Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AROUND KUDAT
The area around Kudat includes many hidden coves, beaches and hill trails that are almost
all tucked away down hidden or unmarked roads. You'll want to get in touch with the
folks at Tampat Do Aman or Tip of Borneo Resort to find the best spots. You can attempt
some of the side roads in a 2WD or motorbike, but be careful, especially if it's been rain-
ing (which doesn't happen often; this is the driest part of Sabah). Either way, make sure
you take in one of the lovely tropical sunsets - Sabah's west coast is famous for 'em! The
Rungus longhouses
(Bavanggazo Rungus Longhouses/Maranjak Longhouse;
088-621673, 612846; per person per night from RM70)
of Kampung Bavanggazo, 44km
south of Kudat, are highly touted by Sabah Tourism, but were in a bit of a neglected state
when we visited them.
TIP OF BORNEO
Sabah's northernmost headland, at the end of a wide bay some 40km from Kudat, is
known as Tanjung Simpang Mengayu, or the Tip of Borneo. Magellan reputedly landed
here for 42 days during his famous round-the-world voyage. Once a wild promontory, this
windswept stretch where the cliffs meet the sea has been co-opted as a tourist attraction -
there's a large, truncated globe monument dominating the viewpoint. A sign warns visit-
ors not to climb down onto the rocks that form the mainland's actual tip, effectively guar-
anteeing that tourists will do exactly that. Seriously, please don't attempt to swim here; a
Korean tourist drowned during our research.
There's no public transport, so you'll need to negotiate a taxi from Kudat (around
RM90, including waiting time upon arrival) or drive yourself.
Offshore Islands
The real highlights of northwestern Sabah lie offshore. The first gem is Pulau Mantanani,
perfect tropical islands lying about 40km northwest of Kota Belud. The second is Layang
Layang, a diving mecca about 300km northwest of KK - it's basically just an airstrip built
on a reef way out in the middle of the South China Sea. Famous for great visibility, seem-
ingly endless wall dives and the occasional school of hammerheads, it's second only to
Sipadan on Malaysia's list of top dive spots.
PULAU MANTANANI
Pulau Mantanani Besar
(Big Mantanani Island) and
Pulau Mantanani Kecil
(Little
Mantanani Island) are two little flecks of land fringed by bleach-blond sand and ringed by
