Mount Kinabalu National Park Travel Guide
Climb to Enjoy Sunrise
- Ratings:
- Be the first to rate this.
-
Reviews:
-
Be the first to write a review
A World Heritage Site, Kinabalu National Park covers an area of 754 sq km and is made up of Mount Kinabalu, Mount Tambayukon and their foothills and was formed to preserve what is a unique natural environment. The mountains have a fascinating geological history, taking 'just' a 10 million years to form. The mighty Mount Kinabalu, the focal point of the National Park, is the highest mountain on the island of Borneo at a height of 4,095 metres. A major attraction for visitors to the region a climb to enjoy a sunrise is an awesome experience!
Mount Kinabalu is a batholith, a massive granite dome pushed up from the earth’s crust as molten rock millions of years ago. Actually the mountain is very young mountain as the granite cooled and hardened only about 10 million years ago. During the Pleistocene Period (around 100,000 years ago) the mountain was covered by a thick sheet of ice and glaciers flowed down its slopes. This action created what is today referred to as Low's Gully on the north side. The mountain is still growing at the rate of 5mm per annum.
The entire Mount Kinabalu area is well-known worldwide for its tremendous botanical and biological biodiversity and has one of the world’s richest orchid floras with over 800 species, over 600 species of ferns of which 50 are endemic found nowhere else but here. Guides in the park are often drawn from the local Dusun community who live in the foothills of the mountain.
Attractions in Mount Kinabalu National Park
As well as the opportunity to trek up Mount Kinabalu, there are other attractions within the park such as the Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden and the Kinabalu Natural History Gallery.
25 miles from the National Park, Poring Hot Springs are a collection of hot and cool pools in which you can recuperate after an arduous ascent of Mount Kinabalu.
Activities in Mount Kinabalu National Park
Trekking in the park and to the summit of Mount Kinabalu is the main reason for a visit. 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 darkness; cold weather gear is essential as temperatures fall to freezing regularly.
Relaxing
Spend a few hours relaxing in the hot and cold pools of Poring Hot Springs.
Getting Around
The climb is best undertaken as part of an organised group with a local Travel Expert making arrangements. Note that Laban Rata (where you will spend the night prior to the walk to the summit) is always busy, especially so at local or regional holiday times. Booking with a Travel Expert ensures you will have a place to spend the night!
For those that wish, 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. All express buses and minibuses between Kota Kinabalu and Ranau or Sandakan pass the park turn-off, from where it is just 100m to the Park HQ.
Mount Kinabalu National Park Reviews
Why not be the first and add your review below?
