The international gateway and capital city of Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) is set against a backdrop of hills covered in lush greenery while before it stretches the vast expanse of luminescent emerald green waters of the South China Sea.

In its earliest avatar, Kota Kinbalu was the town of Jesselton on the west coast of the island. Its foundations were laid at the turn of the century when the British laid the first railway lines to open up the interior regions of North Borneo and established the town. Jesselton evolved into the new capital of North Borneo after World War II; the change in name to Kota Kinabalu happened once Sabah gained independence and became the 13th member state of the Federation of Malaysia in 1968.

Kota Kinabalu acquired its new name from the highest peak in South East Asia, the imposing and highly venerated Mt. Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu, KK or Api Api as its residents affectionately call it, is a modern metropolis. It has all the necessary adjuncts to qualify as one - cosmopolitan because of the many different communities that call it home and well planned with quality infrastructure like the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, the Sabah Trade Centre, the Likas Sports Complex, skyscrapers, shopping malls, hotels, highways et al. The excellent infrastructure, fabulous environment and wealth of natural treasures combine to make Kota Kinabalu a city of the future - energetic, exhilarating and enriching.

A travellers delight in more ways than one, Kota Kinabalu has no paucity of places to visit - the Sabah Trade Centre is the venue of many trade fairs, conferences and conventions while the Sabah Foundation Building is one of a kind, unique in its use of a single column to support the 30 storied circular structure. The Likas Sports Complex offers world-class sports facilities and has hosted many an international sports meet. In its vicinity lies the Likas Bird Sanctuary - a great place for bird lovers to see migratory and native birds in their natural habitat.

The State Mosque is a magnificent structure of stately domes and beautiful gold inlay while the State Museum is built along the lines of traditional longhouses of the Murut and Rungu tribes. The museum is one of the best places to preview the indigenous culture of the island as on display are exhibits featuring totems, skulls (the Muruts were highly feared headhunters), weapons like the lethal blowpipes as well as antique Korans and priceless photographs. Also located at the museum are the Science and Technology Centre and Art Gallery.

The Signal Hill Observatory offers a bird’s eye view of the city and its picturesque surroundings from its vantage height above the city. Most overseas visitors, especially those with deep pockets, stay in and around the Sutera Harbour Resorts and Golf Club, a major landmark in the city. The resort complex houses luxury hotels, yacht club and golf course - all very popular with international yachtsmen, golfers and holidaymakers.

The highest peak in the region, Mt Kinabalu (4095m) has a magical, mystical magnetism difficult to qualify. It is a granite massif towering high above its parent range, the Crocker Mountain Range - the summit isn’t always visible as it is often shrouded in mist and clouds, all of which add to the mountains mysterious allure. The massif presents an irresistible challenge to climbers who come from all over the world to pit their wits against it. A World Heritage Site, the Mt Kinabalu National Park is 138 km away from Kota Kinabalu, it is home ground to rare flora and fauna including some 1000 species of orchids, 850 types of butterflies, 621 ferns, as well as the rare Rafflesia Tengku-Adlinii.

A favourite past time of visitors to Kota Kinabalu is a dive in the crystal waters of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park - a top of the list diving site for enthusiasts with its many offshore islands and coral reef. Manta rays, giant turtles, myriad species of coals, lionfish and sharks are just a few of the marine denizens that inhabit the warm waters of the park.

Getting There: Kota Kinabalu International Airport provides the most convenient point of entry into the city (and Sabah); Malaysia Airlines flies frequent services from Kuala Lumpur as well as other destinations in Malaysia. It receives international flights from all over the world; most flights from Europe usually fly in via Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. The airport is 10-15 minutes driving time from the city centre and cabs are easily available outside the airport. Airport facilities include bank, bureau de change, restaurant and bar and car rental facilities. Cars can be rented from counters at the airport - an international drivers permit is required; traffic drives on the left, the highways are in prime condition and well signposted.

Those sailing in on private yachts/boats can dock in at the many marinas on the waterfront - favoured ones include the Sutera Harbour Marina, the Tanjung Aru Marina or simply drop anchor at the Waterfront Esplanade.

Climate: Kota Kinabalu has an equatorial type climate - with uniform temperatures between 23° C and 31°C all year round. The only variation being that the relative humidity factor increases or decreases depending on the amount of moisture in the atmosphere. The dry season and the warm to hot summer months is between March and September; October to February or early March is the time of the big wet, the grand monsoons when it rains as much as it can.

When to go: Sabah lies just below the typhoon belt and so is spared the destruction and havoc that such tropical storms wreak, consequently Kota Kinabalu has pleasant weather all year round. It also makes it easy to visit Kota Kinabalu any time of the year without adjusting weather and seasons with time off.

What to carry: Lightweight or cotton clothing is all that is required - smart casual wear is perfect for dining out. Business travellers need to carry tropical suits - safari or lounge suits are just fine, non business travellers can wear just about anything, shorts, t-shirts, sarongs, skits or jeans. The shopping malls in the city can compete with the best anywhere in the world and are well stocked with the best of international products and local handicrafts, textiles etc.

Accommodation is available in plenty and for all budgets - the city has the full complement of resort complexes, luxury hotels as well as medium to low budget guesthouses and motels. 

 For detailed country and visitor information, see Malaysia.