LOCATED on the west coast of the tropical island of Borneo, Kota Kinabalu is part of Malaysia and is the capital of Sabah, one of two states of East Malaysia. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with activities ranging from trekking in the rain forest to relaxing on the long stretches of uninterrupted beaches. Diving, fishing and other water sport activities are also popular. Often described as a paradise, Sabah attracted 2,844,597 visitors in 2011 with the majority of tourists coming from Asia. This year, the total number of visitors recorded at the end of April, 2012 is almost touching 1,000,000 guests, showing a 4.3 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
The entire region of Sabah is an adventure traveller’s haven. The crystal turquoise waters will beckon any passionate diver, as it offers some of the best diving spots in the world. The non-divers can go snorkelling and ‘sea-walking’ which involves wearing a helmet that allows people to breathe as they slowly descend approximately 15 feet to the sea bed, where they can then ‘walk’ amongst the fish and coral.
For those less inclined to get wet, the jungles will entice nature enthusiasts with a wide variety of trails to choose from. However, no visit would be complete without seeing the orang-utans. Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary in Sandakan is a worthwhile visit from Kota Kinabalu as it is the world’s largest orangutan sanctuary. A day trip will allow you to experience these incredible creatures in their natural habitat as young, captured or orphaned orangutans are gradually rehabilitated into the wild.
The history of the region is varied and interesting and nowhere is this better reflected than at Monsopiad Cultural Village. The cultural village has been built by the direct descendent of Monsopiad on the land where the fearless warrior himself lived three centuries ago, providing visitors with an extraordinary insight into the heritage of the region. The interactive guided tour starts with a visit to the House of Skulls and finishes with a traditional dancing lesson and lunch.
There are a variety of places to stay in Kota Kinabalu ranging from the more internationally recognised hotel chains such as Hyatt Regency, Le Meridian, and Shangri-La to the more budget oriented lodges. For golfers, there is the Sutera Harbour on the shores of South China Sea, with its championship golf course. Sutera Harbour is part of an expansive complex which also includes the Golf & Country Club and the 956 room-and-suite Magellan Sutera.