Mount Kinabalu an easy climb

Peak of majestic Mount Kinabalu visible at a certain hour of the day
The park's headquarters where climbers register before making their way up to the mountains

A flower in the park

Café Balsam's entrance opposite the park's headquarters

Sunset view from Pondok Timpohon

A view of the peak from a park spot

Park entrance from the main road

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to RDN and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By RDN

The highest mountain in South East Asia, Mount Kinabalu, despite its intimidating size, is regarded as of one of the easiest mountains in the world to climb as no special skills or equipment are needed, though the ascent is a physically tough and challenging climb.

Each year sees thousands of visitors climbing to the summit of the mountain's Low Peak and on top of that, visitors from as far as Europe visit its National Park located at the foothill of the mountain.

Kinabalu National Park is host to unique flora and fauna and at altitudes above 4,000 feet, it is a place for plants of Himalayan and Chinese genera as well as Australian, New Zealand and even American affinity.

Buttercups of Australian affinity, Rosaceous trees and shrubs and Violets, which are both of Sino-Himalayan affinity are some of the floras here, mingling with pitcher plants (Nepenthes) and bamboos of Bornean origins.

Mount Kinabalu, according to studies, is one of the richest and most diverse assemblages of plants in the world and is believed to have 1,000 orchid species, including at least five species of perhaps the most famous orchid species found on Kinabalu; the slipper orchid of the genus Papiopedillium.

The park, one of the earth's last frontiers of wilderness, is a natural paradise and also home to world's largest flower; the Rafflesia. It the covers an area of 754 sq km. Towering 4,101 metres (13,455 ft) above the mysterious tropical jungles, Mount Kinabalu is the majestic centrepiece of Kinabalu Park.

A stroll around the park puts visitors; minds at ease and at times, the weather can be so cold that slightly thicker clothing is the most appropriate attire to wear.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend