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Rich & Elaine's Overseas Adventures
Mount Kinabalu Borneo
Mount Kinabalu in Kinabalu National Park is a 90km drive from the city of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo. Mt Kinabalu is 4095m high and is the highest mountain in  South East Asia.
Coaches to the National Park leave from Kota Kinabalu’s bus station regularly throughout the morning. The winding steep mountain side drive takes 2 hours, passing terraced vegetable gardens blending into the jungle, the first sighting of Mt Kinabalu is viewed from across the valley the steep sided mountain soars to the sky and you have to raise your head to see the sharp jagged summit.
Because the terrain is so rugged the 200,000 visitors a year are restricted to only a small area of the Mt Kinabalu National Park, Poring Hot Springs on the southern park boundary and the 8km trail to Low’s Peak the summit of Mt Kinabalu.
For those who wish not to climb Mt Kinabalu there is plenty to do at the National Parks Centre, there are short hikes though the jungle on looped tracks, very nice accommodation, restaurants and evening information and slide shows operated by the national park staff. Climbing Mt Kinabalu, Borneo’s highest and most popular peak (Lowes Peak) is a challenging two day hike.
It is essential to book in well in advance for your Mt Kinabalu climb and it is a requirement to have a local guide. The track starts at the Timpohon gate at 1800 metres. The first day is quite a scramble, there seems to be thousands of steps up as far as Laban Rata Lodge and above that is a smooth bare rock section where a thick rope has been laid all the way to the top to help find your way when the cloud comes in.
There are map signs along the way to show trekkers where they currently are which is all very encouraging and the trail is marked every 100 meters in altitude. The exotic plants, luxuriant jungle and colourful flowers are spectacular, ranging from Rafflesia the worlds largest flower, dwarf rhododendrons, ten different species of pitcher plants, at least 1200 different species of orchids and 326 species of birds.
After climbing on the rocky track and steps for (4hrs to 7hrs) you reach Laban Rata Lodge at 3300 metres towering above the jungle, a welcome sight where you overnight and dine. At two o’clock in the morning you don a head lamp if the moon isn’t bright and scramble up the hill aiming to summit at dawn and watch the sun rise, it is very cold and you definitely need good outdoor windproof clothing.
The descent from the summit is very challenging with a break at Laban Rata Lodge for a sturdy late morning breakfast and then a steady downhill on the very same high wide steps cut into the mountainside that you navigated on the way up.
Mt Kinabalu is a very challenging trek and a well oiled pair of knees is essential, the wonderful culture and flora plus the achievement value is certainly worth while, and on retuning to the Park headquarters you are rewarded with a certificate of achievement.
Take a trip to Malaysian Borneo and climb Mt Kinabalu it is a great experience and an addition to your overseas travel adventures.
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