This year, we will bring you to Sabah, Malaysia. Sabah, also know as the Land below Wind is well-known for its great diversity of species. Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, is located at the northwest coast of this 3rd world largest island of Borneo. Flanking by South China Sea and majestic Mount Kinabalu, it now holds half a million population which consists of races and ethnicities of all kinds, including mainly of Kadazans, Bajaus, Chinese and Malays. With such a variety of races, there remains a variety of religious practices that exhibit a unique cultural concoction in this state of East Malaysia. There are lots of places of nature which includes Kota Kinabalu National Park, Crocker Range National park, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Sipadan Island, Danum Valley Conservation Area and Tabin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our eco-venture trip itinerary is scheduled threading thru northwest natures’ attraction and national parks.

Kota Kinabalu National Park

One hundred and thirty eight kilometers from Kota Kinabalu raises the majestic Mount Kinabalu. Peak at 4,101 meters Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in South East Asia. The hundreds of square kilometers encompassed by its slopes, from sea level to the jagged stone edge marking its summit, form the Kinabalu National Park. Within this area are found some of the richest flora in the world, ranging from lowland dipterocarp forest, largest flower Rafflesia to the montane oak, rhododendron, and conifer forests of the middle altitudes and eventually to the alpine meadows and stunted, windswept bushes of the summit. On the other hand, fauna like Mountain Bush Warbler, Kinabalu friendly Warbler, palefaced Bilbul and Mountain Blackeyes are also observed.

With such an intimidating height, it is unlikely to scale to top within a day; hence the objective would be to appreciate the pristine flora and fauna hereabout. Mount Kinabalu's slopes possess a wealth of plant growth and a large variety of birds, and much of the climb's interest and beauty lies in tracing the transitions from one ecosystem to the next as one reaches ever higher altitude. If time allows, there are graded paths leading through rich lowland forest to Mountain Rivers, waterfalls, and tumbled bat caves.

 

 

Poring Hotspring

The Poring Hot Springs, located within Kinabalu National Park, is another prime attraction. We would have the chance to revel in the natural legacy developed first by the Japanese during World War II. Today the springs are piped into several open-air, Japanese-style baths. The hot springs contain sulfur mineral, which has therapeutic properties for skin diseases and aching muscles.

 

 

 

 

Canopy walkway

Approximate 20 minutes walk from Poring Hotspring is a 41 meters high and 157.6 meters long Treetop Canopy Walkway, it offers bird’s eye view of the rainforest.

Pulau Manukan (Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park)

Lying 3 to 8 km off-shore of Borneo Island west coast is the beautiful Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) Marine Park, consisting of 5 idyllic islands: Gaya, Mamutik, Manukan, Sapi and Sulug. These islands besides being picturesque places, they are ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving and excursion. The unsullied and untainted coral reefs, a valuable marine heritage, would definitely offer us with some awesome eye-openers.

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park (or Lokkawi Zoo) is located at old Penampang-Papar road, about 15km from Kota Kinabalu city. Here we can see Borneo and Malaysia wild animals such as orang utan, proboscis monkey, Asian elephant, rhino, hornbill birds, tiger, etc

Klias/Garama River Cruise

Down the pecking order of our itinerary list is the Klias wetland reserve situated at the southern region of Sabah. Cruise along Klias River which penetrates the Mangrove Forest Reserve rich with river side wildlife and birds offer great opportunity of sighting some of the natural habitats and wildlife animals like Long Tail Macaque monkeys, Silver Langur monkeys, and long nose Proboscis Monkeys and birds such as Kingfisher, darter, and eagle. When night falls, it wouldn’t be hard for us to spot nocturnal animals like flying fox and bats.

Visit to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) – Dialogue Session

The proposed topic of dialogue session is ‘Nature Conservation’. It seems an easy topic, but it brings up recent issues of why there is so much effort from contributed to make our nature as sustainable as possible. Besides sharing his scholastic perspective of natare conservation, he also has a lot to share with his hands-on experience in the field of terrestial and marine ecosystem. Impact assessment, as would be part of the speech content, provides an index to judge the extent of damage from human activity. This would provide us some ideas accountable for the rapid rate of species extinction. As a sign it would be, we should by then feel the drive to be part of nature conservation workforce, playing our role though minted as it seems, the world changes if I change.