including the gaily-decorated lepa and jungkong, their traditional boats, to compete for prizes. Arrangements can be made to explore the islands off Semporna to visit water-villages and seaweed farms, swim and snorkel. The Semporna people also boasts they have the best seafood in all of Malaysia, the freshest and least expensive!
Semporna is the departure point to the world's best dive sites and island-resorts of Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai.
Poring Hot Spring
The prime attraction here is the Hot Springs. First developed by the Japanese during World War II, pipes are inserted into several open-air Japanese-style baths. For visitors with more time there are graded paths leading through rich lowland forest to the mountain rivers, waterfalls and the tumbled bat caves. Visitors often see birds and wildlife along the trail. A playing field and courts for volleyball and sepak raga are also available.
The hot springs' water contain sulphur, which have health as well curative properties for skin diseases. At Poring, one can find the world's biggest flower, the Refflesia which if you are lucky, you can see in bloom. Also, an orchid garden containing most of the native species, and a butterfly farm are some of the attraction at Poring.
Island and Beach
Layang-Layang Island
Layang-Layang Atoll
Layang-Layang or "Swallow Reefs" is an oceanic atoll, which lies about 300km north of Labuan near the famous Spratly group of islands. It is a world class diving and fishing paradise. Some rate it as a "Big fish and wall diving Mecca of Southeast Asia".
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The atoll has a 1,067 metres airstrip and a comfortable 90 rooms three-star resort. Every room is air conditioned with private amenities and comes equipped with TV, fridge, extra size beds and a private oceanfront balcony. There is a 200 seat restaurant, full service PADI dive centre, a free form water pool and souvenir shop. This is every serious diver and angler's "must visit" island.
Sipadan Island (Pulau Sipadan)
Sipadan, located 30 km off Semporna on the East Coast of Sabah is rated as the world's top dive sites. For the true diving enthusiast, the island needs no introduction. Praised by the internationally renowned oceanographer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau as one of the best diving spots in the world, it is unique as the only oceanic island in Malaysia. Its geographic position puts Sipadan in the centre of the richest marine habitat in the world, the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin. Sipadan rises 600m from the seabed to provide spectacular wall dives and underwater garden. More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this richest of ecosystem.
Sipadan is also renowned for its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles, which gather there to mate and nest. It is not unusual to see more 20 turtles on each dive. Another unique feature to divers is the turtle tomb that contains many skeletal remains of turtles. The residential schooling barracuda and big-eye trevally are one of the highlights on every diver's Wish-list, which often gather in thousands forming spectacular tornado-like formations. Mantas, eagle-rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks may also be seen, as well as an abundance of macro life. For sustainable-conservation purpose, Sipadan is presently, open to only 80 guests at any one time. There are six resorts on Sipadan.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
Introduction
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park lying from 3 to 8 kilometers off Kota Kinabalu, comprises of 5 islands surrounded by coral reefs, It covers an area of 4,929 hectares of which two thirds is sea. The islands are Pulau Gaya, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik, Pulau Sapi and Pulau Sulug. Because of the natural environment and clear waters that is typical for all the islands, plus the nearness and accessibility, picnickers, divers and nature lovers alike are attracted to them.
History
In 1882 there was a trading settlement on Pulau Gaya set up by the British North Borneo Chartered Company which was later moved to the mainland, now known as Kota Kinabalu. In 1974, the major part of Pulau Gaya and the whole of Pulau Sapi was gazetted as the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, covering an area of 8,990 acres (3,638 hectares). In 1979 it was increased to 12,185 acres (4,929 hectares) with the inclusion of the 3 nearby islands Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug.
Climate
The islands can be visited all year round. Temperatures are between 23.8 - 29.4 degrees Celsius and humidity remains relatively high throughout the year.
Geology
The islands, underlaid by folded sandstone and sedimentary rock, are part of the Crocker Range Rock Formation of the western coast od Sabah. Towards the end of the Ice Age about a million years ago, changes in sea level occurred, resulting in portions of the mainland being cut off by the sea, thus forming the islands as we know today. Exposed sandstone outcrops still feature the coasts of most of these islands forming cliffs, caves, honeycombs and deep crevasses along the shore.
Located in the Sulu Sea, the northeast coast of Sandakan. This is a small island paradise with only one dive resort, surrounded by stretches of white sandy beaches, swaying casuarinas and beautiful sunsets.
Described as a true macro-world paradise , there are also larger marine creatures such as leopard sharks, marbled stingray and giant grouper as well as schools of bumphead parrotfish, yellowtail barracuda and scads. Nearby is the Turtle Islands Park, so the hawksbill and green turtles are also 'visitors' in its dive sites.
Mabul Island
Situated only about 15 minutes by speedboat from Sipadan, Mabul is recognised as one of the world's best "muck-diving" sites, one of the richest single destinations for exotic small marine life in the world. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, mimic octopus, gobies and frogfishes are everywhere, as are moray, snake eels and practically the whole scorpionfish family. There's no doubt about it, Mabul is a magical macro site! The beauty of Mabul and Kapalai will also appeal greatly to non-divers as well. There are two resorts on Mabul Island, with the third resort an off-shore refurbished oil-rig.
