Take a wetland river cruise

The Klias River lies around an hour and a half outside Kota Kinabalu
and bisects the larger Klias Wetland Mangrove Forest Reserve.

If you come to the reserve, then one of the best things to do is take a
trip on a cruise down the Klias River.

From the vantage point of the water you will be able to take in a range
of animals that come to the river to bathe and drink and some of these
include elegant proboscis monkeys as well as darting fireflies that
hover in the afternoon light.

If you are not able to make it to the Klias River in Kuala Penyu then
there are also river safari cruises available in neighboring Weston or
Garama.
Climb Mount Kinabalu

Probably the most famous attraction in Sabah is Mount Kinabalu

which is a sacred mountain located on the outskirts of the Kota
Kinabalu.

This mountain is part of the famous Crocker Mountain Range and

stands at some 13,000 feet above sea level.

The mountain has a diverse eco-system and this is the place to come if
you want to see some of the gorgeous flora and fauna in Malaysia first
hand.

The mountain lies in the middle of the wider Kinabalu National Park
which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the big draw here is the
trek to the summit which will give you some amazing views over the
rest of Sabah.
There are several routes and treks you can take but you will need to
sleep overnight on the mountain which means that you can catch the
sunrise at dawn at the summit

Go white water rafting

Some people may be surprised to hear that white water rafting is a

popular pastime around Kota Kinabalu and there are a number of
places to get out on the water if you want to get your adrenalin
pumping.

One of these is the picturesque Kiulu River in Tamparuli which is

about an hour away from the city center, or you can choose the
mighty Padas River outside Tenom which is a two hour drive away.

The reason to come to Padas River and not the Kiulu River is for the
Grade 3 and 4 rapids found here which guarantee a wilder ride if you
don’t mind the slightly longer journey time.
Explore Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

Just outside Kota Kinabalu is the town of Lok Kawi which is also the
home of the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park.

The park is a great place to come if you are only in town for a short
time and can’t travel to the larger reserves further afield, and you will
find animals such as tigers, deer, monkeys, gibbons, and orang utans
here.

There is also a reptile section and as this is one of the smaller wildlife
parks you are likely to see many of the animals up close even on a
brief visit.
Island hop at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine
Park

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is undoubtedly the jewel in the

crown of Sabah and a visit to the islands is the reason that many
people choose to travel here.

The park is a selection of five islands which are just off the coast from
Kota Kinabalu and include Sulug, Gaya, Manukan, Sapi, and
Mamutik.
As such, you will find something for everyone here, and if you are
looking for an island with a nightlife scene then head to Gaya.

If you want an almost untouched paradise, then Sulug is a good spot,

or you can take a boat and just island hop around, stopping at
whichever island takes your fancy.

As you would expect, popular activities here include swimming,

diving, sunbathing, and hiking along the pretty island trails.

Try sea kayaking

If you want to try out some water sports in Kota Kinabalu then one of
the options is sea kayaking.

Most of the sea kayaking operators are located at Tanjung Aru Beach
and you can kayak out into the open sea to some of the idyllic islands
just off the coast.
Most tours then offer you the chance to swim and snorkel off the
islands before kayaking back to the beach and if you are looking for a
bit of an adventure then this is a great choice.
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