With its bounty of natural heritage, Sabah fits the bill when it comes to scenes of immense and untainted beauty.
From towering mountains to ancient rainforests, a visit to the Land Below the Wind is a must for anyone who longs to immerse themselves in nature – quite literally!
Given how vast the state is and just how many places there are to visit, it is easy for a first-time guest to be lost for choice. Fret not, as Tourism Malaysia has some ideas of gorgeous sites – and sights – worth checking out.
Here are three locations to add to your bucket list.
1. Go wildlife-watching on the Klias River Cruise
Fancy a relaxing cruise where not only you get to enjoy the breeze in your hair but also see wildlife before your very eyes? The Klias River Cruise is the perfect vacation experience for a relaxing but educational time.
Setting off from the jetties at Kuala Penyu, you will get to witness the “playboy of Borneo” in his natural habitat.
Just who is this jungle Casanova, you ask? None other than the proboscis monkey, a novel simian species famed for its prominent nose!
Have fun witnessing the evening activities of monkeys who call the riverside jungles home.
Just because night has fallen, it doesn’t mean the cruise is over. The jungle never sleeps, and many animals only reveal themselves in darkness.
Keep your hands to yourself as your river guide shines a searchlight across the dark waters. If you see glimmering eyes on the surface, that’s exactly where you will find a lurking reptile.
On clear, moonless nights, visitors will also get to marvel at the spectacle of fireflies illuminating the trees like fairy-lights.
For more information on the Klias River Cruise, click here, contact 019-840 0402, or email [email protected].
2. Survive the mud volcanoes of Pulau Tiga
Have you ever watched the US reality-TV show “Survivor”? Some 46 seasons in, and it’s still running!
Well, did you know that the very first season was filmed in Sabah? More specifically, on an island off the coast known as Pulau Tiga.
Today, Pulau Tiga is very much open to visitors and it is quite the place to see in person. Located 18km from Kuala Penyu, it is accessible by speedboat, with voyages taking about half an hour.
Visitors will be greeted with a large sign on the beach that reads “Survivor Island”, a testament to its past appearance on international television.
As with most isles in Sabah, Pulau Tiga has beautiful beaches, with white sands and blue sea as far as the eye can see.
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, grab some hiking shoes and make your way to the mud volcanoes at the centre of the island. This is a geological feature where gas escapes from deep inside the earth, pushing up mud and water.
Tourists, especially from East Asia, flock to have mud baths here, believing that the substance has dermatological properties. See what we mean about immersing yourself in nature?
Who knows – you just might walk away with crystal-clear skin!
For more information on Pulau Tiga, click here, contact 08-852 3500, or email [email protected].
3. Stroll through nature at Taman Pertanian Sabah
Given its healthy soil and climate, the district of Tenom is ideal for agriculture. For this reason, it is also home to Taman Pertanian Sabah, an agricultural park that is part of the wider Kompleks Pertanian.
Established in October 2000, the park is dedicated to preserving Sabah’s flora diversity and educating visitors on the natural world.
There are over 2,000 species cultivated here, ranging from ccommon plants like durian trees to more unusual specimens like the cannonball tree.
The park’s pride and joy is its orchid collection, which features hundreds of species including the highly valuable Sumazau, Sabah’s official orchid.
There are also areas reserved for fruit trees, the produce of which you can savour on the spot.
Keep an eye out for fruits exclusive to Sabah, like the kesusu – a relative of the cempedak, albeit with a sweet-sour taste – or the buah bambangan, which can be described as an oversized langsat. It is actually a relative of the mango and is often pickled as a treat!Accommodation is available here, too, for those who would like to wake up to the scent of flowers and freshly cut fruit.
Learn more about Taman Pertanian Sabah here, contact 08-773 7952, or email [email protected].
This article was written as part of a Sabah visit organised by Tourism Malaysia.