Kinabalu Park and Layang Layang island

Kinabalu Park, the entrance to Mount Kinabalu, is located at 1,585 metres above sea level and will be the most important starting stage towards the summit trail that leads to the best of Mount Kinabalu. It covers an spot of 754sq km and is produced up of Mount Kinabalu, Mount Tambayukon and the foothills.

The mountains use a fascinating geological history, using 'just' a million a long time to style. The mighty Mount Kinabalu is actually a granite massif that was later thrust upwards as a result of the crust of your floor. Subsequent erosion taken off hundreds of feet from the overlying sand and mud stone, exposing this massif.

Throughout the Ice Age, glaciers jogging across the summit smoothed it out, however the jagged peaks that stood out over the ice floor remained unaffected, retaining the very ragged surfaces. This rugged mountain stays the focal stage from the Nationwide Park to this time of day.

Mt Kinabalu By means of Ferrata via ferrata (or iron route in Italian), is a mountain route consisting of a series of rungs, rails and cables embracing the rock experience. You will find over 300 through ferrata routes close to the planet plus the globe's highest through ferrata, can now be observed on Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia, whereby the highest level starts off at 3,400 m and ends at 3,800 m. This is the very first time which the sport of by way of ferrata climbing is currently being introduced in Asia.

An exercise for absolutely everyone, the through ferrata is devised to offer people with minor or no climbing encounter access to rock faces commonly reached by mountaineers and rock climbers.You will find several necessities for one particular to consider portion within the via ferrata exercise, such as possessing an average physical fitness degree, becoming in a position to hike approximately 3,200m in six hrs, becoming no less than 10 many years of age, currently being at the very least 1.3 metres tall; and, especially, possessing a fearlessness of heights (or prepared to conquer their fear of heights).

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Kinabalu Park and Layang Layang island

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Mount Tambuyukon, Sabah's third highest peak to be promoted

Sabah wants to promote Mount Tambuyukon, its third highest peak to avoid overcrowding and to protect the heritage site of Mount Kinabalu.

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said that Kinabalu Park is not the only spot offering the best view of Mount Kinabalu.

Equally impressive sights of the highest mountain in South East Asia can be seen from Tamparuli, Ranau, Kota Belud and Tuaran.

He said this at the EAC photography competition prize giving ceremony held at the State Library near here yesterday.

According to Masidi, only 192 people are allowed to climb up the mountain daily to avoid overcrowding and to protect the heritage site.

To avoid disappointing those eager to experience the mountain, he urged the introduction of packages which allow visitors to explore the foot of Mount Kinabalu.

His ministry, through the Sabah Parks, hopes to divert visitors eager to ascend the highest peak in Sabah to other places within Sabah that offer equally remarkable sightings and experiences of the mountain.

Continue reading at: Mount Tambuyukon, Sabah's third highest peak to be promoted

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Zooming in on Sabah

Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is situated on the tropical island of Borneo and is the capital of the Malaysian state of Sabah, one of the two states of East Malaysia. Often called the 'Land below the Wind' because it lies below the typhoon belt, Sabah occupies the eastern part of North Borneo and is East Malaysia's second largest state with an area of 74,500 sq kms.

Sabah has the South China Sea on the west and the Sulu and Celebes Seas on the east. Kota Kinabalu, lies in a fertile lowland plain where most commercial and administrative activities are concentrated and is named after Mount Kinabalu, situated about 90 kilometres north-east of the city. A well known destination internationally, it is a major getaway into the state of Sabah and Borneo.

The city offers good recreational facilities and there is no dearth of leisure spots and conservation areas. Anjung Samudra is a waterfront entertainment spot in the city, speckled with restaurants, cafes, pubs and nightclubs. Tanjung Aru, located about six kilometres from the city centre has a beach stretching over two kilometres in length studded with a number of food and drink stalls.

Kota Kinabalu also plays host to one of the most popular national parks in Malaysia, the Kinabalu national park, about two hours drive from the city. The park covers an area of 754 sq kms and is made up of Mount Kinabalu, Mount Tambayukon and the foothills. It has been gazetted to preserve this valuable natural environment. The mountains have a fascinating geological history, taking 'just' a million years to form.

The mighty Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in South-East Asia, is actually a granite massif that was later thrust upwards through the crust of the surface. The park offers a spectacular view of the mountain and has been assigned the status of a world heritage site by the UNESCO because of the diversity of plant and animal life.

Other sites include the state mosque in Sembulan, which is the largest mosque in Sabah and is embedded with real gold plates. The Mustapha Tower, a 30-storey glass building, supported by high-tensile steel rods, stands at 122 metres and is arguably the tallest building in Borneo.

Popular shopping spots in the city are Kompleks Karamunsing, Centre Point, Wisma Merdeka and KK Plaza. The Filipino market and the Gaya Street Sunday Market are popular for traditional handicrafts, souvenirs and food stuff.

Just outside Kota Kinabalu in the South Chinese Sea is the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park with five tropical islands - Pulua Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Sulug and Pulau Mamutik. All the islands offer refreshing opportunities for diving at the coral reefs and the swift multi-coloured tropical fish are a real visual treat.

