Malaysia Travel Forum

Hi,

We'd like to climb the Mount Kinabalu from the city of KK, but I read a lot of comments and blogs and I'm a lil bit reluctant cause Mount Kinabalu appears like a real attraction and not like a nature reserve. Moreover someones said the climbing can be consider as strolling more than hiking.

But I'm unquiet because I don't want to have a guide following us 1m behind, like if he was a shepherd dog keeping an eye on us everytime. So can we strolling a lil bit as we want or the guide does not let us "free" (by "free" I meant "not followed by a guy saying "don't go too far!" every 10 sec" ^^)?

And I heard about the fact we will be 140 people/day. Are groups really dense or are they scarce? Cause I can't imagine see birds or any others animals with 140 people around me.

PS: I didn't want to seem haughty, but I just want to get an amazing nature experience climbing MK.

Thank you
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I believe most of trail to the top is a hiking trail, until near the top where you have to climb as it becomes really rocky.

With regard to wildlife, I doubt you can see much as the trail to the top is a busy one. I would suggest you to take other hiking trails within the park as they are definitley less popular.

So outside to the top main trail, there are several other trails?

yes, there are about a dozen hiking trails of various lengths. You can check with the park rangers at the office to find out which trails are more likely to see wildlife. I didn't have time to go hiking when I went to the park last year, I just checked out the base area and the entrance point of the mountain-climbing trail.

like everybody if you want to climb MK, you should stay the night close to the top and for doing this you have to book quite in advance as is nearly always busy.
in fact the first part of the climb starts the day before and could take all your time for doing this, go also very early in the morning BUT BE (suggested enthusiastically) at the hostel before dark.
During the same night, not next morning, you must have a guide because hiking starts when it's still very dark to be at top just before sunrise, you've to follow who is ahead you, sometime with a cord, and do not try go out the path, you might fall down and probably nobody would rescue because dark, anyway I doubt you'll see birds or other wildlife during this hiking with other 140 people. On way back you can take as long as you like but (beside I believe it is forbidden) it's highly recommended to do not leave the signed paths. Most of the park is still unexplored, going out of the paths it's up to you, you'll be not the first man/woman disappeared at MK's park, just one more.
So if you wanted to climb you'd better book at least one night close to top and if you wanted to visit more (there's a quite few) an other nighr in the park, do not think to see a lot if you start from KK.
one more thing, you don't say when but it could be raining also during dry season, there's also a meteorological reason why the climb it's before sunrise :))
LBNL .. at MK's park it's easier you'll say to the guide "don't go too far!" than hearing that from him/her.

Hi
The final section that you'll tackle in the dark is most certainly not a stroll. It's not a climb in the true sense, as you won't have to use your hands all the time, but it's certainly a strenuous hike. And you do need a guide to keep you on track - the vast majority of people don't routinely hike up high mountainms in the dark, and their local knowledge is essential in keeping you safe.
The section through the forest on the lower slopes isn't so hard, so that might be where the 'stroll' comment comes in. As to the nature experience, well you need to be careful not to confuse 'nature' with wildlife. You'll see lots of amazing things in the forest in terms of plants and insects, but rainforests - although they have great biodiversity (that is, many species) - do not always offer large numbers of animal sightings, particularly when it comes to larger mammals. That's not to say that they're not there, but they can be very cryptic, and also tend to lurk out of view in the canopy. This is where having a guide comes in so useful, as they should be able to identify animals and birds that you'd otherwise miss.
It's a big area, so even if they allow in 140 people a day, that number shouldn't swamp it. To get the best of the expererince, just be sure to take your time in the forest on the way up and down, as this is where the really interesting stuff is. Let others speed by, so that you have it to yourself and be sure to make time to look for the smaller stuff such as flowers, insects and birds, which can be every bit as rewarding as the primates.
Regards
Cathy

Hi,

Thank you very much, you strongly reassured me about MK. As you said, the stroll was probably about the first slopes of the mount.

When I meant animals I talked about mainly birds, of course I'm sure I'm not going to see tigers or elephants (and I think I prefer ^^)! But be sure I'm agree with you, I'm really interested about the amazing vegetal diversity of the MK cloud forests including moss, ferns, orchids and nepenthes! It's kind a fairy-tale world!

Thank you
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Hi
Yes, the birds were amazing, but for me, the absolute highlight were the giant pitcher plants!
It's a few years since I was there, but I'd be very surprised if you didn't have a good time - I thought that it was a magical place.
If you're going to be in that region, don't miss out on the Kinabatangan River - when I visited, we were lucky enough to see wild elephant and loads of primates (particularly proboscis monkeys) from the river, which was tremendous. I also thought that the Sepilok orang utan rehab centre was worth visiting - maybe a trifle tourist-focused, but still an amazing opportunity to see these remarkable animals up front. There are also caves in the area that host enormous bat populations, which good tour operators should be able to include.
I can't make a recommendation as I can't recall the guy I used (he ran the guest house just outside Sandakan where I stayed), but if you're interested, perhaps post a forum query for more up to date information?
Also Sandakan is well worth a visit, if only to appreciate its tragic World War II history. The camp there was the start of the appalling Sandakan Death Marches, which was only survived by six Prisoners Of War who escaped - these were the only survivors of about 3,600 Indonesian slave labourers and 2,400 Allied PoWs who were incarcerated there.
It's a great area, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.
Regards
Cathy

Hi,

Thank you for all those informations. Concerning Kinabatangan River, does it emcompass mangroves forest? Cause I'd like to observe the amazing fauna and flora of this biomes including probopsis monkey, periophthalmus, wading birds, fiddler crabs, etc...

Thank
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Hi,
Yes, there are extensive mangroves along the Lower Kinabatangan where the floodplain levels out to enter Sandakan Bay.
By far the best way to explore the river is from a boat, and a good guide should be able to show you a whole range of ecosystems, habitats and wildlife.
I absolutely loved it!
Regards
Cathy