Sabah - Land Below the Wind

Often called the 'Land Below The Wind' because it lies below the typhoon belt, Sabah occupies the eastern part of North Borneo and is East Malaysia's second largest state with an area of 74,500sq km. Sabah has the South China Sea on the west and the Sulu and Celebes seas on the east and a coastline of some 1440km. Sabah is mountainous with lush tropical rain forests and its population of nearly two million is made up of 32 colourful ethnic communities. Kota Kinabalu, the capital, is a fertile lowland plain where most commercial and administrative activity is concentrated.

Sabah has one of the largest eco-treasures in Malaysia:

Mountain Climbing
- Mount Silam, Lahad Datu (883m)
- Mount Lotong, Maliau Basin (1667m)
- Mount Kinabalu, Kinabalu Park (4093m)
- Mount Tambuyukon, Kinabalu Park (2580m)
- Mount Trusmadi (2643m) 

Jungle Trekking
- Danum Valley (Highland and montane forest)
- Kinabalu National Park (Highland and montane forest)
- Kinabatangan Floodplain (Freshwater swamp forest)
- Mount Emas (Highland rainforest) 

Bird Watching
- Kinabalu Park (Montane forest)
- Kota Belud Bird Sanctuary (Lowland rainforest)
- Danum Valley (Lowland rainforest)
- Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary/ Likas Lagoon (Mangrove forest) 

Caving
- Gomantong Cave, Sanadakan

White Water Rafting
- Padas River
- Kiulu River

Angling
- Labuan (Sea Fishing)
- Mabul Island (Sea Fishing)

Scuba Diving
- Mabul Island
- Tiga Island
- Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
- Layang-Layang Island
- Labuan: Rusukan Kecil Island, Rusukan Besar Island, Kuraman Island, Papan Island

History of Sabah

In the 9th century A.D., Sabah was ruled by various tribal chieftains who generally maintained power over their individual territories. There were some trade links with China and later with the Spanish and Portuguese. By the 15th century, Sabah had become a vassal of the Sultan of Brunei. In 1704, the Sultan of Brunei ceded the land east of Marudu Bay to the Sultan of Sulu. In the early 1880's, Moses, an American trader, obtained a lease over Sabah from Brunei. The lease was eventually passed to Alfred Dent, an Englishman. Dent founded the North Borneo Chartered Company and in 1881, he signed a treaty with Brunei and Sulu, converting the lease into a cession. The British North Borneo Chartered Company had control until the Japanese Occupation. After World War 11, Sabah became a British Crown Colony. In 1963, it gained independence and joined Malaysia.

Customised from Tourism Malaysia, Ministry of Tourism

Kota Kinabalu City Map

Sandakan Town Map