Borneo Sabah Mt Kinabalu Park ~ Malaysia Travel

Mt Kinabalu views breathtaking!

The peaks of Mt Kinabalu are easily seen from Kinabalu lodge, where I took this photo. We'd driven inland from the coast at Sandakan, the land steadily getting higher. At Kinabalu, the humid heat of the coast was a distant memory. Clear, sweet air and temperate rainforest climate made for a lovely retreat. The lodge is 1,200 metres (about 4,000 feet) above sea level; Mt Kinabalu peak is at 4,095 metres (13,435 feet) and still growing. It is NOT a volcanic mountain -- it is granite, being thrust upward at about 5mm (about a fifth of an inch) per year.

View from the Mount Kinabalu lookout

In the morning, the rain from the night before cleared to sunny skies. A 20 minute drive brought us to the park, and an outlook offering panoramic valley views (here, you are facing, roughly, north). We were told that Mt Kinabalu is the world's youngest non-volcanic mountain and the highest peak in southeast Asia. It began 'poking its way upward' aboaut a million years ago. In late April, the birds were singing, the flowers were blooming, and the air was incredibly sweet and fresh. It brought to mind the air in the mountains in British Columbia, Canada (my one-time home. I was smitten!

Mt Kinabalu Park sign shows record climb times

I had to take a picture of the sign at the start of the trail for the peak climb -- elevation is 1,800 metres (5,900 feet). The green panel lists the names of those who've climbed the mountain the fastest. The record, as of when I stood here, was held by a Mexican, who made the climb up AND back in 2 hours 41 minutes. Mt Kinabalu was the venue for an eco-challenge race with climbers making the return trip in 3 hours or less. Most visitor climbs are scheduled to arrive at the peak for sunrise; this morning, I'd noticed first light at 5:30 a.m., so you do spend the night on the mountain. Our young, fit guide had made the climb a few years earlier when some friends thought it would be a fun thing to do, said, "Never again!"

Kadazan Dusun House ~ Borneo Malaysia

A replica of a Kadazan Dusun home, built on stilts 'to keep the headhunters out'. Though this ethnic group is the largest, 'Sabah and Sarawak are home to many indigenous ethnic groups, each with their own unique culture and heritage'.

Kadazan Dusun crafts At Kinabalu Park

A large administrative building houses a museum filled with Kadazan Dusun handicrafts and artefacts. A video explains the origins, and the various rainforests and flora in the 750 square mile Kinabalu Park, established in 1964. About one third of Sabah's population is Kadazan Dusun, actually two peoples who have the same language aand culture, thought the Kadazan historically settled in lowlands, and the Dusun in the interior mountains.

Trail in Mt Kinabalu Park

After a tour of a botanical area (plant photos are on their own page), we headed into the Borneo tropical rainforest for a 3-4 km (2-2.5 mile) hike. Borneo is home to the oldest tropical rainforest on earth. The trail is leafy, and soft with soil and roots, and wet and muddy in parts from last night's heavy rain. From time to time, there are a few flying insects, similar to horse flies, but we ignore them and they leave off annoying us. In steeper sections, the trail has been shored up with wood bracing to make steps. Some steps rise about 18 inches apart, making work for those with short legs. We climb about 500 metres, with the trail in switchbacks, to get to the lookout. From there, it's all downhill. We're glad of our early morning start, for as noon approaches, the cool morning air turns very warm.

Mt Kinabalu Park stream

Though the canopy of tall trees and vines shaded much of the trail, shafts of sunlight penetrated to the forest floor every so often, like here, above this mountain stream.

Though the trail is steep, fit hikers would have no trouble. It is not too difficult a climb, and if you need to stop to catch your breath, you're free to do so. Approaching the lookout -- the highest point on this trail -- a very steep path leads to the top. At the lookout, there's a shelter, and cooling breezes. In the distance, small farms and fields.

Mt Kinabalu Park Ferns, bamboo, rattan vines

Here's one of the trail markers to keep hikers on course. Our guide told us that, in Dusun, 'Nabalu' means any big boulder, although one that's usually associated with spirits or ancestors, and 'Ki' means the number of boulders, a group. Kinabalu, then, roughly means a group of boulders associated with spirits of their ancestors.

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Mount Kinabalu peak climbs

Those planning to climb Mt Kinabalu -- to summit KInabalu -- begin their ascent the day before, at about 9 a.m. They hike 4-5 hours up to the base camp, where they make a mandatory rest stop for the night. They rise at 2 a.m. to head for the summit, timing the climb to arrive ahead of sunrise. See Borneo main page for general Borneo Malaysia travel information.

More Borneo Sabah photos and information:

• Borneo Island Poring Hot springs canopy walk and Sandakan

• Kinabalu Mountain Lodge

• Borneo Sepilok Orangutans

• Borneo Sandakan Malaysia Libaran Island, Turtle Island

• Kota Kinabalu City, Nexus hotel, river homes

• Travel Tips main page What to Pack, travel Meds, Travel clothes, etc

Sarawak Borneo Gunung Mulu Park pictures and information

• Mulu Park riverboat ride

• the Royal Mulu resort

• the Gunung Mulu Park Show Caves