Kota Kinabalu

By Joyce Ira

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For Swimming Enthusiasts

At the peak of Mt. Kinabalu

Selamat Datang as they say Welcome in Malaysia. Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah, Malaysia, and is an island rich in natural gas and a major tourist destination for travelers coming to Sabah and Borneo. One of the most visited is the Mt. Kinabalu where the name Kota Kinabalu was taken.

Places to visit in Kota Kinabalu:

1. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park - a marine park with exotic unspoiled islands. These islands offer white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, reefs in shallow waters, coral gardens, lowland rain forests and nice walking paths.

2. Gaya Island - first class trekking and swimming destination where you can find the most romantic beaches. Aside from enjoying the water, you can also have fun hiking in the lowland rain forest where you can see mangrove swamps, rare birds and visit the fishing village.

3. Sapi Island - this is an island with sandy white beaches and coral reefs perfect for snorkeling and diving.

4. Manukan Island - another perfect diving and snorkeling destination as it is known to be the most developed island and offers great experience for swimming enthusiasts.

5. Sulug Island - a quiet island which is not much visited by tourists as it's being developed.

6. Mamutik Island - a small peaceful island with rich marine life. It is best advised to take your first diving experience here and discover the beauty of underworld.

7. Tun Mustapha Tower - with 30-storeys and 122 metres high this tower shouldn't be missed when you get in Kota Kinabalu. It is a magnificent building, one of only four hanging structures in the world with a glass facade. It is the tallest building in Borneo and it is the only building in Asia with the unique 72-sided polygon, column-free floors.

8. Sabah State Mosque - a masterpiece of architecture located at Jalan Tunku Abdul Raman and a proof of unique combination of Islamic architecture and contemporary design. f you are not a Muslim, avoid visiting the mosque on Fridays, as this is the day of prayer for Muslims. Never forget to respect the dress code when you are visiting a place of worship. Near the mosque is also Sabah's State Mausoleum.

9. Signal Hill - a place so significant as it survived WWII. From the observatory, you will be able to see the awesome view of the whole Kota Kinabalu.

10. Marlin - in the centre of the city you will find the huge marlin statue.

11. Mount Kinabalu - the highest mountain on the island of Borneo. The summit Low´s Peak has a height of 4.095 metres (13.435 feet) and is the third tallest in South East Asia. Low's Peak can be relatively easily climbed by a person with basic fitness and requires no mountaineering equipment, but other peaks along the massif require rock climbing skills. It is really worth a visit, when you stand there at the highest summit, you can see the splendour of Sabah in all directions.

Getting around Kota Kinabalu:

It is very easy to enjoy the beauty of Kota Kinabalu, there are plenty of buses available around town that will bring you to the places you want to go. There are taxis and ferries as well. If you ought to be more personal with nature you can walk around the city or rent a bike from the hotel you're staying in.


Kota Kinabalu International Airport, KKIA, has flights coming in from Kuala Lumpur and international destinations as Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Manila, Bangkok, Taipei and Brunei. There are also domestic flights to and from other Sabah cities as Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu.

Outside the airport taxi cost around RM 25 and takes only ten minutes to the city centre 8 kilometres (5 miles) away. There is no bus service at the airport but you can catch a bus at the main road to the city centre that will cost RM 1.50.

Have a pleasant trip!




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