Sabah – Malaysia’s Untamed State

Posted on April 16, 2019

Malaysia’s State of Sabah is located in the northern portion of Borneo Island, the third-largest island in the world. The island is politically divided among Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia (Kalimantan) in the south. The “East Malaysian” states of Sabah and Sarawak make up about 26% of the island. Sabah is less than half the size of Sarawak and occupies the most northern tip of the island.

Borneo is home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world, and Sabah has no shortage of untamed jungles. While large portions of the state remain inaccessible to most hikers, several trails with accommodation are open.

With over 1,600 known species of animals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, the jungle is an Eden-like paradise. Sadly, the jungle is fast disappearing due to deforestation and the encroachment of oil palm plantations. According to Greenpeace, some of the world’s biggest brands are still linked to rainforest destruction in Indonesia. These include Unilever, Nestlé, Colgate-Palmolive and Mondelez.

Sabah is known for its rich biodiversity and wildlife. However, the rapid deforestation in Sabah has caused massive habitat destruction and pushed many species to the brink of extinction. Wildlife poaching to supply the illegal pet trade and those with a taste for rare exotic meat are speeding up the extinction. Among the animals of Sabah under threat are the proboscis monkey, orangutan, clouded leopard, Borneo rhino, Borneo pygmy elephant, slow loris, and the binturong bearcat.

Come along as we visit Borneo to photograph the proboscis monkeys and orangutans in their natural habitats at the Sepilok Reserve and elsewhere. We start our trip at the laidback town of Kota Kinabalu, the gateway to Sabah, and also visit Pulau Tiga, one of the most beautiful islands off the coast of Borneo.

Sandakan, the second largest town in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu, is located along the Sulu Sea, over 300 kilometres (186 mi) east of Kota Kinabalu. A road trip from Kota Kinabalu takes about 6 hours while one of the many daily flights on Malaysia Airlines or AirAsia takes just 45 minutes.

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Globerovers Magazine July 2019