Kinabalu National Park

Kinabalu Park was established as one of the first national parks in Malaysia in 1964. It is also Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its ‘outstanding universal values’ and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world, housing more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna – including 326 bird species, an estimated of over 100 mammal species and over 110 land snail species.

Located on the west coast of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, Kinabalu Park covers an area of 754 square kilometres surrounding Mount Kinabalu, which at 4,095.2 metres, is the highest mountain on the island of Borneo. Kinabalu Park is one of the most popular tourist spots in Sabah and Malaysia in as a whole. Thousands of visitors come to Sabah annually to climb Mount Kinabalu and to experience the mystical beauty of its nature.

Kinabalu Park was discovered by British colonial administrator and naturalist, Hugh Low in 1895, during a serendipitous expedition from Tuaran to Kundasang. Sir Hugh Low is also the first recorded man to reach the peak of Mount Kinabalu and the highest peak of the mountain – Low’s Peak – is named in his honour.

The gateway to the mountain is the Kinabalu Park Headquarters, situated 1,563 metres on its southern boundary. A variety of accommodation, restaurants and an exhibition centre are available here.