A trek to the top of Mount Kinabalu, Borneo

Climbing a flight of stairs in a tall building gets tiring the higher you climb. Remove the stairs and try and climb the same distance up a hill and that gets even more tiring, more so if you increase the gradient and scale a mountain. However getting to the summit of Mount Kinabalu, more than 4,000 metres above sea level is every bit worth your while with rewards coming in the form of the incredible geological properties of the mountain, the flora, fauna and wildlife witnessed on the way up and the stunning views of Borneo from the summit, particularly at sunrise.

Amongst many of Borneo's World Heritage Sites, Kinabalu National Park is one of the most prominent in the Sabah region and Mount Kinabalu itself is ranked the 5th highest peak in South East Asia. Within the park you will find about a dozen trails that will introduce you to a variety of flora and fauna. While the wildlife is impressive do be aware of the presence of leeches, which I found out the hard way. Whilst having a shower I caught a glimpse of a fat, happy leech squirming down my legs. On closer inspection, had I been of the fairer sex, I could have assumed that my time of the month came a little early! The actual leech fell of while I was showering so all I needed to do was clean up the wound, which was painless. As long as you cover up the area from the waist down, it is unlikely that you’ll be leeched. Shorts and sandals are usually sufficient.

Blood-sucking leeches and mosquitoes aside, the trails are a joy to explore. Bear in mind that if you’re out looking for wildlife the more silently you move and communicate the less likely you are to disturb the said wildlife increasing your chances of spotting them. Any bird enthusiast will be spoilt for choice, particularly on the hill trails. See if you can spot a rare red-bellied pitta. Botanical enthusiasts will be equally thrilled with such a huge variety of endemic species including rafflesia and pitcha plants found at the mountain base. Take a few days to explore the foot of the mountain before you venture up to the summit to really get a feel for the wildlife.

Once you have discovered what lies beneath the mountain, why not go ahead and test your fitness levels and conquer the mountain itself. Most trials take you to the summit of Mount Kinabalu in two days – a four hour trek to the base camp followed by a further three hours up the mountain to Lows Peak the next morning, where, having conquered the mountain you are rewarded with the most spectacular sunrise with views of the mountain at your feet and the rest of Borneo. Trekking over two days gives you enough time to take it easy and enjoy your trip up the mountain. But if you want to put your body to the test, do the entire trek in just one day. This is only recommended for the fitness junkie as a certain amount of physical fitness is required to get to the check points by the allocated times as if you do not make it in time rangers will not allow you go forward. If you do make it up the mountain you will also miss out on the sunrise, which, to me, was well worth an extra day.  

Getting to Mount Kinabalu can be arranged either by private transport from any main town in Borneo, local minivans in Kota Kinabalu, buses from all over Borneo or simply your own rented vehicle. The roads are windy and large vehicles tend to drive a bit carelessly so if you do rent a vehicle be aware.

If you are travelling on a budget, I recommend that you apply for a permit and accommodation at the base camp through Sutra / Sutera in Kota Kinabalu. They are the main operators in the area and when peak season comes along, they are the most likely company to get you last-minute permits that come about from cancellations.

Accommodation below the mountain can also be arranged through them or through the guesthouses, however be aware that accommodation within the park is 50% more expensive than that outside the park. There are a few hostels outside the park that offer basic yet very comfortable accommodation at good rates. Laban Rata (base camp) is found at an altitude of 3,272m and is adequately equipped with comfortable accommodation, a canteen with good food. While they do not have hot water or heating, blankets are more than enough to make your stay comfortable.

Make sure to take some good snaps once reaching the summit, breathe in through your nose, exhale from your mouth and take it all in.

Love Marc's travel stories? Follow him on marcandvanexprlore.wordpress.com or on Casolani360TravelPhotography on Facebook.

Article first appeared in Vida.