Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

 

FLEETDRIVE welcomes you to the Land Below the Wind! Sabah is located on the island of Borneo, the third largest island in the world at the North of the Equator.

Sabah, nicknamed Negeri Di Bawah Bayu (“Land Below the Wind”), is one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo (Sarawak being the other state (Major Town Kuching and Miri)). A theory on how the word Sabah came by is that during the time it was part of the Bruneian Sultanate, it was referred to as Saba’ because of the presence of “pisang saba”, a type of banana, found on the coasts of the region. Due to the location of Sabah in relation to Brunei, it has been suggested that Sabah was a Bruneian Malay word meaning upstream or the northern side of the river. Another theory suggests that it came from the Malay word sabak which means a place where palm sugar is extracted. Sabah is also an Arabic word which means morning. The presence of multiple theories makes it difficult to pinpoint the true origin of the name.

Kota Kinabalu (formerly known as Jesselton), is the capital of the state of Sabah, Malaysia. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. Kota Kinabalu is often known as “KK” both in Malaysia and internationally. It is a major tourist destination and a popular gateway for travelers visiting Sabah and Borneo.

Kota Kinabalu is named after Mount Kinabalu, which is situated about 50 kilometres east-northeast of the city. Kinabalu is derived from the name Aki Nabalu meaning the “revered place of the dead.” Aki means “ancestors” or “grandfather”, and Nabalu is a name for the mountain in the Dusun language. There is also a source claiming that the term originated from Ki Nabalu, Ki meaning “have” or “exist”, and Nabalu meaning “spirit of the dead”. Kota is a Malay word for a “fort”, “town”, or a “city”. It can also be used informally to refer to any towns or cities. Hence, a direct translation of the name Kota Kinabalu into English would be “City of Kinabalu” or “Kinabalu City”.

Kota Kinabalu is heaven for those who love seafood. If you are here, don’t miss the night market with fresh fish, prawns, squid, crabs, lobsters and more seafood that you can imagine. Sunday Market on Gaya Street offered Souvenir such as Sarongs, hats, hand-made soaps, fruits, cakes, footwear, dresses and some animals too.

The best beaches in Kota Kinabalu are on the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park around the city are only 10-15 minutes away by speedboat.  National or state park areas in Sabah are under the protection of Sabah Parks. Other reserves or protected areas are under the governance of the Sabah Forestry Department and Sabah Foundation.

• Kinabalu Park – the highest mountain in Southeast Asia with an altitude of 4,101 metres (13,455 ft). It is lower than Puncak Jaya in Irian Jaya on the island of New Guinea, Indonesia at 4,884 metres which is located outside of the South East Asia Region.
• Turtle Islands Park – conservation efforts for endangered sea turtles
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Park – A national park consisting of five islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu
• Sipadan Park – Located near Semporna, the oceanic island of Sipadan has a very rich underwater ecosystem.
• Pulau Tiga Park
• Crocker Range Park
• Tawau Hills Park

The western part of Sabah is generally mountainous, containing the three highest mountains in Malaysia. The most prominent range is the Crocker Range which houses several mountains of varying height from about 1,000 metres to 4,000 metres. At the height of 4,095 metres, Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in South East Asia. The jungles of Sabah are classified as rainforests and host a diverse array of plant and animal species. Kinabalu National Park was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000 because of its richness in plant diversity combined with its unique geological, topographical, and climatic conditions.

The only way to reach Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from elsewhere other than Borneo Island is by flight. You can also drive to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from Miri, Sarawak. To go around in Kota Kinabalu, you can rent a car, take a bus or hail a taxi. It is impossible to really enjoy Kota Kinabalu from the air conditioned comfort of a tour bus. To make the most of your visit you must put on your walking shoes, take to the streets and drive around by renting your car rental from us, or having the luxury of having private chauffeur at a provided affordable rate.  Self-Drive Car Rent, Chauffeur or Tour service, FLEETDRIVE is here to serve you.