Kinabalu National Park

Kinabalu Park was known to be the first State Park in the then Sabah. In the year 2000 it was d as the first World Heritage Site of Malaysia. It is known worldwide for its excellent biological attributes. The park extends up to 75, 400 hectares. The park seems like a melting pot of unique natural wonders. Kinabalu is also known for being the Centre of Plant Diversity for South East Asia. More than 5,000 rare plant species are found in this vicinity. The vascular plant species include about 621 species of fern, around 1,000 orchid species, 29 Rhododendron species, nine Nepenthes species, and two Rafflesia species. The Park is the home to a vibrant category of fauna, where hundreds of rare species are easily found. The untrodden forestry are the living place of 22 montane mammal species, 90 lowland mammal species, 326 bird species, 21 bat species, 62 toad and frog species. More than 850 species of butterfly are found in Sabah, which is a huge population indeed. 29 endemic bird species are found in Borneo out of which at least 17 remain confined to the mountains especially on Mount Kinabalu. Their iety is enriched by the presence of Crimson-headed Wood-partridge, subspecies of the Red breasted Tree-partridge, and Mountain Blackbird. All these attraction turns it into a naturalists paradise. The major attraction of the Park is obviously the regal Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in South East Asia. The mountain reaches at a height of 4095.2 meters. Other than the so called mountain climbing, visitors can go for experiencing the Mountain Torq. It is known to be the worlds highest and Asias first Via Ferrata or iron road reaching a height of 3,200m to 3,800m above sea level. The different tracks on the northern cliffs of Mount Kinabalu contain a trail made of palettes, rails, iron rungs, and cables. According to the difficulty level one can face different activities offered here. So depending on ability, visitors can join ious activities such as the introduction to rappelling or abseiling, intro to single pitch/multi pitch sports climbing, and intro to rope ascending. Thousands of climbers assemble every year on the annual Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon. Huge numbers of natural attractions are found in the surrounding areas of Kinabalu. One can get familiar with the Kinabalu Natural History Gallery and can enjoy the ambiance portrayed by the presence of flora, fauna, and geological make-up of the Park.