Travel & Explore the World: Where is Sabah? Let's Find Out (as Mentioned in the Popular Song ‘’)
Sabah, commonly known as North Borneo, was once called 'Land of Winds' and is one of the thirteen states of Malaysia, with its capital in Kota Kinabalu. Located in the northeastern part of the island of Kalimantan, most of Sabah’s land remains in its original forest state. Sabah has 32 ethnic groups and 80 dialects. The largest and most important festival is the Harvest Festival, celebrated by the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun people to pray to the God of Rice.
The main attractions in Sabah include the State Museum and the Gaya Street Weekend Market, where you can buy fresh local produce, handicrafts, and food. The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, consisting of 5 islands – Sepang Island, Gaya Island, Manukan Island, Mamutik Island, and Sapi Island, is approximately 30 minutes from Kota Kinabalu. It’s a great place for scuba diving.
Sabah is recognized as a global wildlife protection area, including Kinabalu National Park, with an altitude of 1585 meters, which is the main starting point for the trail to the summit of Mount Kinabalu. In 2000, Kinabalu National Park was listed as a World Heritage Site due to its rich plant diversity, together with its unique geology, terrain, and climate conditions. Other eco-adventure activities include Turtle Island Park, Sepilok Orangutan Centre, Danum Valley Wildlife Reserve, and Nabucco River.
Mantanani Islands, also known as Mermaid Island, located in Kota Belang, is one of Sabah’s newest and most popular diving islands, especially between July and October. It consists of three small islands – West Island, Bakau Island, and Sulug Island, and is located on Sabah’s east coast as one of Southeast Asia’s most important sea turtle nesting and hatching grounds, serving as a safe breeding haven for endangered green turtles and hawksbill turtles.
