Malaysia has one of the greatest levels of biodiversity of any country on Earth – and it’s among just 17 to be listed as a megadiverse country. More than 50% of its land surface area is forested, and around 14% of the country is protected as a national park or nature reserve.
All of which makes Malaysia a spectacular destination for wildlife watching. Around 750 species of bird have been recorded, including no fewer than 10 species of hornbill – among these the iconic rhinoceros hornbill – along with brightly coloured trogons and pittas, white-bellied sea eagles and the great slaty woodpecker, one of the largest woodpecker species in the world.
Malaysia’s lush tropical rainforests are home to orangutans, gibbons, proboscis monkeys, tapirs and Borneo pygmy elephants – along with more than 300 other species of mammal and a staggering number of amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. They’re also the last refuge of the majestic but critically endangered Malayan tiger, which appears on Malaysia’s coat of arms.
Immerse yourself in wildlife
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, just half an hour outside Sandakan, is the world’s largest orangutan sanctuary, caring for injured orangutans and pairing orphaned young with older individuals. This is a wonderful place to see these highly intelligent, beautiful, but now critically endangered primates in a semi-wild environment, before they are reintroduced into their natural environment.
However, nothing matches seeing these and other species in the wild, and signing up for a wildlife tour is really the way to go here. Join a trekking tour in the incredible Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary for one of the best chances of seeing orangutans in the wild. The enormous rainforests of Royal Belum state park are the best place in Malaysia to see hornbills – although not far behind is the manmade lake of Tasik Kenyir. Head to Fraser’s Hill or the Cameron Highlands to see mountain peacock-pheasant.
Go for a hike
If you’re up for a spot of hiking, the scope for jungle-trekking in Malaysia’s spectacularly wild and unspoilt national parks is simply off the charts. Take Taman Negara national park, for example – a vast, sprawling area of rainforest, forming Malaysia’s largest national park. The lush rainforest of Taman Negara is positively ancient – it’s estimated to be at least 130 million years old – and in terms of hiking, the park offers everything from breathtaking canopy walkways to a four-day trek across the spine of Mount Tahan, the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia. Join a full day’s guided walk or, for a more immersive experience, take a guided two-day hike on the Keniam Trail, which includes an overnight stay in a cave.
Another fantastic area for hiking is Unesco-listed Kinabalu Park, where you can trek to Mount Kinabalu – standing at 4,000 metres above sea level, it’s a sight to behold. It’s a minimum two-day hike with one overnight stay at a mountain hut (you’ll need to apply for a permit and go with an accredited guide) – and the view is at its most sublimely impressive at sunrise. In Gunung Mulu national park, trek to the pointy rock spires known as the Pinnacles – or for something a little more sedate, hike through tea plantations in the Cameron Highlands, or visit Penang Hill near George Town.
Explore the crystal-clear waters
So much for land-based adventures. With nearly 900 islands and more than 350,000 hectares of coral reefs surrounded by crystal-clear waters, Malaysia offers seemingly limitless possibilities for diving and snorkelling. For experienced divers, nothing tops Sipadan – Malaysia’s only oceanic island, located off the east coast of Sabah, and one of the world’s premier dive sites.
A steep-sided, extinct volcanic cone rising 600 metres from the ocean floor, Sipadan’s wall reefs are home to a stupendous amount of marine life including more than 3,000 species of fish. Dive among hawksbill and green turtles, see whale sharks, manta rays, hammerheads and giant parrotfish, and witness huge, vortex-like shoals of barracuda swimming in their thousands.
The Perhentian Islands are another popular diving and snorkelling spot, great for beginners as well as more experienced divers. Like other islands off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, such as Redang, the Perhentian Islands offer shallow dive sites with good visibility, vibrant coral reefs and plenty of marine life. Or try Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs national park off the coast of Sarawak – great for coral as its name implies, but there are also wreck dives here too.
Despite the sheer scale of these landscapes – Taman Negara national park alone is nearly six times the size of nearby Singapore – access is straightforward. You can reach Taman Negara in three hours by car from Kuala Lumpur, and Unesco-listed George Town in less than a five-hour drive, while Kota Kinabalu, the gateway to climbing Mount Kinabalu, is two and a half hours away by plane.
With British Airways operating direct flights daily from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur, there has never been a better time to experience the multitude of breathtaking landscapes, amazing wildlife and vibrant culture that Malaysia has to offer.
For more information and to start planning your Malaysian adventure, visit ba.com/malaysia
