Sabah travel guide

Sabah may not have the colourful history of neighbouring Sarawak, but there is a great deal to entice the visitor. It is the second largest Malaysian state after Sarawak, covering 72,500 sq km, making it about the size of Ireland. Occupying the northeast corner of Borneo, it is shaped like a dog’s head, the jaws reaching out in the Sulu and Celebes seas, and the back of the head facing onto the South China Sea.

The highlights of Sabah are natural and cultural, from caves, reefs, forests and mountains to tribal peoples. The Gunung Kinabalu National Park is named after Sabah’s (and Malaysia’s) highest peak and is one of the state’s most visited destinations. Also popular is the Sepilok Orang-Utan Sanctuary outside Sandakan. Marine sights include the Turtle Islands National Park and Sipadan Island, one of Asia’s finest dive sites. While Sabah’s indigenous tribes were not cherished as they were in Sarawak by the White Rajahs, areas around towns such as Kudat, Tenom, Keningau and Kota Belud still provide memorable insights into the peoples of the region.