Kota Kinabula is a fabulous destination easy to get around by taxi, bus, motor cycle or even just walking there is much to see and one compact easy to negotiate destination

A good place to start after enjoying the beaches is The Atkinson Clock Tower – built in 1902 in memorialize Francis George Atkinson, the first district officer of Jesselton, as KK used to be know. The tower is on a hill beside Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman very close to the city centre.

For those who enjoy religious wonders the Sabah State Mosque – located on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and also worth seeing is The State Museum which gives a quick quide to the city’s history and culture.

Another must see is Monsopiad Cultural Village which is about half an hour south-east of the city centre, this small park shows the traditional way of life of the Kadazan ethnic group and tells the story of Monsopiad, a Kadazan local hero, who  300 years ago  killed 42 men who attacked his village. Take a cab form KK and arrange pick up 3 hours later.

Near the small town with the same name Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is just south Kota Kinabalu. It features all manner of monkeys, elephants, birds, local deer, a few tigers, a Sumatran Rhinoceros and is expanding with a reptile house very soon. It’s a marvelous wildlife experience as you get much closer than you would in the jungle. The best way to get there is a pre arranged cab with pickup from Kota Kinabalu.

There is a great deal for the golf enthusiast in Kota Kinabula  with four local courses and tours to nearby internationally recognized courses.

One of the oldest courses in Sabah is the eleven hole Kinabalu Golf Course or KGC course which was established in 1933 by the European employees of The British Charted Company.

In the city, just close to the waterfront, you will find a challenging 27-hole championship golf course designed by Graham Marsh which is beautifully landscaped with terrains and waterways and is flood lit for night playing.
There is also Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club, and Karambunai Golf and Country Club which also offer great facilities.
At a higher altitude to the waterfront is Mount Kinabalu Golf Club. Situated 1500 meters above sea level it is great test of stamina as well as skill and is the highest golf course in Malaysia.

All of these courses can be can be part of arranged tours which are great value. Or you can travel to Borneo enjoy spectacular courses and also spend time exploring with jungles and mountains whilst still regularly hitting the greens. Tours are spread over nine or five days and are well worth experiencing. Kota Kinabula is also ideally situated to courses further afield like Thailand where there are great courses in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Depending on your time and budget Penang and Kuala Lumpur are also great destinations with fantastic courses.

Kota Kinabula is a safe destination as Sabahans and Malaysians are very law abiding people especially towards tourists, but of course common sense should always prevail. Low crime does not mean no crime here as anywhere else in Asia.

In 1999 some tourists were abducted from Sipidan Island to the Phillipines, however, they were quickly rescued and the waters have been patrolled more extensively since this one incident.

Bag-snatching or being pick-pocketed is rare, although, it has happened usually by moped and if you are using a bicycle it is unwise to put valuables in the basket

Walking around darker streets at night can bring problems with drunken beggars, prostitutes and even during the day child beggars can be relentless and frustrating. The trick is to develop a good attitude. It is very unfortunate that small children, often illegal immigrants find themselves in such desperate situations and as a matter of conscience there are many organizations here which can be donated to if you so wish.

However, when walking the streets if you do give to one child you will be pestered by twenty more which will make for a great deal of inconvenience and who knows who, where or what you are actually financing with your hand out?

The police station is located near the public harbor and the blue and white uniforms of the motor cycle cops are easy to spot

Medical care is of a very high standard here as in most of Asia here are some names and phone numbers of Medical Centers and Dentists.

Damai Specialist Centre O88-270243

Dr. Roland Chia Dental Surgery. 088-21 5802

Raffelesia Medical Centre. 088-27 2620

As you would expect in such a well visited destination nightlife here is exciting, of a very high standard. There are places to dance and drink inside and out some are located in the major hotels others small holes in the wall. Whichever you might choose the choice is extensive and worth exploring. Prices vary and so does the clientele. All ages are catered for from conservative to hip. Many have live bands and approachable request friendly D.J’s others for the a more dance orientated crowd. Prices vary but there should be something here for all tastes and budgets.

Pirates Bar – The largest outdoor bar in Kota Kinabula. Located in Asia City in the T food Court across the road from Centrepoint just behind the Mercedes Benz Dealership. It has live music at weekends.

Shenanigan Fun Pub – This lovely bar is on the ground floor of the Hyatt Regency.

• Shamrock Irish Bar – The Waterfront Lot 6. Dependable Irish fare, with outdoor seating. Add 16% tax.

