The state-capital city of Sabah is Kota Kinabalu. The modern city is the largest city of Sabah and situated on the northwest coast of Borneo along the South China Sea in Malaysia. The city is named after Mount Kinabalu located in Kinabalu National Park. Things to do and see in Kota Kinabalu is an overview of interesting places to visit in and around Kota Kinabalu, including two national parks, Kinabalu National Park and Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.
Table of Contents
History
Kota Kinabalu was ruled by the Bruneian Empire in the 15th century. In 1811 the North Borneo Company setup a trade settlement on Pulau Gaya, an island close to the shore. Rebels plundered and destroyed the settlement. After a fire they abandoned the island. The company built a new city in 1899 opposite of Pulau Gaya. The British gave it the name Jesselton. The city was named after Sir Charles Jesselton, one of the directors of North Borneo Company. The first railway was built from the city along the coast. In the Second World War Jesselton was completely destroyed by bombs. In 1967 the city got it’s current name, Kota Kinabalu. Residents often use the nickname for their city, KK.
Interesting sights to visit
City Centre
You can explore the centre of Kota Kinabalu on foot. One of the places I liked most is the waterfront. It is the perfect spot to read a book, listen to the sounds of the ocean or admire the pink orange sunsets. There are restaurants and bars along the shore and lively (night)- markets. For souvenir shopping the best place to go to is the Filipino Market. It’s a labyrinth of small paths and hundreds of stalls. The Filipino immigrants sells handicraft items, trinkets, woven cloths and pearls. Real pearls and fake ones! At night you can try different kinds of Malay food. At the Central Market they sell fish they caught in the early morning.
The Atkinson Clock Tower is one of the few structures that survived the bombings. The tower used to be a lighthouse. Due to land reclamation, the tower is located too far from the coast to serve as lighthouse. At Signal Hill is an observatory. From here you have an scenic view of Kota Kinabalu and the South China Sea.
South
South of the centre is the Sabah State Museum at Old Palace Hill. The building is designed as a Murut Longhouse. The museum has exhibitions about the history, the natural history and archaeology of Sabah. The ethnographic exhibition is interesting, and a little bit morbid. They display sculls “obtained” by Kazadan. Other items displayed are totems, traditional clothing, fabrics and musical instruments. Kazadan is an ethnic group in the state of Sabah. They mainly live on the west coast of Sabah around Penampang. Next to the museum is the Science and Education Museum about the oil extraction off the coast of Sabah. In the garden is the Heritage Village. Here you see examples of traditional houses of different indigenous ethnic groups in Borneo.
The City Mosque of Kota Kinabalu is the second main mosque of KK, after the State Mosque in Sembulan. The City Mosque is located on the shore of Likas Bay and is surrounded by a human-made lake. The nickname given is ‘The Floating Mosque’. The maximum capacity of the mosque is around 12.00 worshippers. The mosque is open for non-Muslims, except during prayers. You are required to wear suitable clothing. Cover your shoulders and wear long trousers.
Kinabalu National Park
The Kinabalu National Park is popular because of Mount Kinabalu. With 4095 metres it is the highest mountain of southeast Asia. The national park is listed as UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000. The mountain is formed 9 million years ago, a young one in geological terms. The park head quarters (HQ) is located 90km from the city. Many travel agencies in the city organise day- or multiple day hikes in the national park. It is possible to climb mount Kinabalu.
Hiking
The rainforest at the foot of the mountain is great to go hiking for a day. There are a few marked trails and the longest one is the Ligawu Trail and is 5,6km long. Other shorter trails are Pandanus Trail and Kiau View Trail. Theses two trails start at HQ. There is a guided tour through the national park. The guide explains all kinds of information about the rainforest. The rainforest has over 1000 orchids, 450 fern species and 25 rhododendrons species. Spot birds and insects or visit the botanical gardens located close to HQ.
Climbing Mount Kinabalu
Don’t underestimate the climb of Mount Kinabalu. A good physical condition and adequate equipment are essential. The climb takes two days and you need to stay overnight on the mountain. Make sure to get as high as possible to start early on the second day.
Day 1
Climbing Mount Kinabalu consists of a number of stages. You start at HQ and walk to the Power Station (1829mtr) in one hour. There is a shuttlebus between HQ and the Power Station. From the Power Station the actual climb starts. The trail leads to the Telecom Station (2287mtr, 1,5 hours). The tour passes through the forest and Carson’s Falls. The waterfall is named after the first caretaker of the park. The trail on the left goes back to the Telecom Station. The trail on the right goes to the top of the mountain. Next stop is Layang Layang (2621mtr, 1,5 hours). Known as Carson’s Camp. It is possible to stay overnight in the camp. The next stop is Paka Cave (3080mtr, 1,5 uur). This part goes through a forest of rhododendrons and bamboo. Most climbers stay at Laban Rata (3451mtr, 1 hour). There is a rest-house and restaurant.
Day 2
The next day you leave at 3am to reach the top of the mountain before sunrise. This part of the trail is most difficult. The first part is to Sayat Sayat 3811mtr, 1,5 hours) and is steep and rope railings provide support. The last part to the top is Low’s Peak (4095mtr). The trail is less than a kilometre but it does take over an hour. The descend is around 6 hours and you receive a certificate which says you’ve been on top of Mount Kinabalu.
What to bring?
A standard equipment is necessary. Bring a raincoat, warm sweater, flashlight, sturdy walking shoes, hat and a first aid kit. It’s mandatory to hire a guide. You can get a permit at HQ.
How to go there?
If you like to visit the national park on your own, you can take a mini-bus from the city. They don’t leave at a certain time but depart when the bus is full. Tell the driver to drop you off at HQ. On your way back you can take any bus to Kota Kinabalu. The best opportunity to see the mountain is before 10am.
Best time to go
Best time go climb Mount Kinabalu is in March and April. The dry weather and the moderate temperature is perfect to go hiking and climbing.
Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
Right off the coast from Kota Kinabalu are five islands. Together they form Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Named after the first Prime Minister it is the oldest national park of Sabah. The beautiful sandy beach and clear blue waters makes it an excellent daytrip to get away from the city. You can go swimming, snorkelling and diving around the islands. You are not allowed to touch or take coral, fish and other items. The locals try their best to protect the natural environment. It is sad to see tourists ignoring this and break coral reefs and try to touch the fish. Use your common sense.
Pulau Gaya is the largest island. Besides the white sandy beaches, you can go hiking through the dense forest. The second largest island is Pulau Manukan and it is the most visited island. On both islands is accommodation. The other three islands are receiving less visitors. Pulau Sapi is perfect to go snorkelling and Pulau Sulug has beautiful reefs.
In the worlds jungle travel
Are you planning a trip to Malaysia? The Beginners Travel Guide to Malaysia contains essential practical info you need, from interesting places to visit, best time to go, visa, a list of festivals and more. Are you interested in visiting other places in Borneo? Read articles about other amazing national parks in Malaysian Borneo. Visit Bako National Park in Kuching, Niah National Park close to the Brunei border or go deeper into the jungle at Mulu National park. See what Borneo looks like and go for a virtual picture tour of Malaysian Borneo.
