Mount Kinabalu, Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia (with Map & Photos)

Mount Kinabalu is located in the national park of the island of Borneo (another name for the island is Kalimantan) and is its hallmark. The park bears the name of its main attraction - Kinabalu.

Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu

In Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu is considered one of the highest mountains - 4095 meters. Kinabalu National Park is home to many endemics, both animal and plant species. For example, almost a tenth of all known fern species in the world grow in this park. Almost 800 orchid species have been registered here. In Kinabalu Park, the species diversity of mammals exceeds a hundred, only four species of great apes have been noted. The number of bird species is 326, 12 species of annelids, also endemic, have also been recorded. Due to the widest variety of nature, the mountain and the park around it were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. The landscape of the mountain ranges from lush tropics on the lower level, to montane forests on the middle, and subalpine grasslands on the upper.

Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu is not inherently volcanic. It is one of the youngest mountain ranges in the world and continues to grow by five millimeters annually. The first known expedition to explore the region took place in 1895, led by British naturalist Hugh Low. He also had the honor of becoming the first person to climb its summit. The highest point of the mountain bears his name - Low's Peak. There are other bizarre peaks with unusual names.

Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu

Kinabalu, according to the complexity of the ascent, is accessible even to amateurs, subject to appropriate health. Every day, about a hundred tourists attempt to climb to its top. Not everyone succeeds: when fog and rain appear, the summit is closed due to slippery slopes and minimal visibility. The ascent, as a rule, takes two days and must be accompanied by a guide.

Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu

“The abode of the dead” – this is how the indigenous people call the sacred and revered Mount Kinabalu from time immemorial. According to legend, the peak is the dwelling of departed ancestors; to pacify their souls, the life of chickens is given as a sacrifice.

Mount Kinabalu Map