• Cocoon – Locally famous this relaxed bar by day becomes a lively bar/club by night, open till the wee small hours.

• Razz-Ma-Tazz – Lust outside the central business district along Julaan Tuaran. It is one the city’s largest and most popular nightclubs.  Has two rooms the larger featuring life music and D.J’s. The smaller room, Zuave, plays house, trance, and other pulsating dance tracks.

• Bed – Nice small place on the Promenade near the night markets. One room with a cover band, Pool table and DJ.

• Beach Road Pub and cafe has live bands and a pool.

^{Kota Kinabalu has a constant equatorial climate with very heavy rainfall, high humidity (over 80% throughout the year) and constant temperature all the year round. The highest daily temperatures are in the low thirties centigrade. The lowest daily temperatures are in the low twenties. The temperature changes little throughout the year but April and May are the hottest months with December and January being the coolest. There are marginal shifts of one degree centigrade and so really of little effect to ones enjoyment of the location, however, the visitor must be aware of monsoons before travelling here.}

^{Like all of Sabah Kota Kinabula is subject to two monsoons the Northeast Monsoon and the Southwest Monsoon.  The Northeast Monsoon occurs between November and March the Southwest Monsoon occurs between May and September making it a difficult destination at these times. Also there are two inter-monsoons occurring between April and May and between September and October will also bring difficulties to sightseeing and amenities.}

^{February and March are the driest times to visit and the monsoon is at its peak in mid October so travelling will probably be the most easy and enjoyable at these times of the year.}

The start of Kota Kinabula begins in the far off days of the 1800’s when the British North Borneo Company set up a small settlement in Gaya Bay already somewhat developed by the Bajau people. This created understandable friction and resentments by the Bajau  who rebelled against the British company and in 1897 the whole settlement was destroyed by Bajau rebels led by Mat Salleh

The company relocated to the more protected island of Api-Api which became the highly successful port of Jesselton named after company vice chairman Sir Charles Jessel. It was also terminus for the newly built railway making it a major trading post for rubber, wax, honey and rattan. However, despite the prosperity brought by trading Jesselton was never a political success and the company fought off attacks and demonstrations by Bajau rebels constantly.

For the next forty years the British hung on to Jesselton until the Japanese invaded. The town endured bombing after this by the British. Bombing was extensive and little remained of this mighty harbor and railway terminus when the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

The British North Borneo Company returned to rebuild Jesselton but failed due to financing problems. The new colonial government took over to elect Jesselton as the capital of North Borneo.

Jesselton was renamed Kota Kinabula by the Federation of Malaysia in 1968 and received full city status from the Malaysian government on February 2 2000.

With its natural beauty, interesting history and many architectural marvels, Kota Kinabalu is a popular destination among tourists from all over the world. Because of its small size, tourists can enjoy walking around Kota Kinabalu to admire local attractions while other popular tourist destinations are only a short drive away.

State Mosque
The main mosque is located in the outskirt of Kota Kinabalu on the way from the airport to the city centre. This is the central place of worship for Muslim community in Sabah boasting its beautiful domes and golden motifs. It is also a fine example of contemporary Islamic building.

Sabah Museum
Just five minutes from Kota Kinabalu’s city centre, the museum consists of many interesting galleries displaying totemic figures, old photographs, ancient pottery from all over Southeast Asia and antique Korans. A variety of life-size replicas of traditional houses of ethnic entitles in Sabah are shown in the Heritage Village. Here you can also find an Ethno Botanic garden and a Zoological garden, an all-in-one stop that invites visitors to discover diverse cultures and fascinating history of Kota Kinabalu.

Atkinson Clock Tower
This is one of the major landmarks in Kota Kinabalu located on the bluff along Signal Hill Road. Built in 1905 by Mary Edith Atkinson as a memorial to her son, Francis George Atkinson, who was the first District Officer of Kota Kinabalu, this clock tower is one of the oldest structures in Sabah that has survived the WWII.

Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary
Located in the heart of the city, the bird sanctuary is home to a number of bird species including many migratory species from Northern Asia and also hundreds of tiny fish that hide under the mangrove roots to escape feeding birds. One of the best-known natural sites for wildlife in Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary is a must-visit place that will delight children and adults alike.

Mount Kinabalu National Park
This is one of the best national parks in Malaysia with Mount Kinabalu being the highest peak in Southeast Asia. Offering breathtaking views from Mount Kinabalu, the park is also perfect for trekking and walking. Tourists can observe many beautiful species of fauna and flora while many find it an ideal place for camping.