Sabah is located in East Malaysia and is considered the second largest state of Malaysia, which is also called Negeri di Bawah Bayu, which means “Land below the winds”, “leelands”. The state got this nickname because of its location, as it is located below the geographic typhoon belt, in the east of northern Borneo. In the west, Sabah is washed by the South China Sea, in the east by the Sulu Seas and the famous Sulawesi dive sea, while the coastline of the state reaches 1440 km.
Sabah is characterized by a mountainous terrain, its territory is covered with dense tropical forests. And in the east of the state is Mount Kinabalu, the highest in Southeast Asia. The state’s two million people are a patchwork of 32 ethnic groups. Check liuxers for customs and traditions of Malaysia.
The state capital of Kota Kinabalu is a modern city with skyscrapers. The favorite place for walks of its residents is the central embankment, where it is always noisy and crowded, you can buy souvenirs, dine in one of the many cafes, and also make a sea voyage to the neighboring state – the richest sultanate in the world of Brunei. It also makes sense to look at the Sabah State Museum (5 MYR) and the Philippine market (Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens).
History of the State of Sabah
In the 9th century, the state of Sabah was ruled by tribal leaders, whose power, as a rule, was limited to individual territories. Certain ties were maintained with China, and later with the Spaniards and the Portuguese. By the 15th century, Sabah fell into vassalage from the Principality of Brunei, and in 1704 the Brunei Sultan ceded land to the east of Marudu Bay to Sultan Sulu.
When the Second World War ended, Sabah became a colony of Great Britain, and in 1963 it gained independence and became part of modern Malaysia.
In the early 1880s, the American merchant Moses leased Sabah from Brunei, then the lease was transferred to the Englishman Dent. He founded the North Borneo Government Company and in 1881 signed an agreement with Brunei and Sulu, according to which the lands of Sabah completely passed into his possession.
The North Borneo Company controlled the territory of the state until the Japanese occupation during the Second World War. When the war ended, Sabah became a colony of Great Britain, and in 1963 it gained independence and became part of modern Malaysia.
How to get to Sabah
By plane
Malaysia Airlines flights operate to Kota Kinabalu from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Labuan and Kuching. Domestic flights within the state connect the cities of Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau. Other major companies provide connections to Singapore, Brunei, Jakarta, Manila, Hong Kong and Taipei (Taiwan).
By road
The main cities of the state are interconnected by excellent roads, on which express buses run. Minibuses run shorter distances and make trips within cities. You can move around the state by hiring a taxi, using autoline minibuses, intercity buses and boats.
By train
There is a railway line from Beaufort and Tenoma in the south of the state to the capital, but otherwise this mode of transport is poorly developed.
By river transport
In inland areas, rivers play the role of highways. Journeys are made on small sampan boats or long boats.
Weather in Sabah
The climate of Sabah is equatorial, constantly hot and humid. In the mountains, the climate becomes more moderate, and at high altitudes even cool. Precipitation per year varies from 3750 mm in the plains to 5000 mm in the mountains.
Danum Valley
The Danum Valley Conservation Area has an amazing wealth of wildlife and is located in the Danum Valley, 83 km from the city of Lahad Datu.
The Danum Valley Conservation Area has an amazing wealth of wildlife and is located in the Danum Valley, 83 km from the city of Lahad Datu.
Endangered Sumatran rhinos, orangutans, gibbons and bearded boars roam here, about 270 bird species have been spotted. At 440 sq. km of the territory of the reserve housed the Danuma Field Research Center, as well as one of the first ecotourism facilities – the comfortable Borneo Forest Lodge. The program for guests includes forest hikes, bird watching, river bathing, night outings in the jungle, as well as excursions to logging sites and sawmills.
Sandakan
The city of Sandakan is located 386 km from Kota Kinabalu, in a bay on the northeast coast of the state and is washed off by the Sulu Sea. This city is interesting both in itself and due to its proximity to the amazing natural resources of the state – the Turtle Islands, the orangutan reserve or the resort of Semporna.
In the city itself, the Church of St. Michael and the Church of All Angels, the temple of the Goddess of Mercy, the Buddhist temple of Pu-Ji-Shi, a mosque, an Australian memorial and a Japanese cemetery are of interest. The Forestry Exhibition in the city center has a large collection of Sabah flowers and plants, along with handicrafts and hunting weapons. The Orchid House houses a collection of rare species of these flowers.
Three highways lead out of Sandakan:
- the Labuk Road takes you to Kota Kinabalu, passing through picturesque plantations, orchards, fields, and forests
- Simsim Road leads to shrimp canning factories, sawmills and shipyards
- the Leila Road runs along the coast, so it offers wonderful views of the sea and islands
From Sandakan, you can go on a boat trip to the mouth of the Kinabatangan River, climb to the first village of Kampung Abai (Kampung Abai) and return by night. Those wishing to spend the night can stay in Sukau. Or go to the island of Berhala by boat – an ideal place for swimming and picnics.
The two caves of Gomantong, located 30 km from Sandakan, are famous for millions of swifts. A 10-minute walk from the center of Gomanthong is Simud Hitam Cave with nests of black swifts and a little further – Simud Putih Cave with nests of white swifts.
Tambunan
Surrounded by rice paddies and rolling hills, Tambunan is nestled just an hour and a half by highway from Kota Kinabalu and 48 km from Keningau. The local area is famous for Lihing rice wine, and the surrounding hills are famous for thickets of bamboo (the result of a British decree that ordered twenty shoots of this plant to be planted instead of one cut down).
You can buy handicrafts at the local Crafts Center and also at the tamu fair that takes place every Sunday. Other places of interest around Tambunan include the Rafflesia Forest Reserve and the Mawah Jungle Falls on the border of Crocker Range National Park. There are few hotels here, but there are still places to spend the night: in the boarding house Tambunan Village Resort Center or Majora Holiday Farm.
Keningau is located 48 km from Tenoma, here you can make a stop before making more distant trips to the lands of the Muruts.
Tenom
It takes a long time to get to Tenoma from Kota Kinabalu, but it’s worth it:
- first by express bus from the capital along the main highway via Papar, Bongawan and Kimanis to Beaufort
- from there by train to Tenoma (4 hours on the way).
This area of the Murut people is connected to the state capital by the only railway line in the territory, which runs picturesquely along the Padas River. The trip itself is very exciting: on the way you can enjoy amazing views of the Padas Gorge. The Murut tribe in Tenoma live in the so-called “long houses”, their traditional way of life is farming and hunting. And the main local attraction is the Tenoma Orchid Garden, of which there are more than 600 species.