Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EASTERN SABAH
Eastern Sabah takes nearly everything that is wonderful about the rest of Borneo and con-
denses it into one hard-hitting brew of an outdoor shot consisting of equal parts adventure,
wildlife, undersea exploration and flat-out fun. Let's tick off some of the natural wonders
that are packed into this relatively tiny corner of the island: the great ginger men - ie the
orangutans - of Sepilok; pot-bellied, flop-nosed proboscis monkeys in Labuk Bay; the
looming vine tunnels and muddy crocodile highway of the Sungai Kinabatangan; pygmy
elephants and treetop canopies that scratch in the sky in the Danum Valley and Tabin;
plunging seawalls rainbow-spattered with tropical marine life in the Semporna Ar-
chipelago; a forest as old as human civilisation in the Maliau Basin.
Did we just pique your travel appetite? Yeah, we thought so. With easier transport links
and improved infrastructure, it's easier than ever to hit up the east side of Sabah. You'll be
told, when you're here, that the only way around is via package tours, but trust us - with a
little prior planning and a bit of heart, you can explore this area independently and in-
depth.
Sandakan
POP 480,000
Sabah's second city lacks the small cosmopolitan pulse that keeps KK throbbing; in con-
trast, Sandakan feels like a provincial city with provincial horizons, not to mention a
grubby city centre. But Sandakan was once a major port of call, and as such it has played
an important role in Borneo's past, as attested by religious relics, haunting cemeteries and
stunning colonial mansions.
