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It is best to pack very light for this trip. If you are flying in or out be sure to check the luggage allowance before you leave home. Light weight cotton clothing is needed here. It is very hot and humid. Of course if you are going to the mountain area you will be cooler.Be sure to bring something warmer for that. Kota Kinabalu has most anything that you need, maybe not in your favorite brand but something. After you get out of the city you won't be buying much.
Unless you are backpacking (in whick case this tip doesn't apply), standard suitcases are fine for visits to Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. However, if you are going to one of the lodges on Kinabatangan river, or travelling to Selingan Turtle Island, you will need to take lighter luggage. This is because you can't take large suitcases on the boats, there is no room. You will need to repack your hand luggage bag with the essentials for a couple of nights and leave your suitcase at your hotel in Kota Kinabalu /Sandakan. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, boots are helpful. Light slip on shoes (flip flops) are very useful on Selingan Island. As it is the rainy season, a waterproof jacket will come in handy. A camera with night shot capabilities.
Carry as little as possible, except your water bottle and if you have cameras, make sure you have security straps. Long dangling earrings are a no-no. These guys can pull! if you do have a bigger bag than needed, you can leave it at the locker at the HQ before beginning your walk. Do pack a rain jacket, cap/hat and make sure you have covered shoes. Not only good for walking but also protective against all kinds of creepy crawlies. Trekking sandals are also ok, as weather is humid in SE Asia. I usually carry a miniture first aid kit cos if you don't need it, someone else might :)Carry band aids, or anti septic at least for cuts, abrasions etc. Also useful are muscle relieving cramp ointments or even Tiger Balm. Medicated oil for those who may feel nauseous - it's avail all over SouthEast Asia. cameras and recording devices were ok - i think the orang utans are now used to the various...
useful to have a rain jacket (the thin ones) as it's hot in the jungles and you jsut want to be protected from the rain while not feel too hot. It's humid so don't bring your padded rain jacked. Just get a cheap one in sabah or elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Sun Block and Insect Reppellant are both useful. Don't forget your Sunglasses and a cap/Hat. It works both ways for sun and light rain. Make sure you pack your binos with you. Most of the gorgeous animals in South east Asia are small and these are the ones that make the loudest noise. So a pair of binos would help!If you have a camera, it is best to take in some of the sights and sounds through the video function rather than just taking shots. The sounds of the place will bring back amazing memories!
Moving around Kota Kinabalu park with luggage is a lot easier if you have a back pack. We had about a 15minute walk from the headquarters to our accommodation. My husband had a back pack but I had a suitcase on wheels which was hard to maneuver down the paths. However you only have to do it twice, coming and going. We both had light weight raincoats which we got a lot of wear out of when hiking in the park. It rains on and off all day so it was good to have a coat that wasn't heavy to carry and you didn't over heat in when you did have it on.For foot wear I got by in my sneakers but my husband who climbed the mountain had a pair of heavy duty boots. Quick dry pants are defiantly the go as you are always wet. Even when its not raining things never really get a chance to dry out. The park does have a dryer but we didn't find it and never got around to asking. Take a jumper as it does get...
I know everyone recommend that you take bug spray but I have to admit I never really used it. I only got bit once from a mosquito and I never saw a leech the whole time I was in the Jungle. I'm not saying that they aren't there only I never saw them. I don't think you would suffer much if you forgot the aerogaurd. We did however some cool large bright orange cockroaches!
Backpacks are always the most convenient for this kind of travel. Waterproof covering is essential - especially in the rainy season. Light clothing is a must for the lowlands - it is very hot. Certain regions in Sabah also call for leech socks - you don't want them parasites crawling up your legs without you noticing them! If you are planning on climbing the kinabalu warm clothes are essential - it is very cold at the summit. Also good hiking boots are a must. Malaria Tablets - many of the regions in Sabah are affected by Malaria. Here the malaria strain is chloroquine resistant, so check with your doctor for perscriptions. Malarone and mephloquine are the most common drugs perscribed.Sunblock factor 30+ - the sun really scorches here Plenty of film or high capacity cards! There are so many spectacular things to photograph. The only place where photographic stuff is readily available...
Borneo.... islands.... sea.... beaches.... lots of sunshine! No need to say that you should bring some good suntan oil with you to protect your skin.Borneo is also jungle..... insects.... mosquitos! So take some good mosquito oil with you as well! I must say I wasn't bothered so much by mosquitos during my visit, but I might be in luck with the season. Another nasty surprise where your mosquito oil might come in handy, might be on the beach..... Eeks! Sand flies!!! They actually chased me off the beach in one occassion on Selingan Island as they were biting so much. So some mosquito oil is very much recommended over here!
In several cases I was very happy to have a torch light with me. But in three places it was an absolute must: Selingan Island (Turtle Island Park), in the Gomantong Caves, and during my nightwalk in the jungle at Sukau. On Selingan for instance is the use of torchlight limited while you are on the beach with the turtles. But it is a good thing to have with you! There is no light on the island, so it is very handy to have when trying to find your way back to your room in the evening. You are also allowed to use it while following the ranger on the way to the turtle, but you have to turn it off as soon as you get here.At the Gomantong Caves it is really dark. Inside it is crawling with cockroaches and other creepy crawlers that you don't want to know the name of. A torch gives you at least a chance to see where you are going and know what is surrounding you.And the nightwalk in the...
With all this digital equipment it is important to have fully charged batteries all the time! And I have to say that went perfectly during my trip.In Malaysia they use 240 volts and 50 Hz. It is a rectangular blade plug (see picture)Beware : an adapter by itself will not change the electrical voltage. You must be sure that your appliance can handle different voltages (either automatically or through a voltage switch). If it can't, you will need a voltage converter.
Shangri-Las Rasa Ria Resort Kota Kinabalu
19 Reviews and 1852 Opinions We were happy to see our hotel pick up waiting at the airport for us on arrival. 45 minutes later we...
Sabah Hotel Sandakan Sandakan
5 Reviews and 234 Opinions I stayed in this hotel for 2 nights for work. It is a 4-star hotel with nice swimming pool. When I...
Sipadan-Kapalai Island Resort Pulau Sipadan
1 Review and 249 Opinions Fell in love with this place especially my water bungalow. It's huge with comfy beds, big bathroom...
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