There's lots to do in the city; for avid nature lovers, there are the rainforests to explore and for sports enthusiasts, there is always sailing along the azure blue coast. Outside the city, Crocker Range National Park, located about 70 kilometres away from the city near Keningau, is a popular spot for jungle trekking and camping.

The world's largest flower species, the rafflesia, can be found in Tambunan. A stone's throw away is the Gunung Emas Highland Resort which is another spot popular for its scenery and cool climate.

The Tuaran Crocodile Farm, about 30 kilometres north of the city, has around 1,000 crocodiles in its enclosure, making it the largest of its kind in Sabah. The newly opened Sabah Zoological and Botanical Park (Lok Kawi Wildlife Park) in Lok Kawi, about 20 kilometres south of the city, is the first zoo in Sabah. Set on a 280-acre piece of land, it is arguably the largest zoo in Malaysia.

Continue reading (Incl.Pic) at: Zooming in on Sabah
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Kinabalu Park - Important Information

By Tourism Malaysia

Kinabalu Park, the entrance to Mount Kinabalu, is located at 1,585 metres above sea level and is the main starting point for the summit trail that leads to the top of Mt Kinabalu. Its covers an area of 754 sq km and is made up of Mount Kinabalu, Mount Tambayukon and the foothills.

It was gazetted to preserve this valuable natural environment. The mountains have a fascinating geological history, taking ‘just’ a million years to form. The mighty Mount Kinabalu is actually a granite massif that was later thrust upwards through the crust of the surface.

Subsequent erosion removed thousands of feet of the overlying sand and mud stone, exposing this massif. During the Ice Age, glaciers running across the summit smoothed it out, but the jagged peaks that stood out above the ice surface remained unaffected, retaining the extremely ragged surfaces. This rugged mountain is the focal point of the National Park.

KEY TIPS

If you plan to climb the mountain, be sure to bring a head torch for the early morning climb to the summit which starts in utter darkness and cold weather gear. The summit temperatures have been known to dip to below freezing!

Climbing Mt Kinabalu is a different experience for each person, but what makes most people succeed above all, is perseverance.

HOW TO GET THERE

By Taxi

Car rentals can be arranged through major hotels in Kota Kinabalu. Taxis go to Park HQ at Ranau and take a maximum of four passengers. You can negotiate for the taxi to pick you up from Park HQ for your return if you hire the whole taxi.

By Bus

All express and minibuses between Kota Kinabalu and Ranau or Sandakan pass the park turn-off, from where it is just 100m to the Park HQ.

WHO TO CONTACT

For more information about Kinabalu Park, kindly contact their office at (+6088) - 211 881 or (+6088) - 212 719. You could also visit their website at http://www.sabahparks.org.my

ACCOMMODATION OVERVIEW

Accommodation at Kinabalu Park range from hostels to resorts.

Source: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites

NOTE: Photo Copyright to New Sabah Times
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Nomination for Maliau Basin, Danum Valley as world heritage sites

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah state cabinet is planning to nominate Maliau Basin and Danum Valley as world heritage sites, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

Masidi said the state cabinet has agreed with his ministry to nominate Maliau Basin as a new world heritage site.

He added that discussion was still on to determine whether to nominate Maliau Basin and Danum Valley at the same time or separately.

“These places have their own individual uniqueness and are also popular worldwide as the centre for research,” he said to the press after officiating at the Gunung Tambuyukon Scientific seminar at Promenade Hotel here yesterday.

“We can make money out of many other things, but as for our heritage, flora and fauna, the commitment of the state government should not be questioned.

“We will make sure they are well protected.”

Earlier, Masidi also said 49 per cent of the land is reserved as protected areas, six per cent more to the targeted 55 per cent.

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Mt Tambuyukon and Mt Kinabalu two-in-one package to lure tourists

KOTA KINABALU: Mount Tambuyukon and Mount Kinabalu — a two-in-one package — will create a more adventurous hike for tourists, said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun. Masidi also suggested issuing a higher value certificate for tourists who accomplished the hike on both mountains.

He said the aim of the special package was to increase the challenge in mountain climbing, as the climb up Mount Kinabalu is now more of a recreation activity than a physical challenge.

“I think climbing Mount Kinabalu is too easy.

“I am sure the new trail will attract more people to come back again and again,” Masidi said in a press conference after officiating at the Gunung Tambuyukon Scientific seminar here yesterday.

He added that Mount Tambuyukon, at a height of 2,800 metres, was a more challenging trail for climbers.

In addition, Masidi said the move would help disperse the crowd at Mount Kinabalu to a new attraction in Sabah, thus helping to maintain the current acceptable capacity in Mount Kinabalu at 192 to conserve the environment.

“We can accept more climbers but we shift some of them to Mount Tambuyukon,” he said, adding that the package would also increase the awareness of Mount Tambuyukon among the public.

Continue reading at: Mt Tambuyukon and Mt Kinabalu two-in-one package to lure tourists
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