Experience Culture and stay with the locals
When in Borneo, an experience that should not to be missed is a homestay in a village with resident tribes people going about their day-to-day life. The tribes in Sabah consist more than 30 ethnic groups, which includes the Dusun that made up the majority ethnic group, they are friendly and welcoming hosts. Each of these community will have its own dialect and will also have variations in religion. Traditionally there were Animist and many converted to Christianity during the colonial period. Staying with the locals is a basic stay with Mattresses, mosquitoes net, and sleeping sheets. Bewildered with a rather unique homestay experience by living their daily life, in the rural of Kota Kinabalu City.
Go Chasing Waterfalls
Sabah is a tropical rainforest haven for nature enthusiasts with fun and adventurous outdoor activities awaits the explorers. With the summer all year round in tropical Borneo it is great to go explore some of Sabah’s great waterfalls.
Visitors could opt to choose from easy to hard trek to enjoy some magnificent waterfalls in Sabah, with the Crocker Range running from the northern to the southern state of Sabah, the waterfalls ranges from small to a stunning deep drop. Most of the waterfalls hike takes about a day trip, however for those craving for an adventure may sign up for 2 days to 4 days hike into the heart of Borneo to uncover waterfalls surrounded by pristine beauty of Mother Nature.
Some of the falls that should not be missed are, Mahua waterfalls, Kionsom, Maliau, Imbak Canyon, Madai and Tawai waterfalls are some with stunning views ranging from an easy hike to moderate and the need to be physically fit on some these treks. Whichever choice of waterfalls you may choose, one thing for sure the waterfalls worth every endeavor one’s put in.
Go on a Beach Crawl
Sabah has an abundant stunning beaches, found in many parts of her coastline and including her many gorgeous islands. Each one of these beaches offers something unique to traveler, either for a lazy day or fun-filled day with activities, traveler could simply just either drive or hopped on a short boat ride to any of these beaches.
Among the beaches that should not be missed, are the Tuaran Beach. The beautiful stretch of white sandy beach of Tuaran runs along the North coast of Kota Kinabalu, extending to some well-known resorts like the Shangri-la’s and Nexus the Tuaran Beach is great for a good quiet picnic and the wind breeze render an ideal place for sun-basking.
Tanjung Aru beach is one that is commonly popular among the locals, especially during the weekends and public holidays the area is flocked with beach-goers. On most days, Tanjung Aru is seen as a fun-filled with activities such as kayaking, boat-sailing, kite-surfing and keen photographers to capture the stunning sunsets. Alternatively go down south to Kinarut, here beach-goers can be spotted swimming, boating or horseback riding on land. Travelers could get to these beaches on taxi, Grab car, or driving themselves here.
Jungle trek into ‘The Lost World’
Adventure seekers will fall in love with Maliau Basin, it is great for jungle trekking, wildlife sighting and water babies to take a plunge into her many beautiful waterfalls. Situated in a remote Southern area of Sabah with completely surrounded by insurmountable cliffs, making Maliau Basin separated from the rest of the region and the feel of being in a totally different world of its own. Maliau Basin was first discovered in 1947 when a World War 2 pilot spotted a massive sunken forest, decided to flew in and almost hit the basin’s escarpment said to be higher that Mount Kinabalu. Today, the ‘Lost World of Borneo’ never ceased to amaze nature explorers. It’s unusual mass of forest types, from lower montane forest, rare montane health to lowland forest, and hill dipterocarp forest, with staggering amount of wildlife and plants diversity can be found here. A chance to experience Maliau Basin is definitely for the adventurous at heart, as most of the basin region is still unexplored and completely wild that would require five to eight hours of walk daily with steep uphills hike throughout the four to five days expedition in Maliau Basin.
Off-road trip to the rural
Take on an off-road adventure into the rural part of Sabah, which are mostly covered still with dense rainforest and with its rugged terrain, to experience the different side of Borneo. Off-road trips are run with driving through rural and remote villages in Sabah, where obstacles are part and parcel of the trip, with acquiring team-effort with one another in overcoming the challenges faced. Taken part in this expedition, would leave lasting memories on one’s adventure, and experienced gain from this trip is strong resilience, endurance and patience.
