Adventure‑seekers will likely have their eyes on Kinabalu National Park, home to wild, pristine nature and Mount Kinabalu (4,095 m), the highest peak in Malaysia. For a gentler way to enjoy the outdoors, spend an afternoon white‑water rafting on the Kiulu River, which offers just enough thrills to wake up your senses as you soak in the scenery. Wildlife lovers are often delighted to spot proboscis monkeys, a species endemic to Borneo. It’s easy to see troops of these primates lounging in trees, munching on leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruit. Males have long noses that protrude beyond their snouts and serve to attract females. Take a boat ride at dusk for a perfect chance to see fireflies crowding the riverside shrubs, as if a starry sky were sinking toward the water’s surface in the dark.

With a little luck, your journey through Sabah may reveal a Rafflesia, a parasitic plant that grows on host trunks or vines. When it opens, it resembles a colossal blossom, which is why it’s often referred to as a “flower”. Sometimes called the “largest flower in the world”, it boasts blooms of up to 1.1 meters in diameter. Sightings are rare: from the first bud to full bloom takes about seven to 13 months, and once it opens, it lasts only around seven days before quickly rotting. This magnificent giant “flower” is associated with the mysterious beauty of the tropical rainforest and a spirit of adventure, even appearing on Malaysia’s 10‑ringgit banknote. Of the 23 species of Rafflesia worldwide, nine are found in Sabah.