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Kinabalu National Park, Sabah |
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The Kinabalu Park, covering an area of 754 sq. kilometers including Mt.
Kinabalu, Mt. Tambayukon to the north and their foothills, was gazetted to
preserve the valuable natural heritage encompassed within the mountains and its
natural environment. The majestic mountain, has fascinating geological history.
It began approximately a million years ago when the granite core lying beneath
the earth’s crust was solidifying. This granite massif was later thrust upwards
through the crust to the surface. Subsequent erosion removed thousands of the
feet of the overlying sand and mud stone exposing this massif. During the Ice
Age, glacier running though the summit plateau, smoothed it out but the jagged
peaks that stood out above the ice surface, remained unaffected by these
‘cosmetic’ touches and retained their extremely ragged surfaces. This rugged
mountain 4093 meters above the sea level, and still imperceptible of the
National Park. |
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Flora and Fauna |
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The park is known for the abundance and diversity of its
plant life, within one of the most ancient vegetations in the world. There are
over 1,200 species of wild orchids and 40 varieties of oak in its forests, not
to mention the countless varieties of rhododendrons. Moss and ferns weigh down
the trees of the Montane oak forests at the upper region, and flowers are to be
seen on trees, in shrubs, along the banks on the forest floor and even peeping
out of the rocky crevices of the summit.
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The Bornean mountain ground squirrel Dremomys eve is
often spotted scampering about the vegetation area while the mountain tree
spots Tupaia Montana easily. You may even come across a red-necked keelback
snake sunning itself along your path. Bird sightings range from mountain black
eye, mountain black bird, Borneo eye bright, Euphrasia borneensis, and the not
'not-so-friendly' Kinabalu Warbler. |
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Climbing Mt. Kinabalu . The climb can normally be accomplished in two days but it is not easy. A more
comfortable option is to take it slow and stretch the climb to three days,
spending two nights in mountain huts along the trail. It gives you the chance
to look around and absorb the sights and sounds of your surroundings, see the
clear mountain streams, observe the subtle changes in vegetation as your trail
closer to the peak - from montane oaks, rhododendrons and conifer forests to
the mossy cloud forest zone with its gnarled, twisted trees covered in moss and
epiphytic orchids and ferns. If luck is on your side, you may encounter the
maiden's veil fungus Dictyophora, a delicate plant that has the foul-smelling
mucous on the outer surface of its cap that attracts insects. |
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Complimentary Programmes. The park organises complimentary visitor programmes for
first-timers. This includes multi-vision show, guided walk and a mountain
garden walk conducted by park naturalists. Take advantage of this option and
gain informative and educational insight about the park's flora and fauna. |
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Poring Hot Springs. Introduced by the Japanese during World
War II, features several open-air Japanese-style baths. Take a dip to rest your
tired feet and aching muscles. The water contains sulphur that is famously
known for its curing skin problems. |
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Jungle paths lead through lush lowland forests to
bubbling mountain streams and waterfalls amidst the merry chirping of the birds
and the colourful profusion of wild flowers. |
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| Click here to check out more at Sabah's interesting destinations |
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How to get there |
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Kota Kinabalu-the international gateway to the rest of
Sabah-has direct flights to and from the main capitals in the region, Kuala
Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kaoshiung, Tokyo, Seoul, Brunei and
Manila.The park is about ninety kilometers from Kota Kinabalu. The journey
takes about two hours. Mini buses depart daily from Kota Kinabalu to Ranau,
from 6.00am to 3.00pm and stop at Kinabalu Park along the way.
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(Click the map to enlarge) |
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