Kapalai Island
A few minutes by boat from the islands of Sipadan and Mabul but a full world away from it lays the exhilarating Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort,sitting on its sturdy stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the Ligitan Reefs. Planned and built in full style as an airy, comfortable, sunny water village with no land in sight, it boasts a mile-long sandbank of powdery white sand where one can suntan at complete leisure while gazing out to the miles of brilliant turquoise stretching into the horizon offering the purest image of natural serenity.
Dive spots are extremely close and can be reached in just a few minutes by speedboat and some of them, actually, just by swimming from the dive center pier. For those who are ready to venture more and aside from the tiny marvels of the macro life of Kapalai can, in just a few minutes, dive in Sipadan (where big fish and turtles abound) or in Mabul (where silky and muddy bottoms offer different and equally pleasant experience and opportunities to the lovers of "muck diving").With a combination of sun and water in a unique and serene setting with friendly staff, Sipadan-Kapalai is an ideal destination for diver and non diver alike seeking a great holiday experience!
Mataking Island
The Alice Channel which is about 100 meters deep connects Mataking to Sipadan Island
just 80 minutes boat ride away.
Powdery sand, crystal clear turquoise water, enchanting reefs and magical undersea
paradise.
Experience the “Moses” walk across the sand bar to the offspring island.
Hill / forest
Kinabalu Park
– Malaysia First World Heritage
The Kinabalu Park covers a staggering area of 754 sq.km.(291 sq.mi.).Translated, it is bigger than Singapore Island! Establish as a state park in 1964, this botanical paradise is ranges over 4-climate zones, from the rich lowland dipterocarp forest through the montane oak, rhododendron, and coniferous forests, to the alpine meadows plants. And stunted bushes of the summit zone. Kinabalu Park has probably one of the richest flora collections in the world.
Highways and sealed roads have made the park easily accessible. Now it’s an easy 2 hour scenic drive from Kota Kinabalu. It is a popular getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city where visitors can enjoy the cool invigorating air. Or, for the more intrepid to explore the forest trails or conquer Mt.Kinabalu itself. While the focus of the park is the mountain, about 80% of the visitors don’t climb all the way to the peak but come simply to enjoy the serenity of place.
The gateway to the summit of Borneo is the4 Kinabalu Park Headquarters, situated on the sourthern baoundary, at an elevation of 1,563 m.(5,000ft).Most of the Park’s modern facilities are located here, from visitor’s accommodation, restaurants and exhibit centres, to the Park’s offices where overnight visitors and climbers must register.
A minimal entrance is fee is imposed at the entrance of the Kinabalu Park HQ.
Mountain Kinabalu
Imagine , being surrounded by the wonders of nature's lush garden dating from the dawn of time. Stand at the highest summit of Borneo as dawn peeks over the horizon to reveal Sabah's splendours far and wide. Reflect the quiet, sacred moment when you experience the most magnificent sunrise of your lifetime. Stroll amidst the treetops at the rainforest canopy walk and gaze up close at centuries-old wonders. Soak in the healing balm of a magic spring as colourful butterflies flutter around you. Admire the world's largest flower at your feet. Or lunch next to plants that lunch on insects.
You'll find it all in the KInabalu Park - Malaysia's first World Heritage designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its 'outstanding universal values' and role as one of the world's most important biological sites.
The focal point of the park, of course, is the majestic Mt. Kinabalu. Such is the importance of this mountain to Sabah, that the capital was renamed Kota Kinabalu (Kinabalu Fort) in 1964. The highest mountain between the Himalayas and the Snow Mountains of Papua Barat (New Guinea Island), this magnificent granite massif stands at 4,095.2 m. (13,435 ft.) tall.Gomantong Caves
Described by WWF as "the best managed edible birds' nest cave in the world", Gomantong Caves has been the focus for birds' nests for centuries. Historical records have traced it as a source of this precious delicacy to the Chinese Emperor centuries ago.Two cave complexes are found in this intricate cave system. Simud Hitam is a five-minute walk from the Registration Centre and a picnic area. It is a more accessible cave with its roof soaring up to 90 meters high. A well-maintained boardwalk makes it easys to explore this dramatic cave with its specialised ecology. Simud Puteh is where the more valuable "white" saliva nests of the swiflets are found.
Twice a year, licensed collectors risk their lives climbing to the roof of these cave complexes in a dangerous operation that involves only rattan ladders, ropes and poles precariously attached together. These caves are protected by the Wildlife Department which only allows the collection twice yearly. Catch the collectors in action between February and April, when the nests are first harvested just after the birds have built them. The next harvest is between July and September, when the new rebuilt nests, are abandoned after eggs have been laid and hatched.The Gomantong Caves is home to a rich range of birds with crested serpent eagles, kingfishers, asian fairy bluebirds and leafbirds. Don't be surprised if the magical sight of colourful butterflies suddenly surround you!
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