Things to do in Kinabalu National Park
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Mt Kinabalu
Towering 4095m above northern Borneo, Mt Kinabalu is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and the island of New Guinea. Known as Gunung Kinabalu in Bahasa Malaysia, the mountain is quite unlike any other on earth, rising almost twice as high as its Crocker Range neighbours and culminating in a crown of wild granite spires. When the summit is visible (usually in the morning, before the clouds close in) the mountain literally demands your attention. .
It is clearly visible from many parts of Sabah, including Kota Kinabalu and the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Even if you decide not to do the climb to the summit, the park itself is a beautiful spot, and …
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Liwagu Trail
The 6km Liwagu Trail, which follows the Liwagu River, is the most rewarding trail around park HQ, and it's a great option for those who just can't face the trek up Mt Kinabalu. It's a pretty easy walk, but there are few drop-offs which make it unsuitable for children below eight years of age, and those with fear of heights.
The start is 200m before Timpohon Gate (you can catch a minivan from HQ to the starting point). It's very straightforward until the last kilometre or so (just as you get back to the park base area). At one point, you come to a junction where you could go left (downhill) but the trail is closed off. Do not go downhill here. Follow the arrows marked 'Sil…
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Mt Kinabalu Summit Climb
Thousands of people of all ages climb Mt Kinabalu every year. It can be close to freezing near the summit but if the weather is clear on your summit day, you'll be rewarded with an incredible view that starts with the otherworldly summit plateau and extends across all of northern Borneo and the islands of southern Palawan, in the Philippines.
Climbing Mt Kinabalu is a two-day exercise for most people. The usual routine involves starting around 08:00 on the first day, taking a minivan to Timpohon Gate and walking four to six hours to reach Laban Rata at 3273m where you spend the night. On the following day you rise at around 03:00 and climb to the summit in time to catch t…
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Balsam Cafe
Headquarters is set in gardens with a magnificent view of the mountain, and there are two restaurants to choose from. Both restaurants are open 06:30 to 23:00 daily. The cheaper and more popular of the two is this canteen-style spot directly below the park office. The cafe can little disorganised and chaotic, particularly when busy; they can't quite seem to decide if it's a buffet-style restaurant or a proper sit-down place. It offers basic but decent Malaysian, Chinese and Western dishes at reasonable prices. There is also a small but well-stocked shop in Balsam selling tinned and dried foods, chocolate, beer, spirits, cigarettes, T-shirts, bread, eggs and margarine.
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Kinabalu National Park
Kinabalu National Park is home to Borneo's highest mountain and some of Borneo's best-preserved forest. Most travellers make a beeline for the mountain and the main park headquarters (HQ) area, but there are two other sections of the park worth exploring: Mesilau Nature Resort and Poring Hot Springs. The former offers a less-travelled approach to the mountain and the latter offers a good place to soak your weary bones after an ascent of the peak.
Advance bookings through Sutera Sanctuary Lodges in KK or online are strongly recommended for accommodation at park HQ and on the mountain at Laban Rata.
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Walking Marked Trails
It's well worth spending a day exploring the marked trails around park HQ; if you have time, it may be better to do it before you climb the mountain, as chances are you won't really feel like it afterwards.
All the trails link up with others at some stage, so you can spend the whole day, or indeed days, walking at a leisurely pace through the beautiful forest. Some interesting plants, plenty of birds and, if you're lucky, the occasional mammal can be seen. When it rains, watch out for slippery paths and legions of leeches.
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Restoran Kinabalu Balsam
This canteen-style spot is directly below the park office. It offers basic but decent Malaysian, Chinese and Western dishes at reasonable prices. There is also a small but well-stocked shop in Balsam selling tinned and dried foods, chocolate, beer, spirits, cigarettes, T-shirts, bread, eggs and margarine.
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Guided Walk
At 11:00 each day a guided walk starts from the park office and lasts for one to two hours. The knowledgeable guide points out flowers, plants, birds and insects along the way. If you set out from KK early enough, it's possible to arrive at the park in time for the guided walk.
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Silau Silau Trail
The Silau Silau Trail is an easy 940m, 30-minute trail through centre of the HQ area, along Silau Silau creek. It's mostly flat and easy to walk, making it suitable for most people, including children. It's makes a nice before- or after-dinner stroll.
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Kiau View Trail
The Kiau View Trail is a more challenging 2.34km, 80-minute trail along a ridge on the west side of the HQ area. There are a few ups and downs on this route. You can combine this with the Silau Silau Trail to make a good loop.
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Mountain Garden
Many of the plants found on the Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park are cultivated in the Mountain Garden behind the visitors centre.
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Liwagu Restaurant
In the visitors centre, this has a huge range of dishes, including noodles, rice and seafood standards. An ‘American breakfast’ is pretty ordinary here.
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