It surrounds Borneo’s highest and world’s youngest non-volcanic mountain Mount Kinabalu covering an area of 754 square kilometers.
More than half of all Borneo’s flowering plants and the majority of its mammal, boards, amphibians and invertebrates can be found in Kinabalu National Park.
Due to an altitude range of 152 to over 4000m, the park features one of the world greatest biodiversities, which is the main reason for it to become gazetted as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. It is home to 5000 to 6000 plant species comprising 200 families and 1000 genera.
There are estimated 1500 species of orchids of which 77 are endemic to the park, including five species or slipper orchids of the genus Papiopedilium.
The mountain is a clearly visible and free standing phenomenon, towering over Sabah. The greatest attraction of Kinabalu Park is obviously Gunung Kinabalu. It is a hot spot of biodiversity, which draws it to the attention of bird watchers and plant enthusiasts.
The park has four different types of altitudinal forest, all exceptionally rich in tree and plant species.
The lowland is clad in mixed dipterocarp forest rising to lower montane forest who oaks, laurels, myrtles and conifers at an elevation of 1200m to 2350m.
Kinabalu National Park
