Sabah – “The land below the wind”

Sabah is a land of dense jungle, craggy mountains and vivid blue water filled with exotic wildlife and rich ethnic diversity. Sabah is known as ‘land below the wind’ as it lies below the typhoon belt of East Asia and therefore enjoys a stable tropical climate all year round.

Originally under the rule of the Kingdom of Brunei (14th and 15th Centuries), the eastern part fell under the rule of the Sultanate of Sulu between the 17th and 18th Centuries. The British later acquired the state (North Borneo Chartered Company) in the 19th century which fell to the Japanese in World War II. After 3 years of occupation, it was handed back to the British. On the 31st August 1963, Sabah was granted self-government by the British and two months later became a founding member of the Federation of Malaysia. Today the city of Kota Kinabalu (KK) is the economic centre and the seat of the Sabah State Government.

It is one of two Malaysian states located in the northern part of Borneo. It’s land borders with Brunei, Sarawak (also Malaysia) and Indonesia. On the western side of Sabah is a mountainous region formed by the Crocker Rangers. The tallest peak being Mt Kinabalu (4095m) which is the highest point in South-east Asia. Kinabalu National Park was registered as a UNESCO site in 2000 for its richness in plant diversity combined with it’s unique geological, topographical and climatic conditions. It hosts more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna including 326 birds and around 100 mammal species.

The Kinabatangan River is the second longest river in Malaysia (560 km) starting in the mountain ranges and snaking east towards the Sulu Sea. Sabah is surrounded by the South China Sea in the west, Sulu sea in the north-east and the Celebes Sea in the south-east. It’s maritime borders with Vietnam in the north-west and the Philippines to the north and east.

Whilst Malay is the official language there are an estimated 42 different ethnic groups with over 200 sub-ethnic groups with their own language, culture and beliefs. Whilst Islam is the official religion, any religion is permitted to be practised in peace and harmony. In particular, Christianity has an important part in indigenous cultures.