Things to Do in Sabah

Mount Kinabalu towers over the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah. At 13,435ft (4,095m) above sea level, Mount Kinabalu is the 4th tallest mountain in the Malay Archipelago, drawing travelers the world over to climb its slopes in search of the perfect sunrise.

But it’s not just for the views from its summit that travelers come to Mount Kinabalu. This UNESCO listed World Heritage Site is recognised as one of the most important biological sites in the world.

An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 plant species call Mount Kinabalu, and its surrounding National Park, home. Many carnivorous plants and orchids grow on its slopes, which also attract 326 species of birds and over 100 mammals, including orangutans, Black shrews and the gloriously-named Bornean Ferret-Badger.

The mountains incredible biodiversity is due to several factors - its geographical position as one of the world’s richest plant regions (along with Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula and Borneo); it’s wide-ranging climate – (from extreme heat and humidity at its base to near freezing conditions at the summit); its high rainfall, and its rocky and diverse terrain.

Thanks to the rising of sea levels at the end of the last ice age, what were once sandstone mountains connected to the mainland are now a collection of five tropical islands left piercing the surface just off the coastline of Kota Kinabalu. Comprised of the islands of Manukan, Gaya, Sapi, Mamutuk, and Sulug, these five forested islets make up Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, conveniently located an easy 20 minute speedboat ride from downtown Kota Kinabalu.

Though the reefs of the marine park aren’t quite as vibrant as those found down in Sipadan or Mabul in the southeastern corner of Sabah, the waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman nonetheless still teem with marine life such as blue spotted stingrays, mantis shrimp, and the occasional Hawksbill turtle, making them the most convenient options for Sabah visitors looking to snorkel or scuba dive the shallow waters directly off of Kota Kinabalu. Though Sabah is dealing with growing amounts of rubbish and marine debris, classifying the area as a national park and making efforts towards conservation are steps in the right direction for an area that, when combined with the white sand beaches, has tremendous potential for being one of the better regional excursions.

Pulau Gaya is the largest of the islands in the national park, and along with Manukan and Mamutik offers overnight eco-accommodations for visitors looking to escape the city for a night. Though the park headquarters is located on Pulau Gaya, it, too, is home to some downtrodden stilt villages which are considered unsafe by KK locals and visitors alike. Nonetheless, thousands of people annually make daytrips or overnight excursions into Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and leave satisfied with the tropical simplicity found within such a short distance of the thumping industrial capital.

Kinabalu National Park hugs the base of Mount Kinabalu like a lush, thick blanket. Sharing the same incredible biodiversity and UNESCO World Heritage status as the mountain that towers above it, Kinabalu National Park is recognised as one of the most important biological sites in the world.  

For those who can’t conceive climbing Mount Kinabalu’s challenging slopes. Kinabalu National Parks presents an excellent alternative. Home to an estimated 5,500 plant species, including several hundred varieties of orchids and pitcher plants, 326 bird species and over 100 mammals, a walk in the park has never been this diverse.

There are 11km (7mi) of marked and graded trails across the Park, many of which cut across the mountain forest vegetation, which ranges from from rich dipterocarp and coniferous forests to montain oak and alpine meadow plants. 

A separate entity than the Kota Kinabalu city mosque, as the name implies the State Mosque is meant to be the principal place of worship for the Malaysian state of Sabah. Located on the outskirts of the Kota Kinabalu city center, the most immediately noticeable aspect of the State Mosque is the 215 ft. minaret which towers over the white and gold honeycombed main dome.

One of the most recognizable buildings in all of Sabah, the State Mosque combines contemporary architecture with traditional Islamic design. The minaret was inspired by those found in the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca and Medina, and various other elements of the design are meant to draw parallels to the famous Blue Mosque of Istanbul. Covered in marble and resplendent in mosaics, the State Mosque is undoubtedly one of the architectural standouts for all of Kota Kinabalu.

Occupying 14.5 acres the mosque is able to provide worship space for 5,000 people, with a separate balcony able to accommodate groups of up to 500 women. International visitors are welcome to visit the State Mosque, though a strict code of conduct is rigidly enforced. All visitors must declare their presence and intention to enter the mosque and must do so through the front door only. Men are required to wear long pants when entering the mosque, and women must cover up with a sarong or robe and employ the use of a headscarf. Shoes are not permitted inside the mosque and visitors are required to maintain absolute silence. Though open on Fridays, non-Muslim visitors are discouraged from visiting as the mosque is frequently at capacity for weekly prayers.

Recently reopened in 2011 after a nearly five year closure, the North Borneo Railway is a historic bit of Malaysian transportation as well as the only rail line currently operating in the state of Sabah. Originally constructed in 1896 as a means of transporting tobacco from the lush interior of the island to the distant coast, the North Borneo railway now serves as a semi-practical means of moving passengers and cargo in the same fashion it once employed for nearly a century.

Unless you’re a train buff, it’s difficult to discern whether or not the North Borneo Railway can be considered a tourist attraction. Running from the town of Tanjung Aru near Kota Kinabalu to the town of Tenom in the lush interior, the entire journey takes a little over two hours and passes through landscapes which range from the Sabah coastline to open fields cleared by deforestation. 

Surprisingly modern, the train is able to carry a passenger load of 180 people and offers same-day return trips from outside Kota Kinabalu to the interior town of Beaufort and back. Those wanting to travel by train from Beaufort to Tenom must first spend a night in Beaufort, a mild inconvenience which if timed to coincide with the Friday and Saturday town market can make for an agreeable stopover.

As the rail line can sometimes be susceptible to closures from heavy rains, mechanical maintenance, or even landslides, it’s highly recommended that those wanting to ride the North Borneo Railway check with the station manager by phone on Tanjung Aru prior to departure.