For a unique National Park Vacation in Borneo, you must make sure that you drop by at Mesilau Nature Park near Kundasang town, about 108 km or about 2.5-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, Malaysia Borneo.
Mesilau Nature Park is located within the Kinabalu National Park area on the Pinosok Plateau near Kundasang town. It is about 30 minutes by road away from Kinabalu National Park (about 108km from Kota Kinabalu). The stretch of the road from Kundasang to Mesilau Nature Park, which is about 2,000 metres above sea level, is extremely steep and some parts of it are in bad condition (at this point of writing).
On the way, you will surely be captivated by the spectacular views of the Kundasang valley with terraced hill slopes planted with highlands vegetables, and parts of the scenic beauty of the Kundasang Mt. Kinabalu Golf Course, a challenging 18-hole golf course for avid golfers, undeniably, the highest golf course in South East Asia.
But once you get to Mesilau Nature Park, you will notice that the place is more natural and "virgin" than the now "commercialized" Kinabalu National Park. As the Park lies at the base of Mount Kinabalu, the mountain will look even more spectacular with a sheer wall of granite towering a few thousand meters from the virgin forest floor and ending in jagged peaks. This is the so-called breathtaking Mesilau Pinnacles.
Mesilau Nature Park is the starting point for the alternative and more challenging route up Mount Kinabalu. Trek the route up to a kilometres or two even if you are not planning to climb Mount Kinabalu. Since the Mesilau Summit Trail is relatively newer and less crowded than the old summit trail, your chance of encountering (tamed) wildlife is also brighter. One prominent feature of the route is the seemingly abundance of orchids (Rhododendrons) and pitcher plants.
But to experience the best of what Mesilau can offer, you will need to spend a night or two at the eco-friendly Mesilau Nature Resort, which is nestled amongst the trees at the foot of the mountain within the Park. The Resort itself is amazing since it was carefully planned and built to blend into its natural surrounding. The chalets are on slopes surrounded by trees with the full view of the Mesilau River flowing below. And for food, the Kedamaian Restaurant is famous for its piping hot steamboat, and barbecue dinners if you are staying overnight.
Mesilau will enchant you with its cool temperate climate (temperatures vary around 17-21 degree Celcius during the day and 10-15 degree Celcius at night) and serene surroundings as a truly amazing nature’s paradise. The world’s largest pitcher plant, the “Nepenthes Rajah”, is recorded to grow in abundance here. A guided nature walk around the Park is recommended and will leave you with lasting "natural" memories.
Mesilau Nature Park and its Resort is an ideal venue for relaxation or retreat. The bio-diversity of the flora and fauna found here makes Mesilau a haven for naturalists. It is one of the best location for a memorable National Park Vacation.
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About the Author: e-borneo.com is one of the leading Borneo-based Borneo Travel and Trip Advisor web sites, which also serves as a Borneo travel gateway and tour intermediary for the best and cost-effective custom/full-package vacation deals to Malaysia Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) and Brunei Darussalam. Please also visit e-borneo.com's latest sister site, Borneo Tropical Vacation for more travel content.
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